Paid community: WhatsApp, Skool, Circle or Telegram?
A guide for people who sell access to mentoring programs, signal groups, deal clubs and classes, with a cost and fee calculator per platform.
How it works in practice
Direct answer: WhatsApp does not charge subscriptions inside the app: the sale happens on a payment platform and access to the group is controlled by the link, join approval and a bot that removes members who did not renew. Skool and Circle combine community and payments, with a platform fee and a transaction fee that vary by plan. Telegram offers paid invite links in Stars for channels. The best choice depends on where your audience already is and on net revenue after fees.
In short:
- On WhatsApp, payment is external and access is controlled by the admin or a bot.
- Skool and Circle charge a platform fee and a transaction fee, depending on the plan.
- Telegram has paid invite links in Stars for channels.
WhatsApp, Skool, Circle and Telegram for a paid community
| Platform | How the member pays | How access is controlled | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| External payment platform (checkout, subscription) | Group link, join approval and a bot with time-limited access | Groups hold up to 1,024 members; renewals must be checked | |
| Skool | Payment inside the platform | Access granted by the platform | Transaction fee depending on the plan (Skool pricing) |
| Circle | Payment inside the platform | Private spaces and access plans | Platform fee and a transaction fee that drops on higher plans (Circle pricing) |
| Telegram | Stars, through a paid invite link with monthly billing | Automatic entry to the channel after payment | A channel feature; rules in Star Subscriptions |
The advantage of WhatsApp is that the audience already opens the app every day, which tends to raise the reach of notices. The drawback is that billing and access control are separate. See how to structure it in WhatsApp VIP group.
Calculator: net revenue per platform
Enter the number of paying members and the monthly fee. For each platform, type the fixed monthly cost and the total transaction fee (platform plus payment processor) from the pricing pages. Cost fields start at 0 for you to fill in.
Values come from what you type. Check each platform pricing page, which changes often, and include taxes if they are charged separately.
How to create a paid community on WhatsApp
- Choose the payment platform and create the product with recurring billing or access for a period.
- Create the group with join approval turned on and rules in the description.
- Deliver the link only after payment, on the thank you page or in the purchase email.
- Control expiry: 9bot has time-limited access, which warns before expiry and removes members who did not renew.
- Welcome members and answer questions with commands, so the group does not depend on the admin every hour.
When the community outgrows one group, organize it by class in WhatsApp Business community.
How to choose the platform
- WhatsApp when the audience is already there and the value is in notices and quick conversation.
- Skool or Circle when the community has courses, files and discussions that need to stay organized.
- Telegram when the content fits a channel and the audience accepts paying with Stars.
- Mixed model: content on the platform and notices on WhatsApp, with the same access control.
For launches with many groups, see launch groups.
To compare subscriptions, affiliates, sponsored posts and own sales as revenue for a group, see How to make money with a WhatsApp group: the models that work.
Read also
FAQ
How do I create a paid community on WhatsApp?
Does WhatsApp charge for group subscriptions?
Do Skool and Circle charge transaction fees?
Can I charge on Telegram?
Does 9bot process payments?
