As an entrepreneur who tested and Skool firsthand, I wanted to see if it truly lives up to the hype, especially when it comes to the Skool community feature. Backed by Alex Hormozi, Skool promises an all-in-one platform to host your courses, build a community, and boost engagement with gamification.
After testing Skool myself, here’s my honest Skool review of the platform, its pros and cons, and whether it’s worth switching to.
You Need To Understand What Skool Is Really For
If you’re exploring course platforms, this Skool review will help you understand what makes it different, especially its built-in Skool community features.
Skool combines course hosting, community interaction, and gamification into one streamlined experience. Students earn points, appear on leaderboards, and engage in discussions, all within a single platform.
Unlike Kajabi or Teachable, Skool integrates:
- A community forum (like Facebook Groups, but better)
- A classroom (to host your courses)
- Gamification & leaderboards (to encourage engagement)
- A calendar (for live coaching calls & events)
Alex Hormozi, who scaled Gym Launch to $100M+, backs Skool as an alternative to Facebook Groups + Kajabi. The idea? Make learning feel like a game while keeping your audience engaged.
But does it actually work? Let’s break it down.
My Review of Skool’s Key Features (That Matter)
1. Gamification & Skool Games
One of Skool’s main features is its gamification system. Users earn XP (experience points) for engaging in the community, watching course content, and participating in discussions. The leaderboard shows top contributors, making the experience feel competitive, kind of like a game.
👉 Pros: Increases engagement and makes learning addictive.
👉 Cons: Some users may find it distracting or unnecessary.
2. Built-In Skool Community
Skool combines courses + community in one easy to use platform. Instead of just delivering lessons, it’s a community-first system that helps students engage with each other, making it feel more like a mastermind group.
👉 Pros: No need for Facebook Groups; everything is built-in.
👉 Cons: Less control over branding compared to platforms like Kajabi.
3. Simple, Fixed Pricing ($99/month)
Skool has simple pricing, just a flat $99/month fee. This is refreshing compared to other platforms that charge per user or take a cut of your sales.
👉 Pros: Transparent pricing, no hidden fees.
👉 Cons: Not ideal for beginners with small communities.
Michael Roster stated that switching to flat fees can reduce costs by 25% for entrepreneurs.¹ Which makes
4. User-Friendly & Clean Interface
Skool’s software is super simple, like a cross between Slack and a teachable. There are no unnecessary features, making it easy for members to navigate and focus on learning.
👉 Pros: No tech overwhelm, fast setup.
👉 Cons: Lacks advanced customization for branding.
The Cons of Skool (What No One Tells You)
1. Skool Doesn’t Guarantee Community Engagement
One common Skool community misconception is thinking gamification alone creates engagement. Yes, Skool gives you points, leaderboards, and a built-in forum, but that doesn’t mean people will actually use them.
Here’s the hard truth from my experience doing this Skool review:
- 90% of members in any online community are silent consumers, they’ll watch, but they won’t post or comment.
- The audience you bring in matters, if you attract low-intent freebie seekers, your community will be a ghost town no matter what platform you use.
- Engagement requires strong leadership, you have to start discussions, create incentives, and constantly nurture members.
If your goal is to build an active, thriving community, Skool won’t do it for you, you need to put in the effort to lead and engage your audience.
But building a community can be very effective in influencing sales and customer retention according to The Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science.²
2. Skool is a Platform, NOT a Marketing Strategy
A lot of entrepreneurs think that switching to Skool = making more money. Not true.
Skool does not:
❌ Drive traffic to your course
❌ Generate leads or sales
❌ Magically make people buy your offer
Skool is just a tool for hosting courses and communities. If you don’t have a way to attract leads, through SEO, YouTube, or ads, you won’t get results.
Entrepreneurs #1 reason why they are stressed is cashflow. You fix this by dialing in your marketing strategy.
Think of Skool like a restaurant: It gives you the tables, kitchen, and menu, but if no one knows your restaurant exists, you won’t get customers. Marketing is your job, not Skool’s.
Skool vs Other Course Platforms
| Feature | Skool | Kajabi | Thinkific | Circle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Hosting | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Community Features | ✅ (built-in) | ❌ (uses FB Groups) | ❌ (basic) | ✅ |
| Gamification | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Pricing | $99/month (flat) | $149+/month | $99+/month | $89+/month |
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
💡 Best for community-driven coaching programs: Skool
💡 Best for branding & customization: Kajabi
💡 Best for traditional course hosting: Thinkific
If you want an engaging, all-in-one course + community platform, Skool is a top choice. But if you need advanced branding/customization, platforms like Kajabi or Thinkific may be better.
Who Should Use Skool?
✅ Skool is GREAT for:
✔️ Coaches, consultants, and course creators with an existing audience
✔️ Entrepreneurs running paid communities or masterminds
✔️ Businesses looking for an all-in-one community & course platform
❌ Skool is NOT for:
🚫 Beginners with no audience (unless you have a solid marketing plan)
🚫 People who need advanced branding/customization
🚫 Anyone expecting Skool to bring them leads & sales
Final Verdict: Is Skool Worth It?
Yes, IF you want a community-first approach to courses. Skool makes learning engaging with gamification, keeps discussions organized, and eliminates the need for Facebook Groups.
Alex Hormozi and Sam Ovens have done an absolutely terrific job at building this amazing platform, and it’s well worth the investment.
However, if you want a traditional course platform with more branding control, Kajabi or Thinkific might be a better fit.
Would I use Skool?
Yes, especially if I was building a paid mastermind or coaching program where community engagement is key.
💡 Want to Try Skool? Here’s What to Do Next:
1️⃣ Try Skool for Free
2️⃣ Join My Skool Community
Most entrepreneurs waste years chasing side hustles and content trends. I did too, until I built one system that grows on autopilot, even if you’re starting from scratch.
Inside this private Skool community, you’ll get:
✅ A step-by-step system to create your profitable business model
✅ My AI-powered marketing process to attract leads & sales
✅ Weekly live coaching calls to stay on track and get feedback
✅ A supportive network of action-takers building real businesses
If you’d told me seven years ago I’d hit $100K months while traveling with my family, I’d have laughed. Now it’s real, and I want that freedom for you too.
Sources & Citations
- ¹Boulden, S. (2013). The Business of StartUp Law: Alternative Fee Arrangements and Agency Costs in Entrepreneurial Law. J. on Telecomm. & High Tech. L., 11, 279.
- ²Adjei, M. T., Noble, S. M., & Noble, C. H. (2010). The influence of C2C communications in online brand communities on customer purchase behavior. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 38, 634-653.
