Quick Overview
- 1#1: Discourse - Discourse is a modern, open-source forum platform that powers engaging online discussions with advanced moderation, notifications, and analytics.
- 2#2: Mighty Networks - Mighty Networks enables creators to build branded communities with courses, events, live streaming, and native mobile apps.
- 3#3: Circle - Circle is an all-in-one community platform for hosting discussions, live rooms, events, and courses with seamless integrations.
- 4#4: Skool - Skool provides a gamified community platform for classrooms and groups with feeds, chats, calendars, and leaderboards.
- 5#5: Bettermode - Bettermode offers a customizable community platform with forums, Q&A, user-generated content, and AI-powered moderation.
- 6#6: Hivebrite - Hivebrite is a community management solution for alumni networks, professional groups, and nonprofits with CRM and engagement tools.
- 7#7: Higher Logic - Higher Logic delivers enterprise-grade community software with robust forums, analytics, marketing automation, and member directories.
- 8#8: Vanilla Forums - Vanilla provides cloud-based forum software focused on threaded discussions, reactions, moderation, and SSO integrations.
- 9#9: Invision Community - Invision Community is a suite for forums, blogs, galleries, and social features to build interactive online hubs.
- 10#10: Zapnito - Zapnito powers knowledge-sharing communities with AI search, personalized feeds, and expert networking capabilities.
We ranked these tools based on feature depth, usability, quality, and value—evaluating everything from moderation capabilities to integration options to ensure they deliver consistent performance for modern community management needs.
Comparison Table
Choosing the right online community management software is vital for building thriving, engaged groups, and this table compares leading tools like Discourse, Mighty Networks, Circle, Skool, Bettermode, and others. It outlines key features—from content moderation to monetization options—to help readers find the best fit for their community’s goals and audience.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discourse Discourse is a modern, open-source forum platform that powers engaging online discussions with advanced moderation, notifications, and analytics. | specialized | 9.7/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 2 | Mighty Networks Mighty Networks enables creators to build branded communities with courses, events, live streaming, and native mobile apps. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.8/10 |
| 3 | Circle Circle is an all-in-one community platform for hosting discussions, live rooms, events, and courses with seamless integrations. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 4 | Skool Skool provides a gamified community platform for classrooms and groups with feeds, chats, calendars, and leaderboards. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 5 | Bettermode Bettermode offers a customizable community platform with forums, Q&A, user-generated content, and AI-powered moderation. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 6 | Hivebrite Hivebrite is a community management solution for alumni networks, professional groups, and nonprofits with CRM and engagement tools. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.9/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 7 | Higher Logic Higher Logic delivers enterprise-grade community software with robust forums, analytics, marketing automation, and member directories. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 8 | Vanilla Forums Vanilla provides cloud-based forum software focused on threaded discussions, reactions, moderation, and SSO integrations. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 9 | Invision Community Invision Community is a suite for forums, blogs, galleries, and social features to build interactive online hubs. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 10 | Zapnito Zapnito powers knowledge-sharing communities with AI search, personalized feeds, and expert networking capabilities. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.8/10 |
Discourse is a modern, open-source forum platform that powers engaging online discussions with advanced moderation, notifications, and analytics.
Mighty Networks enables creators to build branded communities with courses, events, live streaming, and native mobile apps.
Circle is an all-in-one community platform for hosting discussions, live rooms, events, and courses with seamless integrations.
Skool provides a gamified community platform for classrooms and groups with feeds, chats, calendars, and leaderboards.
Bettermode offers a customizable community platform with forums, Q&A, user-generated content, and AI-powered moderation.
Hivebrite is a community management solution for alumni networks, professional groups, and nonprofits with CRM and engagement tools.
Higher Logic delivers enterprise-grade community software with robust forums, analytics, marketing automation, and member directories.
Vanilla provides cloud-based forum software focused on threaded discussions, reactions, moderation, and SSO integrations.
Invision Community is a suite for forums, blogs, galleries, and social features to build interactive online hubs.
Zapnito powers knowledge-sharing communities with AI search, personalized feeds, and expert networking capabilities.
Discourse
specializedDiscourse is a modern, open-source forum platform that powers engaging online discussions with advanced moderation, notifications, and analytics.
Chronological topic timelines with inline replies and one-box embeds for seamless, context-rich conversations
Discourse is a modern, open-source forum platform designed for building vibrant online communities with structured discussions, Q&A, and engagement features. It provides a responsive interface with infinite scrolling, real-time notifications, badges, and gamification to boost user interaction. Highly customizable via plugins and themes, it supports self-hosting for full control or managed hosting for ease.
Pros
- Exceptional mobile and desktop user experience with real-time updates
- Highly extensible with thousands of plugins and themes
- Robust moderation tools, search, and analytics for community management
Cons
- Self-hosting requires technical expertise and server resources
- Hosted plans can become expensive for large, high-traffic communities
- Admin interface has a learning curve for beginners
Best For
Teams and organizations building scalable, engaging discussion forums for customers, members, or enthusiasts.
Pricing
Free open-source self-hosted; hosted plans start at $100/month (Standard, up to 10k visits/mo) scaling to Enterprise custom pricing.
