SchoolMaker : Full Review, Testing, and Presentation (2024)

What is SchoolMaker?

SchoolMaker is an innovative online training platform, designed to create and manage dynamic learning communities.

SchoolMaker was launched in November 2020 by Stan Leloup, famous for Marketing Mania (YouTube channel), and Pierre Urban.

It quickly gained popularity thanks to its comprehensive features and user-friendly interface.

With over 500,000 users worldwide, SchoolMaker is revolutionizing online training.

SchoolMaker Features

SchoolMaker offers a comprehensive suite of options for creating and managing online learning communities, covering a wide range of services:

1. Creation and hosting of online training courses

SchoolMaker offers a robust platform to structure and deliver online training in an efficient manner.

• Structuring courses into modules and lessons
• Integration of various media (videos, PDFs, quizzes, presentations)
• Intuitive interface for training management
• Support for various course formats (auto-training, guided training)
• Student progress tracking tools
• Creating personalized learning paths

Although the interface is intuitive, it may lack flexibility for very complex course structures. The addition of advanced customization options, such as conditional branches or adaptive paths based on the AI trend, could enrich the experience for the most demanding trainers.

2. Community engagement tools and coaching

SchoolMaker integrates advanced community options to promote interactions between members and enable effective coaching.

• Thematic discussion forums
• Real-time chat spaces
• Study and support groups
• Integrated mentoring system for everyone's needs
• Facebook community for some questions
• Feedback and peer review tools for each person
• Planning and managing individual or group coaching sessions

Despite the good integration, these tools could benefit from more innovative approaches, such as AI-based social learning or automated mentoring systems, to set SchoolMaker apart from its competitors.

3. Organization of live sessions and coaching sessions

This e-learning tool makes it easy to organize and event management live and interactive coaching sessions with students.

• Integration of live streaming solutions for online training
• Planning and booking tools for coaching sessions
• Virtual meeting rooms for small group sessions
• Interactive features (live polls, Q&A, whiteboard)
• Record and share sessions for later viewing
• Detailed analytics on participation and engagement during live sessions

Although functional, this feature could benefit from advanced options such as virtual reality for immersive experiences or the integration of virtual assistants to manage frequently asked questions.

4. Secure payment system with ThriveCart

SchoolMaker offers a seamless integration with ThriveCart for an efficient and secure management of payments.

• Native integration with ThriveCart for secure transactions
• Single, recurring, or subscription payment options
• Managing coupons and promotions
• Detailed, real-time financial reports
• Support for multiple currencies
• PCI DSS security compliance

While the integration with ThriveCart is solid, it can be limiting. Adding options for cryptocurrencies or local payment systems could broaden the platform's appeal, especially for international markets.

5. Gamification system

The platform integrates gamification tools to motivate the community and encourage their active participation.

• Use of a customizable point and level system
• Badges and awards for various achievements
• Ranking tables and friendly competitions
• Learning challenges and missions
• Visual progression of the learning journey
• Unlockable rewards (exclusive content, coaching sessions, etc.)

The gamification system effectively stimulates engagement, offering various tools to motivate students.

However, it could benefit from more advanced customization options based on individual student preferences.

6. Multilingual support

The training platform offers multilingual support to meet the needs of an international audience.

• User interface available in multiple languages
• Integrated translation tools for course content
• Translation management by administrators
• Automatic subtitling for all types of videos
• Activating/deactivating languages as required

Multilingual support is a significant asset, facilitating international expansion.

However, the quality of machine translations could be improved, and more advanced tools for managing manual translations would be beneficial for large multilingual communities.

7. Tracking and analysis tools

SchoolMaker offers comprehensive analytics tools to monitor student progress and assess community engagement.

• Detailed and customizable dashboards
• Real-time monitoring of learners' progress
• Analysis of community engagement (forum participation, retention rates)
• Course and content performance reports
• Prediction tools to identify students at risk of dropping out
• Exporting data for in-depth analysis

The analysis tools provide valuable information to optimize the learning experience.

Adding more advanced data export options and better integration with external analytics tools could enhance this functionality.

8. Customizing the interface

SchoolMaker allows you to customize the appearance of the training platform to reflect the brand identity of users.

• Changing colors, fonts, and themes
• Add custom logos and brand images
• Customizing automatic emails and notifications
• Creation of custom homepages and landing pages
• Possibility to add custom scripts (Google Analytics, tracking pixels)
• Adaptation of the navigation structure

The customization options are valuable, offering good flexibility to adapt the appearance of the platform.

However, more advanced options for modifying the structure of the user interface could satisfy users seeking further customization.

9. Integrations

SchoolMaker facilitates integration with various tools to improve efficiency and user experience.

• Integration with video conferencing software such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams
• Connectivity with CRM and email marketing software
• API for custom integrations through Zapier
• Synchronization with external calendars such as Google Calendar
• Compatibility with project management platforms such as Trello and Asana

The integrations enhance the versatility of SchoolMaker. However, expanding the range of integrations could offer more flexibility for users with specific needs.

