Circle ranks #1 for build a paid online community (score 8.3/10). Pricing: From $89/month as listed; free tier: Unverified. Runners-up: Skool, Patreon.
Top 5, ranked by our published rubric. Sponsorship never affects the order. Last updated 2026-10-13.
| # | Tool | Score | Pricing | Paid from | Free tier | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Circle | 8.3 | From $89 | From $89/month as listed | Unverified | Community platform |
| 2 | Skool | 8.3 | From $9 | Hobby $9/mo; Pro $99/mo | no | Community and courses platform |
| 3 | Patreon | 8.0 | Free tier | Unverified | yes (free to start) | Memberships for creators |
| 4 | Kajabi | 6.3 | From $179 | From $179/month as listed (billed annually) | Unverified | Courses and creator business platform |
| 5 | Ghost | 6.2 | From $18 | From $18/month as listed (billed annually) | Unverified | Publishing and newsletter platform |
Community platform
Why ranked: Its own site says: “Build a home for your community, events, and courses — all under your own brand.” We placed it 1st of 5 on fit for this task. No free plan confirmed; paid from From $89/month as listed.
Fit 10.0 · value 4.4 · breadth 8 · availability 10 (how we score) · pricing source · site live
Community and courses platform
Why ranked: Its own site says: “Skool is a community platform. You can discover communities or create your own.” We placed it 2nd of 5 on fit for this task. No free plan confirmed; paid from Hobby $9/mo; Pro $99/mo.
Fit 8.5 · value 6.2 · breadth 10 · availability 10 (how we score) · pricing source · site live
Memberships for creators
Why ranked: Its own site says: “Build a community, share exclusive work, and turn your passion into a thriving business with Patreon.” We placed it 3rd of 5 on fit for this task. Pricing unverified.
Fit 7.0 · value 8.1 · breadth 10 · availability 10 (how we score) · pricing source · site live
Courses and creator business platform
Why ranked: Its own site says: “Kajabi is the operating system for human expertise—helping real experts build, sell, and grow trusted businesses with clarity, momentum, and AI-powered support.” We placed it 4th of 5 on fit for this task. No free plan confirmed; paid from From $179/month as listed (billed annually).
Fit 5.5 · value 4.4 · breadth 10 · availability 10 (how we score) · pricing source · site live
Publishing and newsletter platform
Why ranked: Its own site says: “Beautiful, modern publishing with email newsletters and paid subscriptions built-in.” We placed it 5th of 5 on fit for this task. No free plan confirmed; paid from From $18/month as listed (billed annually).
Fit 4.0 · value 6.9 · breadth 10 · availability 10 (how we score) · pricing source · site live
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By TaskRanking's published rubric, Circle ranks first, followed by Skool and Patreon.
Yes: Patreon has a free tier per its own pricing page (checked 2026-10-13).
Score = 50% fit, 25% value (from vendor pricing pages), 15% breadth, 10% availability. Sponsorship never affects rank.
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