DoorFee vs Skool
The Discord-Native Skool Alternative for Community Monetization
Skool is a community platform created by Sam Ovens that combines community discussion, course hosting, and member management in a single platform. It charges a flat $99/mo and requires communities to use Skool's own platform rather than Discord. It is popular for online courses and coaching businesses.
Our Verdict
DoorFee lets you monetize your existing Discord community without forcing members onto a different platform. At $28/mo (vs Skool's $99/mo), DoorFee is significantly cheaper while providing Discord-native features that Skool cannot offer. If your community lives on Discord, DoorFee is the natural choice.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | DoorFee | Skool |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly platform cost | $28/mo (Pro) | $9/mo (Hobby) or $99/mo (Pro) |
| Free plan available | No (14-day free trial) | |
| Transaction fee | 2.5% (Pro) | 10% (Hobby) or 2.9% (Pro) |
| Uses Discord (no platform switch) | ||
| Custom sales page builder | Built-in pages | |
| Custom domain support | Pro plan | |
| Built-in analytics dashboard | ||
| Affiliate program | ||
| Email marketing tools | ||
| Course hosting | ||
| Stripe integration | ||
| Coupon codes | ||
| A/B testing | ||
| Page reviews / social proof | Community testimonials | |
| Embedded checkout | ||
| Abandoned checkout recovery | ||
| Team / manager roles | Admin roles | |
| Subscription pause / resume | ||
| Analytics dashboard | Basic analytics | |
| Tracking pixel support | Limited |
Pricing Comparison
DoorFee
Free (10% fee) or $28/mo Pro (2.5% fee)
Skool
Hobby $9/mo (10% + $0.30/txn), Pro $99/mo (2.9% + $0.30/txn). 14-day free trial, no permanent free plan
Skool Pros & Cons
Pros
- All-in-one platform with community, courses, and payments
- New Hobby plan at $9/mo makes it accessible for beginners
- Pro plan's 2.9% fee is competitive for high-volume creators
- Built-in gamification and leaderboards
- Good for course creators and coaching businesses
- Active affiliate program
Cons
- No permanent free plan (14-day trial only)
- Hobby plan's 10% fee is high for low-revenue creators
- Forces members off Discord onto Skool's platform
- Not suitable for existing Discord communities
- No Discord role management or integration
- Limited customization of the community interface
- No email marketing or coupon code features
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose DoorFee over Skool?
If your community is on Discord, DoorFee lets you monetize it directly without moving to a different platform. DoorFee also has a permanent free plan while Skool only offers a 14-day trial. For Discord communities, DoorFee is the natural choice.
Can I use Skool with Discord?
Skool is a standalone community platform and does not deeply integrate with Discord. Members would need to use Skool's platform for community interaction rather than Discord. DoorFee is built specifically for Discord monetization.
Is Skool worth the cost compared to DoorFee?
Skool now offers a Hobby plan at $9/mo (10% fee) and Pro at $99/mo (2.9% fee). Skool includes course hosting and its own community platform, which may be worth it for course creators. For Discord community monetization, DoorFee at $28/mo provides more relevant features.
Does Skool have transaction fees?
Yes. Skool's Hobby plan charges 10% + $0.30 per transaction. The Pro plan charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. DoorFee's Pro plan charges 2.5% with no per-transaction flat fee, making it cheaper for most creators.
Can I host courses with DoorFee like Skool?
DoorFee is focused on Discord community monetization and does not include built-in course hosting. If you need course hosting, you could use a separate course platform alongside DoorFee for your Discord community.