Mighty Networks
specializedMighty Networks enables creators to build branded communities with courses, events, live streaming, and native mobile apps.
Branded native mobile apps that deliver a fully customized, app-store-ready experience for community members
Mighty Networks is a comprehensive platform for building and managing online communities, offering tools for memberships, courses, live events, and member engagement. It allows creators, coaches, and businesses to host branded communities with discussion feeds, chats, courses, and livestreams in a single space. The platform stands out with native iOS and Android apps that provide a seamless, app-like experience for members, fostering deeper connections and retention.
Pros
- All-in-one solution combining communities, courses, events, and memberships
- Branded native mobile apps for iOS and Android enhance user engagement
- Robust monetization options including subscriptions and course sales
- Strong focus on member retention with gamification and analytics
Cons
- Higher pricing tiers can be expensive for large-scale communities
- Limited advanced customization without developer help
- Some integrations are basic compared to enterprise tools
- Steeper learning curve for complex course and event setups
Best For
Ideal for creators, coaches, and small-to-medium businesses seeking to build monetizable, mobile-first online communities.
Pricing
Plans start at $49/month (billed annually) for Community, $119/month for Business, and $361/month for Path-to-Pro, with custom enterprise options.
Circle
specializedCircle is an all-in-one community platform for hosting discussions, live rooms, events, and courses with seamless integrations.
Customizable Spaces that integrate discussions, live rooms, events, and courses into a unified, app-like community experience
Circle (circle.so) is an all-in-one platform designed for building and managing vibrant online communities with a focus on branded experiences. It offers customizable Spaces for discussions, live streaming, events, courses, and memberships, enabling seamless member engagement and monetization. Creators and businesses use it to foster connections, host interactive sessions, and grow audiences without needing multiple tools.
Pros
- All-in-one toolkit combining community forums, live events, courses, and memberships
- Highly customizable, branded designs with drag-and-drop builder
- Robust analytics and member management tools for growth
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for small or starting communities
- Limited advanced customization without higher tiers
- No permanent free plan, only 14-day trial
Best For
Creators, coaches, and brands building monetized, branded online communities with integrated courses and events.
Pricing
Starts at $49/month (or $39/month annually) for Basic; Professional $99/month ($79 annually); up to Enterprise at $399/month ($319 annually); 14-day free trial.
Skool
specializedSkool provides a gamified community platform for classrooms and groups with feeds, chats, calendars, and leaderboards.
Integrated gamification with points, leaderboards, and levels that automatically drives member engagement and retention
Skool is an all-in-one platform for creators to build and manage online communities alongside digital courses. It provides streamlined tools like discussion threads, member directories, live chat, calendars, and gamification features such as points, levels, and leaderboards to foster engagement. Designed for simplicity, it eliminates the need for multiple tools by combining community management with course hosting and monetization in a single, intuitive interface.
Pros
- Exceptionally simple setup and intuitive interface for non-technical users
- Built-in gamification boosts member retention and interaction
- Unlimited members and courses on a flat pricing model
Cons
- Limited customization and design flexibility compared to competitors
- Lacks advanced analytics and reporting tools
- No free tier, requiring commitment from day one
Best For
Course creators, coaches, and educators who want a straightforward platform to nurture engaged communities around their content.
Pricing
$99/month per community (unlimited members, courses, and features); 14-day free trial available.
Bettermode
specializedBettermode offers a customizable community platform with forums, Q&A, user-generated content, and AI-powered moderation.
Full white-labeling that embeds communities as native product features without coding
Bettermode is a no-code platform designed for building and managing branded online communities, offering features like forums, idea portals, Q&A sections, private spaces, and user-generated content moderation. It emphasizes seamless integration with product ecosystems for customer engagement, feedback collection, and community-driven growth. With robust analytics and customization options, it's suited for scaling customer communities without developers.
Pros
- Highly customizable no-code builder for branded experiences
- Powerful analytics and engagement insights
- Seamless integrations with tools like Intercom, Zendesk, and Slack
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with community size
- Free plan limited to 100 active members
- Advanced customization may require learning curve
Best For
Mid-sized SaaS companies and brands building scalable customer communities for feedback and support.
Pricing
Free for up to 100 active members; paid plans start at $89/month (Launch for 1,000 members), $269/month (Scale for 5,000), Enterprise custom.
Hivebrite
enterpriseHivebrite is a community management solution for alumni networks, professional groups, and nonprofits with CRM and engagement tools.
Fully branded native mobile apps for iOS and Android included without extra development costs
Hivebrite is a robust online community management platform tailored for alumni networks, professional associations, and corporate communities. It provides tools for member directories, event management, private messaging, fundraising, career services, and analytics to boost engagement. The platform stands out with its white-label customization, allowing organizations to create branded experiences across web and mobile.
Pros
- Highly customizable white-label branding and mobile apps
- Comprehensive engagement tools including events, groups, and mentorship
- Strong analytics and integration with CRM systems like Salesforce
Cons
- Steep learning curve for setup and advanced features
- Pricing is quote-based and can be expensive for small communities
- Limited self-service options; heavy reliance on support for implementation
Best For
Universities, alumni associations, and large professional networks needing a scalable, branded community platform.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing starting around $5,000-$10,000/month depending on community size and features; no public tiers.
