The open-source Skool alternative you can self-host
Every line of OpenEscool is on GitHub under AGPL-3.0. Run it on your own server, read how it works, change what you need.
What open source means here
OpenEscool is licensed under the GNU AGPL-3.0. In plain terms:
- You can use it for free, for any community, including paid ones.
- You can read and change the code.
- If you change it and let people use your changed version over the internet, you must offer them your changed source code under the same licence.
- Running it unchanged for your own communities needs nothing extra from you.
The code is at github.com/amanverma-gh/openescool.
The features you'd expect from Skool
| Skool feature | In OpenEscool |
|---|---|
| Community feed | Posts, categories, pins, likes, comments, photos, GIFs |
| Classroom | Courses, modules, lessons, uploaded or embedded video, files, progress |
| Calendar | One-off and weekly events, time zones, email reminders |
| Gamification | Points, named levels, leaderboards, courses unlocked by level |
| Paid memberships | Monthly, yearly or one-time plans through Stripe or Razorpay |
| About page | Gallery, ratings and member reviews |
| Digests, email a post to all members, notifications |
Other open-source options, compared fairly
Most open-source tools cover one part of what Skool does. That's fine if one part is all you need.
| Project | Best at | Courses | Levels and leaderboards | Paid memberships built in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenEscool | Skool-style community | Yes | Yes | Yes (Stripe, Razorpay) |
| Discourse | Discussion forums | No | Badges, trust levels | Through plugins |
| Flarum | Lightweight forums | No | Through extensions | Through extensions |
| LearnHouse | Online courses (LMS) | Yes | No | Check current docs |
| CourseLit | Selling courses | Yes | No | Yes |
Based on each project's public documentation at the time of writing (November 2026). Features change; check each project before you decide.
Self-hosted vs hosted
You get: no per-group plan, no platform fee, your own domain and data, and control over search indexing and features.
You take on: a server to run, backups, and updates. Updates are one command, php artisan app:update, and Admin settings tells you when a new version is out.
Stack and requirements
- Laravel 12 (PHP 8.3), Inertia, React and TypeScript, Tailwind CSS.
- MySQL in production (SQLite works for local development).
- Nginx on Ubuntu 24.04. A small VPS (1 vCPU, 4 GB RAM class) is enough to start.
- One cron entry runs the queue, digests, reminders and subscription checks. No supervisor needed.
Follow the install guide or read how to self-host a Skool-like community.
Contribute
Report bugs and send pull requests on GitHub. Share ideas and vote on features at openescool.userjot.com.
Questions
Is there an open-source version of Skool?
Skool itself is not open source. OpenEscool is an independent open-source project that covers the same core features: feed, classroom, calendar, levels and paid memberships.
Can I use OpenEscool for a paid community?
Yes. The AGPL-3.0 licence allows commercial use. Members pay you through your own Stripe or Razorpay account.
Do I have to publish my changes?
Only if you modify the code and let others use your modified version over a network. Then you must offer them the modified source under AGPL-3.0.
What server do I need?
An Ubuntu 24.04 VPS with PHP 8.3, MySQL and Nginx. A small plan is enough to start.
Run it on your own server
Free, open source, and live in about 30 minutes.