The creator economy hit $250 billion in 2025. Yet most creators still struggle alone, figuring out monetization through trial and error.
The fastest path to success? Learning from creators who’ve already done it. Paid communities on platforms like Skool and Whop have become the go-to resource for ambitious creators who want shortcuts to revenue.
This guide covers the 20 best creator communities across both platforms as of January 2026. Whether you want to learn business strategy, master a skill, or find your tribe, there’s a community here for you.
TL;DR
- Best free community: Skoolers (official Skool community, 180K+ members)
- Best for business strategy: Acquisition by Alex Hormozi (free, invitation-based)
- Best for crypto/trading: Kaizen on Whop ($199/month, 21K+ members)
- Best for content creators: Content Academy by Mino ($97/month, 4.98 star rating)
- Platform choice: Skool for education and coaching, Whop for digital products and trading signals
- Pricing: Skool communities typically $37-500/month, Whop communities $50-200/month
What Are Skool and Whop?
Before diving into specific communities, here’s a quick breakdown of both platforms.
Skool is a community platform built for educators and coaches. It combines course hosting, community forums, and gamification (leaderboards, points) in one place. Alex Hormozi owns a significant stake, which has driven massive growth. Skool charges creators $99/month plus 2.9% transaction fees.
Whop is a marketplace for digital products including communities, courses, software, and trading signals. It’s particularly popular with crypto traders and content creators. Whop takes no upfront fee, only 2.7-3% when you make a sale.
Why creators build paid communities:
- Recurring revenue (subscribers pay monthly)
- Deeper relationships than social media followers
- Higher lifetime value per customer
- Built-in accountability keeps members engaged
Top 12 Skool Communities for Creators
1. Skoolers (Official Skool Community)
Founder: Sam Ovens / Skool Team Niche: Community building and course creation Members: 180,000+ Price: Free
The official community for anyone using Skool. It’s the best place to learn the platform, get feedback on your community, and network with other course creators. The team regularly shares updates and winning strategies from top communities.
Best for: Anyone starting on Skool or wanting to improve their community.
2. Educational Content Creators (by Hamza Ahmed)
Founder: Hamza Ahmed Niche: YouTube monetization, content creation Members: Active paid community Price: $247/month
Hamza made $5M through YouTube and has 2M+ subscribers. This program teaches his exact system for starting, growing, and monetizing YouTube channels. Two-time Skool Games winner. Note: The original Adonis Gang community is now closed as Hamza focuses on this specialized program.
Best for: Creators serious about building profitable YouTube channels.
3. Acquisition (Hormozi Community)
Founder: Alex Hormozi Niche: Business scaling and entrepreneurship Members: 400+ (invitation-based) Price: Free
Run by the billionaire entrepreneur and Skool investor. This community shares high-level business strategy, deal flow insights, and scaling tactics. It’s invitation-only, but you can request access through Acquisition.com.
Best for: Established entrepreneurs looking to scale past $1M+.
4. AI Automation Society
Founder: Various AI entrepreneurs Niche: AI tools, automation, SaaS building Members: Large (won Q1 2025 Skool Games) Price: Paid (varies)
A community built to master no-code AI automations. This community won the 2025 Q1 Skool Games for fastest growth in the tech category. Members learn to build businesses using AI tools, create automations, and launch SaaS products.
Best for: Creators and entrepreneurs who want to leverage AI for income.
5. The Creator Party
Founder: Mariah Coz Niche: One-person businesses and digital products Members: 5,000+ Price: Paid
The #1 Club for Creators that sell courses, programs, and digital products. A community built specifically for solopreneurs building creator businesses. Includes playbooks for launching digital products, weekly accountability calls, and peer feedback. The focus is on practical implementation over theory.
Best for: Solo creators building their first or next digital product.
6. Startup Empire (Greg Isenberg)
Founder: Greg Isenberg Niche: Community building and monetization Members: 700+ Price: $2,999/year
Greg Isenberg built and sold multiple community-based businesses. Now called Startup Empire, this community helps you turn ideas into a cash-flowing business in 90 days. Advocates the “ACP” model: Audience → Community → Product.
Best for: Creators who want to launch their own paid community.
7. Copy MBA
Founder: Professional copywriters Niche: Copywriting and marketing Members: 3,700+ Price: Paid
Described as “the greatest freelance writing course that the world has ever seen.” Get direct feedback on your sales copy from experienced copywriters. The community focuses on practical copywriting for landing pages, emails, and ads. Members share swipe files and critique each other’s work.
Best for: Marketers and creators who want to improve their sales messaging.
8. Growth Cave
Founder: Advertising and funnel experts Niche: Paid advertising and sales funnels Members: Active community Price: Paid
Focused on offer creation, ad frameworks, and high-converting landing pages. Members learn to run profitable Facebook and Instagram ads, build funnels, and scale their marketing.
Best for: Creators ready to invest in paid traffic.