Higher Logic
enterpriseHigher Logic delivers enterprise-grade community software with robust forums, analytics, marketing automation, and member directories.
Seamlessly integrated LMS and marketing automation within the core community platform for holistic member lifecycle management
Higher Logic is a robust online community management platform tailored for associations, nonprofits, and professional organizations to foster member engagement and retention. It provides tools for discussions, private groups, event management, member directories, and a built-in learning management system (LMS). The platform integrates marketing automation, analytics, and mobile apps to deliver personalized experiences and drive community growth.
Pros
- Comprehensive all-in-one suite including LMS and marketing automation
- Advanced analytics and member insights for data-driven decisions
- Strong customization and integration capabilities for enterprise needs
Cons
- High pricing suitable only for larger organizations
- Steep learning curve and complex initial setup
- Limited transparency on pricing without a demo
Best For
Mid-to-large associations and membership-based organizations needing scalable, feature-rich community management.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; typically starts at $10,000+ annually depending on users, features, and deployment.
Vanilla Forums
specializedVanilla provides cloud-based forum software focused on threaded discussions, reactions, moderation, and SSO integrations.
Vast open plugin marketplace enabling tailored extensions for nearly any community need without core code changes
Vanilla Forums is an open-source forum software platform designed for creating and managing online communities through threaded discussions, Q&A sections, and user engagement tools. It supports self-hosting for free or cloud-hosted deployment with features like user profiles, moderation queues, badges, reactions, and SSO integrations. Highly extensible via thousands of plugins and themes, it emphasizes modern, responsive design suitable for forums, support sites, and niche communities.
Pros
- Free open-source core with self-hosting option
- Extensive plugin and theme ecosystem for customization
- Modern features like reactions, badges, and robust moderation tools
Cons
- Self-hosting requires technical setup and server management
- Cloud plans can become expensive for large-scale communities
- Learning curve for advanced customizations and integrations
Best For
Small to medium-sized organizations or hobbyist communities seeking a flexible, cost-effective forum platform with high customizability.
Pricing
Free open-source self-hosted version; Cloud plans start at $689/year (up to 500 active users) scaling to custom enterprise pricing.
Invision Community
specializedInvision Community is a suite for forums, blogs, galleries, and social features to build interactive online hubs.
Seamlessly integrated suite of community applications (forums, blogs, galleries, commerce) in a single platform
Invision Community is a robust, self-hosted platform suite for creating and managing online communities, offering integrated applications like forums, blogs, image galleries, downloads, pages (CMS), commerce, and events. It provides extensive customization through themes, plugins, and a developer-friendly API, supporting modern features such as activity streams, notifications, and mobile apps. Ideal for scaling communities, it emphasizes performance with caching and supports both cloud hosting and traditional self-hosting.
Pros
- Comprehensive all-in-one suite covering forums, blogs, galleries, and commerce
- Highly customizable with a vast marketplace for themes and plugins
- Strong performance and scalability for large communities
Cons
- Steep learning curve for setup and advanced customization
- Requires technical expertise for self-hosting and maintenance
- Pricing can add up with support renewals and add-ons
Best For
Mid-to-large communities seeking a highly customizable, feature-rich self-hosted platform with integrated tools.
Pricing
Cloud hosting starts at $15/month (billed annually); self-hosted licenses from $35 one-time per app, with optional annual support from $45/year.
Zapnito
enterpriseZapnito powers knowledge-sharing communities with AI search, personalized feeds, and expert networking capabilities.
Complete white-labeling with 100% data ownership and no platform branding visible to members
Zapnito is a white-label platform designed for building fully branded online communities, particularly suited for professional networks, membership organizations, and B2B knowledge-sharing hubs. It provides tools for member directories, content management, events, discussions, and integrations with CRM and email systems. The platform emphasizes data ownership and customization, allowing users to create scalable communities without any third-party branding.
Pros
- Highly customizable white-label communities with full branding control
- Robust member management, analytics, and engagement tools
- Strong integrations with enterprise tools like Salesforce and HubSpot
Cons
- Pricing is custom and can be expensive for smaller organizations
- Steeper learning curve for advanced customizations
- Limited out-of-the-box templates compared to consumer-focused platforms
Best For
Professional associations, B2B companies, and membership organizations seeking premium, branded communities for exclusive networking and knowledge sharing.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing starting around $500/month; contact sales for quotes based on users and features.
Conclusion
Selecting the best community management software hinges on specific needs, but this review showcases exceptional options. At the top, Discourse stands out as a modern, open-source platform with advanced moderation, notifications, and analytics to drive lively discussions. Close contenders include Mighty Networks, ideal for creators with its branded community tools and varied content features, and Circle, a versatile all-in-one solution for discussions, live interactions, and integrations. Each platform offers unique strengths to foster thriving online communities.
Dive into Discourse first—its intuitive design and robust features make it a top pick for building and managing engaging communities. Don’t hesitate to explore the tools that align with your goals, starting with the platform that earned its spot at the top.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison