Quick Overview
- 1#1: Discourse - Open-source forum software for building highly engaging discussion-based communities.
- 2#2: Circle - All-in-one platform for creators to host paid communities with spaces, events, and courses.
- 3#3: Mighty Networks - Comprehensive community platform for monetizing networks with courses, memberships, and live events.
- 4#4: Discord - Real-time voice, video, and text platform for gaming, tech, and fan communities.
- 5#5: Bettermode - Modular community platform with forums, chats, ideation, and analytics for brands.
- 6#6: Skool - Simple, gamified community platform for courses, groups, and direct messaging.
- 7#7: Slack - Collaboration hub with channels and integrations used for professional communities.
- 8#8: Hivebrite - Enterprise platform for managing alumni, professional, and member-based communities.
- 9#9: Geneva - Mobile-first app for group chats, events, and polls in team and interest-based communities.
- 10#10: Vanilla - Cloud-based forum software for customer support and brand advocacy communities.
Tools were selected based on robust feature sets, user-friendly design, performance reliability, and value, ensuring they excel across use cases like discussion-based hubs, gamified networks, and enterprise-level management.
Comparison Table
Dive into a comparison of top community software tools, featuring Discourse, Circle, Mighty Networks, Discord, Bettermode, and more, crafted to support diverse community-building needs. This table outlines key features, use cases, and standout attributes, helping readers identify the best platform for fostering engagement and connection.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discourse Open-source forum software for building highly engaging discussion-based communities. | other | 9.7/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 2 | Circle All-in-one platform for creators to host paid communities with spaces, events, and courses. | other | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.8/10 |
| 3 | Mighty Networks Comprehensive community platform for monetizing networks with courses, memberships, and live events. | other | 8.8/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 4 | Discord Real-time voice, video, and text platform for gaming, tech, and fan communities. | other | 8.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 5 | Bettermode Modular community platform with forums, chats, ideation, and analytics for brands. | other | 8.4/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 6 | Skool Simple, gamified community platform for courses, groups, and direct messaging. | other | 8.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 7 | Slack Collaboration hub with channels and integrations used for professional communities. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 8 | Hivebrite Enterprise platform for managing alumni, professional, and member-based communities. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 9 | Geneva Mobile-first app for group chats, events, and polls in team and interest-based communities. | other | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.9/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 10 | Vanilla Cloud-based forum software for customer support and brand advocacy communities. | other | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 7.2/10 | 9.3/10 |
Open-source forum software for building highly engaging discussion-based communities.
All-in-one platform for creators to host paid communities with spaces, events, and courses.
Comprehensive community platform for monetizing networks with courses, memberships, and live events.
Real-time voice, video, and text platform for gaming, tech, and fan communities.
Modular community platform with forums, chats, ideation, and analytics for brands.
Simple, gamified community platform for courses, groups, and direct messaging.
Collaboration hub with channels and integrations used for professional communities.
Enterprise platform for managing alumni, professional, and member-based communities.
Mobile-first app for group chats, events, and polls in team and interest-based communities.
Cloud-based forum software for customer support and brand advocacy communities.
Discourse
otherOpen-source forum software for building highly engaging discussion-based communities.
Innovative nested reply threading and categorization system that organizes discussions like modern social feeds while maintaining forum structure
Discourse is a modern, open-source forum platform designed for building highly engaging online communities with structured discussions, categories, and real-time interactions. It replaces outdated bulletin boards with a responsive, mobile-first interface that includes features like badges, notifications, gamification, and plugin extensibility to foster user participation. Ideal for forums, support sites, or membership communities, it supports both self-hosting and fully managed hosted plans for scalability.
Pros
- Exceptional engagement tools including real-time notifications, badges, and digest emails
- Fully responsive design with native mobile apps for seamless cross-device experience
- Highly extensible with thousands of plugins and themes, plus robust admin controls
Cons
- Self-hosting demands significant server resources and technical expertise
- Hosted plans can become expensive for very high-traffic communities
- Migration from legacy forums requires careful planning and plugins
Best For
Organizations and growing communities needing a professional, modern forum to drive user interaction and retention.
Pricing
Free open-source self-hosting; hosted Standard plan at $100/month (10k users, 100k visits), scaling to Business ($300/month) and Enterprise (custom).
Circle
otherAll-in-one platform for creators to host paid communities with spaces, events, and courses.
Customizable 'Spaces' that organize communities into themed hubs for discussions, events, and content
Circle is an all-in-one platform designed for building modern online communities, offering customizable spaces for discussions, live events, courses, and memberships. It combines forums, chat, calendars, and monetization tools into a sleek, branded interface that feels like a native app. Ideal for creators and businesses, Circle streamlines community management without requiring coding expertise.