9. The FBA Advantage
Founder: Michael Jordan (9-figure Amazon seller) Niche: E-commerce and Amazon FBA Members: Active community Price: Paid
Led by a 9-figure seller who manages over $300M in Amazon revenue per year at BAD Marketing. Includes step-by-step FBA course, live coaching calls, and 1-on-1 mentorship from your own coach.
Best for: Entrepreneurs who want to build an Amazon business.
10. Digital Growth Community
Founder: Digital marketing experts Niche: Digital marketing and customer acquisition Members: 7,000+ Price: Free tier available, paid upgrades
A movement towards achieving financial independence through digital marketing. Covers SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, and conversion optimization. Free version available to get started.
Best for: Small business owners and creators building their online presence.
11. The Empowered Coach Community
Founder: Fitness coaching entrepreneurs Niche: Online fitness coaching business Members: 600+ Price: Paid
Specifically for personal trainers and online fitness coaches targeting £10K+ months. Includes mindset training, AI strategies, Meta Ads mini-course, and IG Ads playbook. Empowers coaches with the tools to succeed in online coaching.
Best for: Fitness professionals transitioning to online coaching.
12. Learn & Earn Profits Online
Founder: Various Niche: High-income skills and online business Members: 15,000+ Price: Paid
Teaches the Master Resell Rights business model. Acquire high-income skills to run an online business and earn 100% of the profits by rebranding and reselling digital products.
Best for: Beginners looking for a path to online income.
Top 8 Whop Communities for Creators
1. Kaizen / Kaizen Platinum
Founder: Brian Jung (YouTube, millions of subscribers) Niche: Crypto trading education Members: 21,000+ Price: $7/week (Lite) or $199/month (Platinum)
The #1 community on Whop overall. Run by Brian Jung, a major YouTube finance creator. Members get daily trading alerts, live streams, and access to 30+ years of combined trading experience. Includes a $1/day “Lite” option to test before committing.
Best for: Crypto traders who want signals and education.
2. The Whale Room
Founder: Kyle “Kyledoops” (Crypto Banter) Niche: Crypto trading signals and charting Members: Large, verified community Price: $99-159/month (or $899/year)
Whop-verified community led by Crypto Banter’s Kyledoops. Daily trade signals and chart readings, exclusive liquidation data, livestreams, and a tight-knit community. Available on both Discord and Telegram.
Best for: Active crypto traders who want daily market analysis.
3. Front Runners
Founder: Ran Neuner (Crypto Banter CEO) Niche: Advanced crypto trading strategies Members: 21,000+ Price: $99-2,999/month (Bronze to Platinum tiers)
Founded in 2023 by Crypto Banter’s CEO. Daily 20+ page market reports, research calls with experts, and a dedicated memecoin section. 500+ winning trades since October 2023. Free community tier available.
Best for: Experienced crypto traders looking for research-backed ideas.
4. GoldBoys
Founder: Team of 30+ expert handicappers Niche: Sports betting picks Members: 30,000+ Price: $50-60/month (Silver/Gold) or $1,500 lifetime
The top sports betting community on Whop. Coverage for NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, MMA, and golf. 30+ handicappers provide daily picks. Gold tier includes VIP specialists, 1-on-1 guidance, and betting tools.
Best for: Sports bettors who want professional picks.
5. Content Academy
Founder: Mino Lee (400K IG, 1.3M TikTok followers) Niche: Social media growth and content creation Members: Active community (4.98 star rating) Price: $97/month
An in-depth course combined with community for building massive social media followings. Weekly group coaching calls with Mino. Members have reported 60K followers and 10M views in 60 days using his system.
Best for: Creators who want to grow on Instagram and TikTok.
6. MediaLabs
Founder: Alex P Sedlak (@apsedlak) Niche: TikTok monetization and UGC Members: Active community Price: Paid
A comprehensive solution for winning on TikTok and UGC. Trains creators to be the internet’s best, connecting them with brands ready to pay generously. Helps established UGC creators land brand deals and monetize content.
Best for: UGC creators looking to scale their income.
7. CA$H KINGS
Founder: Blake Evans ($1M+ in ecom sales in 2024) Niche: E-commerce mentorship Members: Active community Price: Paid (includes 8 coaching calls)
Elite, hands-on ecommerce mentorship. Up to 8 1-on-1 coaching calls, direct insights from Meta/TikTok/Stripe insiders, and exclusive systems for scaling stores. Built for those targeting 7-figure levels.
Best for: E-commerce entrepreneurs who want direct mentorship.
8. The Haven
Founder: UB (@CryptoUB) and 5 expert analysts Niche: Crypto education Members: Active community Price: $175/month
Founded in 2021 to educate and spare traders costly mistakes. Six analysts (UB, Pierre, Krillin, Loma, CBS, Mayne) covering different trading styles and timeframes. Thousands of hours of educational content.
