Cheapest platform for a paid community (2026)
Every plan ranked by take-home on a monthly membership at three community sizes.
Short answer: Whop Pay-as-you-go keeps the most at all three sizes: $2,791.70 from $2,900/mo; $9,475.40 from $9,800/mo; $48,013.50 from $49,500/mo. The best Skool plan at $49 × 200 members is Skool Pro, $118.60/mo behind. Last updated .
| Plan | $29 × 100 members $2,900 MRR | $49 × 200 members $9,800 MRR | $99 × 500 members $49,500 MRR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whop Pay-as-you-go (community-focused) | $2,791.70 | $9,475.40 | $48,013.50 |
| Stan Store Creator (fee estimate) | $2,756.90 | $9,426.80 | $47,885.50 |
| Teachable Builder (fee estimate) | $2,696.90 | $9,366.80 | $47,825.50 |
| Skool Pro (price unverified) (community-focused) | $2,686.90 | $9,356.80 | $47,815.50 |
| Stan Store Creator Pro (fee estimate) | $2,686.90 | $9,356.80 | $47,815.50 |
| Kajabi Basic (community-focused) | $2,606.90 | $9,276.80 | $47,735.50 |
| Teachable Growth (fee estimate) | $2,596.90 | $9,266.80 | $47,725.50 |
| Kajabi Growth (community-focused) | $2,539.80 | $9,216.60 | $47,715.00 |
| Kajabi Pro (community-focused) | $2,292.70 | $8,976.40 | $47,514.50 |
| Skool Hobby (price unverified) (community-focused) | $2,571.00 | $8,751.00 | $44,391.00 |
| Teachable Starter (fee estimate) | $2,529.40 | $8,681.80 | $44,163.00 |
Monthly take-home after plan subscription (monthly billing) and transaction fees, US cards. "Community-focused" grouping (Skool, Whop, Kajabi) is editorial, same as the quiz.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest platform for a $29/month community with 100 members?
Whop Pay-as-you-go among community-focused platforms ($2,791.70/mo take-home); overall Whop Pay-as-you-go ($2,791.70/mo).
What is the cheapest platform for a $49/month community with 200 members?
Whop Pay-as-you-go among community-focused platforms ($9,475.40/mo take-home); overall Whop Pay-as-you-go ($9,475.40/mo).
What is the cheapest platform for a $99/month community with 500 members?
Whop Pay-as-you-go among community-focused platforms ($48,013.50/mo take-home); overall Whop Pay-as-you-go ($48,013.50/mo).
Is Skool or Whop cheaper for a paid community?
At $49 × 200 members, Whop Pay-as-you-go keeps $9,475.40/mo, Skool Pro $9,356.80 and Skool Hobby $8,751.00.
Fee changes, the month they happen.
One short email when Skool, Kajabi, Whop, Stan or Teachable change pricing, with the take-home impact worked out.
This placement is available. Clearly labeled, never mixed into rankings or data.