Pros
- Stunning, highly customizable UI that creates branded community experiences
- Comprehensive feature set including spaces, live streams, events, and courses
- Robust monetization with memberships, one-time sales, and subscriptions
Cons
- Premium pricing that scales quickly for larger communities
- Limited advanced analytics on lower plans
- Free plan is quite restrictive for serious use
Best For
Creators, coaches, and brands seeking a polished, all-in-one platform to build and monetize engaged online communities.
Pricing
Free limited plan; Starter at $49/mo, Professional at $99/mo, Business at $219/mo (billed annually), with 14-day free trial.
Mighty Networks
otherComprehensive community platform for monetizing networks with courses, memberships, and live events.
AI-driven community builder and native branded mobile apps for exceptional member retention and engagement
Mighty Networks is a comprehensive platform designed for building and monetizing online communities, offering tools for discussions, live events, courses, and memberships all in one branded space. It stands out with features like customizable Spaces for sub-communities, AI-powered content recommendations, and native mobile apps for iOS and Android. Creators and brands use it to foster deep member engagement and generate revenue through subscriptions, courses, and events.
Pros
- Robust community tools including chats, feeds, and member directories
- Seamless integration of courses, events, and monetization options
- Native branded mobile apps with push notifications for high engagement
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for small or starting communities
- Limited advanced customization without higher tiers or Mighty Pro
- Some features require a learning curve to fully utilize
Best For
Online creators, coaches, educators, and brands building branded communities with integrated learning and monetization.
Pricing
Community plan at $49/month (billed annually), Business at $119/month, and custom Mighty Pro for enterprises.
Discord
otherReal-time voice, video, and text platform for gaming, tech, and fan communities.
Seamless, low-latency voice channels supporting up to 99 users with stage modes for events
Discord is a free communication platform primarily designed for building and managing online communities through customizable servers with text, voice, and video channels. It enables users to organize discussions via topic-specific channels, roles, permissions, and integrations like bots for automation and moderation. Widely popular among gamers but adaptable for various communities, it supports live events, screen sharing, and real-time collaboration to foster engagement.
Pros
- Highly customizable servers with roles, permissions, and channels
- Excellent low-latency voice/video quality for large groups
- Robust free tier with extensive bot and integration ecosystem
Cons
- Steep learning curve for server setup and moderation
- Overwhelming notifications and interface for beginners
- Limited built-in analytics and professional tools compared to enterprise alternatives
Best For
Gaming communities, hobby groups, and tech-savvy teams seeking a free, real-time collaboration platform.
Pricing
Free core plan; Nitro Classic ($2.99/month) and Nitro ($9.99/month) for perks like custom emojis and higher upload limits; server boosts from $4.99/month.
Bettermode
otherModular community platform with forums, chats, ideation, and analytics for brands.
Fully white-label, no-code Spaces that combine multiple community types (forums, Q&A, ideas) in one branded hub
Bettermode is a no-code platform for building fully branded online communities, forums, Q&A spaces, idea portals, and customer support hubs. It allows users to create customizable spaces for discussions, feedback collection, and knowledge sharing without developers. The tool integrates SSO, analytics, and third-party apps, making it suitable for SaaS companies and brands fostering user engagement.
Pros
- Highly customizable white-label communities
- All-in-one spaces for forums, ideas, and support
- Strong integrations with tools like Intercom and Zapier
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly for larger communities
- Advanced customizations require some learning
- Limited free plan features and member limits
Best For
SaaS companies and brands needing scalable, branded community platforms for customer engagement and feedback.
Pricing
Free for up to 100 members; Pro starts at $59/month (1,000 members); Business at $269/month (5,000 members); Enterprise custom.
Skool
otherSimple, gamified community platform for courses, groups, and direct messaging.
Seamless gamification system with points, levels, and leaderboards that automatically rewards participation to boost community retention and interaction
Skool is an all-in-one platform designed for creators to build and monetize online communities, integrating forums, chat, calendars, member directories, and course hosting into a single, mobile-friendly app. It focuses on simplicity and high engagement through gamification features like points, levels, and leaderboards to foster interaction among members. Users can easily set up memberships, drip content, and host live events, making it a streamlined alternative to more complex community tools.
Pros
- Exceptionally simple setup and intuitive interface for quick community launches
- Unlimited members, courses, and posts with flat pricing for excellent scalability
- Built-in gamification (points, levels, leaderboards) drives high member engagement
Cons
- Limited customization options for branding and advanced theming
- Few native integrations; relies heavily on Zapier for third-party tools
- No native video hosting or live streaming; requires embeds from external services
Best For
Course creators, coaches, and online educators who want a simple, engagement-focused platform to combine communities and courses without technical hassle.
