Building a community online and keeping it active is more important than ever in the age of modern technology. Whether you’re a company looking to engage customers, an educator looking to connect with students, or a hobbyist looking to bring like-minded people together, having the right platform can make all the difference. In this blog, titled “20 Best Platforms to Build an Online Community,” we aim to simplify your search by presenting the top platforms for building an online community. The sheer number of options available can be overwhelming, with each offering a distinct set of features designed to meet various needs and preferences.
What are Online Community Platforms?
Online community platforms are digital spaces that enable people with shared interests or goals to connect, interact, and collaborate. These platforms offer various features like forums, chat rooms, and content-sharing tools, allowing members to engage in discussions, share resources, and build relationships. Unlike broader social media networks, online community platforms focus on specific topics or groups, fostering more meaningful and targeted interactions.
For businesses and educational institutions, these platforms are invaluable for customer support, peer-to-peer learning, and building brand loyalty. By providing a dedicated space for engagement, they help organizations create a sense of community, encourage collaboration, and drive long-term growth. Whether for professional networking, education, or socializing, online community platforms are essential for creating and sustaining vibrant digital communities.
Benefits of Community Platforms
Community platforms offer numerous benefits that can significantly impact both individuals and organizations. Here are some of the key advantages:
- Enhanced Engagement: Community platforms provide a dedicated space for members to interact regularly, fostering deeper connections and sustained engagement. Features like forums, chat, and events keep members actively involved.
- Knowledge Sharing: These platforms serve as hubs for sharing information, ideas, and resources. Members can learn from each other, exchange expertise, and collaborate on projects, leading to collective growth and innovation.
- Stronger Relationships: By bringing together people with shared interests or goals, community platforms help build stronger, more meaningful relationships. This sense of belonging can increase loyalty and commitment among members.
- Brand Loyalty and Advocacy: For businesses, community platforms create opportunities to engage customers on a deeper level, turning them into loyal advocates. A well-maintained community can boost customer retention, brand loyalty, and word-of-mouth marketing.
- Customer Support and Feedback: These platforms offer a space for users to seek help, share experiences, and provide feedback. This can lead to improved customer satisfaction and valuable insights for product development and improvement.
- Increased Visibility and Reach: Community platforms can amplify your message by allowing members to share content, recommend your community to others, and participate in discussions that reach a wider audience.
- Monetization Opportunities: Many community platforms offer tools for monetization, such as subscription models, paid memberships, or exclusive content. This allows organizations and creators to generate revenue while offering value to their members.
- Data and Insights: Community platforms often come with analytics tools that provide valuable data on member behavior, engagement patterns, and content performance. These insights can inform decision-making and help tailor the community experience.
Also Read: Why Are We Drawn to Online Communities?
How to Choose the Best Platforms to Build Online Community
- Define Your Objectives: Clearly identify your community’s purpose, such as customer support, education, or social networking, to determine the essential features you need.
- Know Your Audience: Consider the preferences, technical abilities, and expectations of your target members to choose a platform that offers an intuitive and engaging user experience.
- Evaluate Essential Features: Focus on key features like customization, member management, communication tools, and analytics that align with your community’s needs and goals.
- Consider Scalability and Integration: Ensure the platform can grow with your community and integrates seamlessly with your existing tools, like CRM or email marketing software.
- Analyze Pricing and Support: Compare costs against your budget, including any hidden fees, and choose a platform that offers strong customer support for a smooth experience.
20 Best Community Platforms Ranked
Building an online community is essential for fostering engagement, sharing knowledge, and creating a sense of belonging among members. Whether you’re looking to create a niche forum, a professional network, or a social platform, choosing the right platform is crucial. Here’s a look at 20 of the best platforms for building an online community, including their features and pricing.
1. BuddyX – Best Platforms to Build Online Community
BuddyX is a versatile WordPress theme designed to create engaging online communities. With its robust integration with BuddyPress and BuddyBoss, BuddyX allows you to build social networks, forums, and membership sites effortlessly.
Features:
- Seamless integration with WordPress
- Compatibility with BuddyPress and BuddyBoss
- Social networking features like activity feeds, private messaging, and group creation
- Customizable layouts and templates
- Support for e-learning and membership sites
Pricing: BuddyX offers a free version with essential features, while the premium version starts at $59 per year.
2. Reign – Best Platforms to Build Online Community
Reign is another powerful WordPress theme tailored for creating online communities. It offers extensive customization options, making it ideal for building social networks, e-learning platforms, or any other type of community.
Features:
- Full compatibility with BuddyPress and bbPress
- Customizable member profiles and user roles
- Drag-and-drop page builder
- Integration with WooCommerce for monetization
- Responsive and SEO-friendly design
Pricing: Reign’s pricing starts at $69 per year for a single-site license.
Also Read: The Negativity in Online Communities
3. Mighty Networks – Best Platforms to Build Online Community
Mighty Networks is an all-in-one platform designed to build niche communities. It offers a combination of community, content, and course-building tools, making it ideal for creators and entrepreneurs.
