1
Community platform with paid memberships, courses, events and live streams, from $89 a month.
#19k web rank · ▲ 242 this week · From $89/mo; transaction fees of 0.5-4% by plan plus Stripe · accepts Health & Supplements
8.4/10
Circle hosts branded communities with discussion spaces, chat, courses, events, live streams and paid membership tiers billed through Stripe, from $89 a month with transaction fees that fall on higher plans. It is the platform of choice for cohort courses and premium communities that outgrow Discord. Read more →
Pros
- Spaces, chat, courses, events and paid tiers in a polished branded app
- Widely used by creators moving off Facebook groups and Discord
Cons
- Expensive at entry
- Transaction fees on lower plans
Pricing: Paid from $89/mo · Payout: Via Stripe · community courses events paid members
2
The best-known membership platform for creators: tiers, posts, community and merch, at 8-12% plus fees.
#735 web rank · ▼ 58 this week · 8% (Pro) or 12% (Premium) of earnings plus payment fees · accepts Health & Supplements
8.3/10
Patreon hosts membership tiers with posts, community, direct messages, digital products and merch fulfilment, taking 8% on Pro or 12% on Premium plus payment fees, and paying monthly or on demand. Patrons are familiar with it and its app drives some discovery. It suits podcasters, YouTubers and artists who want the simplest path; publishers wanting ownership of email lists and… Read more →
Pros
- Members already know how it works; strong discovery and app
- Handles tax, chargebacks, tiers, posts, DMs and merch fulfilment
Cons
- 10%+ effective fee with payment processing
- Limited control over member data and design; Apple in-app fee on iOS sign-ups
Pricing: Free · Payout: Monthly, or on demand · membership patrons tiers creators
3
Membership billing that plugs into your own site, newsletter and Discord; Patreon's more customisable sibling.
#49k web rank · ▲ 460 this week · 10% + Stripe fees on the free plan; 4.9% + fees at $49/mo · accepts Health & Supplements
8.1/10
Memberful (owned by Patreon) adds paid memberships to a site you already own: gated WordPress content, private podcast feeds, Discord roles, newsletters and courses, billed through your own Stripe account. The free plan takes 10%; the Pro plan at $49 a month takes 4.9%. You keep the customer relationship and data. Read more →
Pros
- Members belong to you: your Stripe account, your site, your email list
- WordPress, Discord, Mailchimp and podcast feed integrations
Cons
- Fees are not cheap at scale
- Requires your own site for content
Pricing: Free plan, paid from $49/mo · Payout: Via your Stripe · membership stripe wordpress discord
4
Simple paid community platform with courses and gamification, $99 a month flat and 2.9% on payments.
#5.6k web rank · ▲ 13 this week · $99/mo per community plus 2.9% on payments · accepts Health & Supplements
7.9/10
Skool runs paid communities with a discussion feed, courses, calendar and gamified leaderboards, at $99 a month per community plus 2.9% on payments. Its discovery directory and referral program bring members. Popular with coaches and course sellers who want simplicity. Read more →
Pros
- One flat price, fast, and a discovery page that brings members
- Built-in billing, courses, calendar and leaderboards
Cons
- Minimal customisation
- One community per subscription
Pricing: Paid from $99/mo · Payout: Via Stripe · community courses gamification
5
Community and course platform with native apps and paid memberships, from $41 a month.
#61k web rank · ▲ 2.6k this week · From $41/mo; 2-3% transaction fee by plan plus Stripe · accepts Health & Supplements
7.8/10
Mighty Networks combines community, courses, events and paid memberships, with the option of a fully branded iOS and Android app on higher plans. Pricing starts at $41 a month plus a transaction fee. Comparable to Circle with a stronger mobile story. Read more →
Pros
- Branded mobile apps on higher plans
- Courses, events and memberships together
Cons
- Transaction fees on top of the subscription
- Interface can feel busy
Pricing: Paid from $41/mo · Payout: Via Stripe · community courses mobile app
🔥 Deal: 14-day free trial, no credit card required, plus 2 months free when billing the Launch plan annually
6
Sell paid roles and tiers inside your Discord server; Discord keeps 10%.
#169 web rank · 10% of subscription revenue · accepts Health & Supplements
6.9/10
Discord's Server Subscriptions let eligible community owners sell paid tiers that unlock channels, roles and perks, with Discord keeping 10%. It suits communities already on Discord; alternatives like Memberful or Circle link Discord roles to memberships you own. Read more →
Pros
- Members pay where the community already lives
- No extra platform to run
Cons
- Available in limited countries for creators
- Members are tied to Discord, not to your list
Pricing: Free · Payout: Monthly · discord server subscriptions community