In conclusion, SchoolMaker offers a comprehensive range of features covering all aspects of creating and managing online courses, with a particular focus on community engagement, coaching, and flexible learning formats.

Although the platform is very comprehensive, some areas could benefit from improvements to meet the needs of the most demanding users and to stand out more in a competitive market.

Pricing

SchoolMaker offers a simple and transparent pricing structure, offering full access to all functionalities, regardless of the package chosen.

The platform is designed to create engaging courses that members are more likely to complete, apply, and enjoy.

Common options to all plans

• Access to all functionalities
• 14 day free trial
• Secure payment via ThriveCart
• Monthly or annual payment option (with 20% discount)

Plans

1. Basic offer  (99€ /month - 500 Active Members)
2. Intermediate offer (199€ /month - 1500 Active Members)
3. Unlimited offer (199€ /month - Unlimited members)

Key points to remember

• All packages include all of SchoolMaker's features.
• Differentiation is based solely on the number of authorized active members.
• The annual commitment allows you to benefit from a significant reduction of 20%.
• The possibility of testing the platform free of charge for 14 days allows you to assess its suitability with your needs before making a commitment.

SchoolMaker thus offers pricing adapted to different sizes of projects, while guaranteeing access to all options, allowing users to choose the most suitable formula for their current audience and their growth projects.

Who is SchoolMaker for?

SchoolMaker is a multi-purpose platform designed for various players in online learning:

1. Individual trainers and coaches : Creation and sale of online courses, organization of coaching sessions.
2. Businesses : In-house employee training, professional development, and training programs by consultants.
3. Educational institutions : Schools, universities and vocational training centers for online and hybrid courses.
4. Online communities and content creators : Building communities around specific areas of expertise, monetization of content by influencers.
5. Entrepreneurs and start-ups : Development and sale of educational digital products, rapid launch of learning platforms.

SchoolMaker offers features adapted to each profile, including course structuring, progress monitoring, community tools, gamification, and payment integrations. Its flexibility makes it an attractive solution for those looking to offer an engaging and effective learning experience, regardless of the scale of the project.

Alternatives to SchoolMaker

1. Skool

Features

• Strong community orientation
• Advanced gamification tools
• Intuitive user interface
• Integrated course and event management system

Pricing

• Single offer: $99/month

Comparative opinion: Skool stands out for its focus on community engagement and gamification. Its unique pricing model may be beneficial for advanced users, but less flexible for smaller projects. Unlike SchoolMaker, Skool offers a more immersive experience in terms of community interactions, but may be less versatile in some aspects of course management.

2. Système IO

Features

• All-in-one solution including marketing, sales and training
• Creation of websites and sales funnel
• Large community on Facebook with practical advice
• Email and marketing campaign management
• Webinar hosting

Pricing

• Free version
• Startup: $27/month
• Webinar: $47/month
• Pro: $97/month
• Lifetime offer available

Comparative opinion: Système IO offers a more versatile approach than SchoolMaker, integrating advanced marketing features. Its tiered pricing structure makes it more accessible to newbies and small businesses. However, it may be less specialized in purely educational and community aspects compared to SchoolMaker.

3. Thinkific

Features

• Broad range of tools for creating courses
• Advanced options for customizing your school
• Integrated marketing features
• Support for certifications and learning paths

Pricing

• Basic: $36/month
• Start: 74$/month
• Grow: 149/month

Comparative opinion: The Thinkific software is characterized by its flexibility and its wide range of educational features. Compared to SchoolMaker, it offers a lot of more advanced customization options and better scalability. However, its community features may be less developed than SchoolMaker's.

Final Verdict

As we saw in this article, SchoolMaker is positioned as an innovative online training platform for trainers and students.

It is particularly suited to customers such as infopreneurs, to individuals monetizing their skills, and to companies offering support to their employees.

❤️ Pros:

• All-in-one solution : Course management integration, community tools, and coaching features.
• Flexible learning formats : Personalized courses and step-by-step training.
• Strong community orientation : Enrichment of the learning experience.
• Personalized support : Individual and group coaching.
• Advanced gamification : Stimulation of the commitment of participants.
• Robust payment integration : Facilitating monetization via ThriveCart.
• What's new : Multiple changes in its member area month after month

💔 Cons:

• Video hosting limited: Need to use third party platforms.
• Limited customization : Limited user interface options
• Dependence on integrations : Necessary use of external services, especially for video
• High price : Potentially prohibitive for small projects.

SchoolMaker excels in creating immersive and interactive learning experiences, standing out for its integrated approach.

Ideal for those who favor a strong community component and have the necessary resources, it may however prove to be less suitable for projects requiring great technical flexibility from customers.

Potential users should carefully assess their needs and budget before engaging, while considering the unique added value that SchoolMaker offers in the online training landscape.