Pricing
$99/month per community (unlimited members, courses, and storage); no free plan, annual billing discount available.
Slack
enterpriseCollaboration hub with channels and integrations used for professional communities.
Workflow Builder for creating no-code automations tailored to community interactions and processes
Slack is a versatile cloud-based messaging platform designed for team collaboration, featuring organized channels for topic-specific discussions, direct messaging, and real-time communication via text, voice, and video huddles. It excels in integrating with thousands of third-party apps, enabling automation, file sharing, and searchable conversation histories. For communities, it provides a structured alternative to email or scattered chats, though it's optimized more for professional teams than open forums.
Pros
- Highly organized channels and threaded replies keep community discussions structured and searchable
- Vast ecosystem of 2,600+ integrations and bots for customization and automation
- Intuitive mobile and desktop apps with real-time notifications and huddles
Cons
- Free plan limits message history to 90 days and 10 app integrations
- Notifications can become overwhelming in active communities without careful management
- Less ideal for very large public communities due to invite-based access and scalability costs
Best For
Professional teams and mid-sized communities needing real-time, integration-heavy collaboration in a structured environment.
Pricing
Free (limited history/integrations); Pro $7.25/user/month (annual); Business+ $12.50/user/month; Enterprise Grid custom.
Hivebrite
enterpriseEnterprise platform for managing alumni, professional, and member-based communities.
White-label platform that delivers a fully branded, native-like mobile app experience without coding
Hivebrite is a robust community management platform tailored for alumni networks, professional associations, fraternities, and member-based organizations. It provides tools for building fully branded online communities, including member directories, event management, discussion forums, private messaging, fundraising, and career services. The platform focuses on driving engagement through personalized experiences, analytics, and mobile apps to foster long-term member retention and growth.
Pros
- Fully white-label and highly customizable branding
- Comprehensive engagement tools like events, forums, and career networking
- Strong analytics and mobile-first experience
Cons
- Premium pricing may not suit small communities
- Advanced customizations require developer support
- Limited self-service reporting depth
Best For
Mid-to-large alumni associations, professional networks, and organizations needing a branded, scalable community platform.
Pricing
Custom pricing starting at around $10,000 annually, scaled by community size and features; no public tiers or free plan.
Geneva
otherMobile-first app for group chats, events, and polls in team and interest-based communities.
Built-in event hosting and ticketing with seamless payment processing directly within community spaces
Geneva (geneva.app) is a comprehensive platform for building and managing online communities, offering customizable spaces with channels, forums, events, and member directories. It supports professional networking through integrated tasks, payments, and analytics, making it suitable for teams, alumni groups, and interest-based communities. The tool emphasizes engagement with features like live events, newsletters, and automated workflows.
Pros
- Highly customizable spaces and branding options
- Integrated events, payments, and member management
- Modern, intuitive interface with mobile app support
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for larger communities
- Limited advanced integrations compared to competitors
- Free plan has usage restrictions
Best For
Professional communities and organizations needing an all-in-one hub for discussions, events, and monetization.
Pricing
Free plan for basics; paid tiers start at $59/month (Launch) up to custom enterprise plans, billed per space.
Vanilla
otherCloud-based forum software for customer support and brand advocacy communities.
Vast addon ecosystem with over 1,000 plugins for tailored community experiences
Vanilla is an open-source forum software platform designed for building modern online communities with threaded discussions, user engagement tools, and customizable interfaces. It supports features like reactions, badges, Q&A modes, and robust moderation, making it suitable for forums, support sites, and knowledge bases. With its plugin ecosystem and mobile-responsive design, Vanilla emphasizes flexibility and community-driven development.
Pros
- Extensive free addon marketplace for high customizability
- Modern, responsive UI with gamification elements like reactions and badges
- Strong open-source community and self-hosting option
Cons
- Steep learning curve for setup and advanced customization
- Performance optimization needed for high-traffic sites
- Less intuitive out-of-the-box compared to hosted alternatives
Best For
Tech-savvy admins and small-to-medium communities seeking a free, highly customizable forum solution.
Pricing
Free self-hosted Community edition; hosted Vanilla Cloud starts at $689/year for 100 users, scaling up with tiers.
Conclusion
The review of these tools showcases a range of options, from discussion-focused platforms to monetized networks, each with unique strengths. Leading the pack, Discourse stands out as the top choice, excelling in building highly engaging community interactions. Behind it, Circle and Mighty Networks offer strong alternatives: Circle for creators seeking paid community spaces, and Mighty Networks for comprehensive monetization through courses, memberships, and live events.
Explore Discourse to tap into its open-source power and create a vibrant, growth-oriented community that fosters meaningful connections.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison