UpCoach vs. Skool - The Community Engagement Dilemma
I've been on a journey to find the best tools for building and nurturing my online community, and my quest led me to UpCoach. While I was excited about what it could offer, I've realized it has one significant drawback: a lack of gamification.
Todd, the founder, doesn’t believe in using gamification in coaching programs, and while I respect that stance, I was hoping to use UpCoach as a community-building alternative to Skool, which excels at making interactions fun and engaging.
Skool’s strength lies in its points system that incentivizes participation. Members earn points for engaging with content and one another, which can unlock courses, resources, or even cash prizes. This approach keeps the community vibrant and reduces the drop-off that often follows initial excitement on other platforms.
Sure, some argue that a quality program should naturally encourage engagement, but let's be honest—people respond to incentives. Without them, many will lose interest and drift away in search of something more stimulating. It’s a reality we can’t ignore.
For this reason, even though I own a lifetime deal for UpCoach, I’ve opted to pay $99/month for Skool to foster my community. The effectiveness of its gamified engagement strategies is simply too compelling to overlook. I hope that UpCoach considers adding similar features in the future, as I still see its potential. But for now, it’s sitting on my shelf while Skool takes the lead.
In summary, if you’re looking at UpCoach for community engagement, be aware that its current lack of gamification might hinder its effectiveness. If you value incentives to keep your community active and engaged, Skool may be the better choice for now. UpCoach has promise, but Skool is where my community thrives.
emre_upcoach
Apr 17, 2025Thanks so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and well-articulated comparison. We really appreciate it 🙏
You're absolutely right that there are different philosophies when it comes to community engagement, and gamification is a powerful tool when used well. We totally understand why Skool’s approach works for you and your audience.
At upcoach, our focus has always been on accountability and real transformation through structured coaching activities — things like progress tracking, tasks, habits, and reflection tools. We design every feature with that lens in mind, aiming to support sustainable growth and long-term results over short-term spikes in activity.
That said, we do hear occasional requests from coaches for gamified elements. But we haven’t seen strong, repeated demand, perhaps because many of our users view coaching as a process that relies more on clarity, intention, and consistency than external incentives.
Still, we deeply respect your perspective and believe there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to community building. Your feedback is valuable and helps us stay aware of different needs as we evolve the platform.
Thanks again for your honesty and for continuing to see potential in upcoach, even if it’s not the right fit for this use case (yet!).