How Patreon and Skool compare
Patreon turned fans into patrons. Membership tiers, members-only posts, community chats, a shop for one-off items, and native podcast and video delivery give creators steady income from the people who care most. It is the default word for creator memberships, and the tools have grown up with it.
Skool does one thing with unusual discipline: a paid community with a feed, a classroom, a calendar, and gamification that keeps members coming back. The pricing is plain, the app is quick, and Discovery can send you members you did not have to find yourself. If your work is a group people join and show up to every week, Skool is shaped for that.
Where they are different
Choose Patreon when recurring fan support with tiers and members-only perks is the model.
Choose Skool when the membership is the product, and a feed, courses, and leaderboards are how you deliver it.
Compare features
What's on Patreon and Skool
A check means that capability is available. Patreon and Skool are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Public content
- Reader engagementPatreon: Not includedSkool: Included
- Shop pagesPatreon: IncludedSkool: Not included
Audience and email
- AudiencePatreon: IncludedSkool: Not included
- Marketing emailsPatreon: IncludedSkool: Included
Messaging
- Built-in chatPatreon: IncludedSkool: Included
Team
- Admin usersPatreon: IncludedSkool: Included
- Per-admin permissionsPatreon: IncludedSkool: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Patreon or Skool, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Patreon or Skool may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Patreon vs Skool pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Patreon
Current plans and prices
See what Patreon charges on their pricing page.
Skool
Current plans and prices
See what Skool charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Patreon and Skool
You don't pay until you publish.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own.
Common questions
Is Cardel an alternative to Patreon or Skool?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Patreon or Skool when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Patreon and Skool are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Patreon or Skool?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Patreon or Skool for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Patreon and Skool?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Patreon and Skool set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Patreon or Skool to Cardel?
Start with Build Your Site, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.