Best for: Crypto beginners who want structured education.
Skool vs Whop: Which Platform Should You Choose?
| Feature | Skool | Whop |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Platform Fee | $99/month | Free |
| Transaction Fee | 2.9% | 2.7-3% |
| Best For | Coaches, educators, course creators | Digital products, trading, diverse sellers |
| Video Hosting | No (requires YouTube/Vimeo embed) | Yes, native hosting |
| Payment Options | Stripe only, monthly subscriptions | Stripe, PayPal, crypto, flexible pricing |
| Gamification | Strong (leaderboards, points, badges) | Limited |
| Marketplace Discovery | 170K+ communities | Whop Discover (30% fee on marketplace sales) |
| Third-Party Integrations | Limited | Discord integration, more flexibility |
Choose Skool If:
- You’re building an education or coaching business
- You want gamification to boost member engagement
- You prefer a simple, all-in-one community + course platform
- You want to compete in Skool Games for exposure
Choose Whop If:
- You’re selling diverse digital products (courses, ebooks, software, picks)
- You need Discord integration for your community
- You want zero upfront costs (pay only when you earn)
- You’re selling trading signals or sports picks
- You need flexible payment options (crypto, PayPal)
How Top Creators Fill Their Communities
Here’s the strategy most successful community creators use: Instagram comment triggers.
You’ve seen it. A creator posts a Reel about their community, and the caption says “Comment JOIN to get the link.” Within seconds of commenting, you receive a DM with the signup link.
This works because:
- It’s immediate (no waiting, no friction)
- It captures interest at peak curiosity
- It feels personal (a DM, not a link in bio)
- It qualifies leads (they took an action)
The workflow:
- Create content teasing your community’s value
- Tell viewers to comment a keyword (JOIN, COMMUNITY, INFO)
- Automation sends your Skool/Whop link via DM instantly
- Interested followers sign up while the interest is hot
Tools like CreatorFlow automate this entire process. When someone comments your trigger word, they automatically receive your community link via DM within seconds.
This strategy alone has helped community creators add hundreds of members per month without manual DM work.
Related: Complete guide to Instagram keyword trigger automation
How to Choose the Right Community
With hundreds of paid communities available, here’s how to pick the right one:
1. Match your current goal
Don’t join a scaling community if you haven’t launched yet. Don’t join a beginner community if you’re already at $10K/month. Match the community to where you are now.
2. Start with free options
Skoolers is free. Many communities offer free trials or low-cost entry tiers. Test before committing to expensive memberships.
3. Check engagement, not just member count
A 500-member community with daily activity beats a 50,000-member ghost town. Look for recent posts, active discussions, and responsive moderators.
4. Verify the founder’s credibility
Do they have public proof of their success? A YouTube channel, case studies, or verified testimonials? Avoid communities where the founder’s only credential is selling the community.
5. Consider the ROI
A $200/month community that helps you land one extra client is worth it. A $50/month community where you never engage is wasted money.
FAQ
Is Skool worth the $99/month platform fee?
For creators serious about building a community business, yes. The all-in-one platform (community + courses + gamification) saves you from stitching together multiple tools. Many Skool creators earn $10K-100K+/month from their communities, making the $99 fee negligible.
Can you actually make money with Whop?
Yes. Whop processed over $2 billion in digital product sales and hit $142M annualized platform revenue in October 2025. Top creators earn $250,000+/month. However, like any platform, results depend on your product and marketing.
Is Skool better than Discord for communities?
Different tools for different purposes. Discord is better for real-time chat and gaming communities. Skool is better for structured education, courses, and coaching. Many creators use both: Skool for courses and Whop/Discord for community chat.
How do I promote my own paid community?
The most effective method for Instagram creators is comment-to-DM automation. Post content about your community, ask followers to comment a keyword, and automatically send them the signup link. This converts at 3-5x higher rates than “link in bio.” Tools like CreatorFlow handle this automatically.
Are paid communities better than free ones?
Not always, but they tend to have higher engagement. When people pay, they’re more committed. Free communities often become ghost towns, while paid communities maintain active participation because members want to get their money’s worth.
Start Learning from the Best
The creator economy rewards those who learn fast and implement faster. Joining the right community can compress years of trial and error into months.
Quick recommendations:
- Just starting out: Skoolers (free) to learn the landscape
- Building a creator business: The Creator Party or Startup Empire
- Crypto/trading: Kaizen on Whop
- Content growth: Content Academy
- Business scaling: Acquisition (if you can get invited)
Pick one community that matches your current goal. Give it 90 days of active participation. The ROI on learning from those ahead of you is almost always worth it.
Want to grow your own paid community? Use Instagram to drive signups automatically. CreatorFlow sends your Skool or Whop link via DM the moment someone comments on your post. No manual work, no missed leads.
Community pricing and member counts accurate as of January 2026. Verify current details on each platform before joining.