Key Takeaways
1. Overview
- The speaker has been using multiple tools like Podia, Slack, and Zoom.
- They found managing multiple tools challenging as their community grew.
- Decided to switch to a more streamlined platform: Skool or Circle.
2. Feature Comparison
- Course Hosting: Both platforms provide solid course hosting experiences with features needed for a good student experience, such as progress tracking and file downloads.
- Gamification: Both platforms include engagement-based gamification to encourage community interaction.
- Event Management: Both platforms can manage live events and consolidate tools like Zoom and Google Calendar.
- Live Chat: Both offer real-time chat capabilities, potentially replacing Slack.
3. Key Differences
- Email Broadcasting:
- Skool: Offers an email broadcast feature, eliminating the need for separate email tools.
- Circle: Does not have an email broadcast feature but offers group messaging for subgroups within the community.
- Navigation (especially for large communities):
- Circle: Features spaces and space groups, making it easier to organize content and discussions.
- Skool: Uses a single feed, which can become cluttered as the community grows.
- Automation and Integrations:
- Circle: Strong automation tools, including Zapier and custom API, allowing more flexible and advanced automation.
- Skool: Limited automation with basic Zapier integration.
- Customization:
- Circle: More customizable in terms of layout, branding, and design, allowing a unique community feel.
- Skool: Limited customization options.
4. Pricing
- Skool:
- $99 per month with unlimited members, courses, and features.
- 2.9% transaction fee.
- Example cost for 10 memberships: $1,536 per year.
- Circle:
- Professional plan starts at $99 per month, limited to 20 spaces.
- Transaction fees include 2% platform fee plus Stripe fees (total around 4.9% plus $0.30 per transaction).
- Example cost for 10 memberships: Approximately $1,812 per year.
- Has higher-tier plans with more features and reduced fees.
5. Final Decision and Reasons for Choosing Circle
- Navigation: Better for growing communities with structured spaces to organize content.
- Automation: Offers robust built-in automation and API support.
- Customization: Provides more branding and design flexibility.
- Long-term Flexibility: Considered Circle a better long-term bet despite being slightly more expensive.
Conclusion
- The speaker chose Circle due to its advantages in navigation, automation, customization, and long-term flexibility. However, they suggest trying both platforms to see which best suits one's needs.