Features:
- Custom domain support
- Course creation and hosting
- Member subscription management
- Native mobile apps
- Activity feeds and group chats
Pricing: Plans start at $33 per month for the Community Plan.
4. Circle
Circle is a modern community platform designed for creators who want to build a space for their audience. It emphasizes simplicity and ease of use while offering powerful community features.
Features:
- Real-time chat and private messaging
- Membership tiers and subscriptions
- Integration with popular tools like Zapier and Slack
- Custom branding and domain
- Mobile-friendly design
Pricing: Pricing starts at $39 per month for the Basic Plan.
5. Discourse
Discourse is an open-source discussion platform ideal for building forums and communities. It’s highly customizable and can be self-hosted or managed through Discourse’s hosting service.
Features:
- Infinite scrolling for discussions
- Threaded conversations and rich text formatting
- Spam protection and moderation tools
- Community-driven plugins and extensions
- Mobile-optimized interface
Pricing: Free for self-hosted; hosted plans start at $100 per month.
Also Read: Why People Join Online Communities?
6. Khoros Communities
Khoros Communities is an enterprise-level platform designed for managing large-scale online communities. It provides advanced tools for engagement, moderation, and analytics, making it ideal for businesses requiring robust features and high customization.
Key Features:
- Advanced Moderation Tools: Sophisticated tools for content management and community governance.
- Customizable Community Design: Extensive options for layout and branding customization.
- Integration Capabilities: Connects with CRM, support platforms, and social media tools.
- Analytics and Reporting: Detailed analytics to track engagement and performance.
- Member Engagement Features: Gamification, polls, surveys, and event tools.
Pricing: Custom pricing based on community size, features, and support needs. Contact Khoros for a quote.
7. Kajabi
Kajabi is primarily known as a course creation platform, but it also includes robust community features. It’s perfect for entrepreneurs looking to combine courses, memberships, and communities.
Features:
- Comprehensive course and membership site creation
- Integrated email marketing and automation
- Community spaces with activity feeds
- Webinars and event hosting
- Custom branding and themes
Pricing: Plans start at $149 per month.
8. Slack
Slack originally designed for team collaboration, Slack has become a popular choice for building communities around shared interests or professional networks. It’s highly adaptable and offers extensive integration options.
Features:
- Channels for topic-specific discussions
- Direct messaging and group chats
- Integration with over 2,000 apps
- File sharing and collaboration tools
- Searchable message history
Pricing: Free version available; paid plans start at $6.67 per user per month.
9. Facebook Groups
Facebook Groups is a widely used platform for building communities, thanks to its massive user base. It’s suitable for informal groups, hobbyists, and businesses looking to engage with customers.
Features:
- Group chats and discussions
- Event creation and management
- Integration with Facebook Pages and advertising
- Membership management and analytics
- Free to use with optional paid promotions
Pricing: Free; paid advertising options available.
Also Read: The Importance of Online Communities
10. Vanilla Forums
Vanilla Forums is a flexible platform for building branded communities. It’s ideal for companies looking to offer customer support, engage users, or create a knowledge base.
Features:
- Easy-to-use discussions and Q&A
- AI-driven newsletters and digests
- Intuitive, clean design
- Accessible and collaborative libraries
- Gamification
- Event management
- AMS integrations
Pricing: Free for open-source; cloud-hosted plans start at $689 per month.
11. Geneva
Geneva is a mobile-first community platform that combines group chat, voice, and video into one app. It’s designed for communities that need real-time interaction.
Features:
- Group chats and private messaging
- Voice and video rooms
- Customizable rooms and spaces
- Event scheduling and reminders
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
Pricing: Free to use.
12. Patreon
Patreon is a platform that enables creators to build membership-based communities. It’s ideal for artists, podcasters, writers, and other creators looking to monetize their work through subscriptions.
Features:
- Membership tiers and benefits
- Exclusive content sharing
- Community discussions and comments
- Integration with Discord and other tools
- Analytics and member management
Pricing: Patreon takes a commission of 5% to 12% of earnings, depending on the plan.
13. Discord
Discord is a popular platform for building communities, especially in gaming and tech circles. It offers real-time chat, voice, and video features, making it a dynamic space for community engagement.
Features:
- Servers with channels for different topics
- Voice, video, and text chat
- Integration with streaming services
- Custom emojis and roles
- Bots and automation tools
Pricing: Free version available; Discord Nitro starts at $9.99 per month.
Also Read: 10 Best Social Media Platforms That Pay
14. Hivebrite
Hivebrite is a customizable community platform for organizations and institutions. It’s well-suited for alumni networks, professional associations, and membership organizations.
Features:
- Event management and ticketing
- Member directory and profiles
- Content management and newsletters
- Monetization options with membership fees
- Custom branding and mobile apps
Pricing: Pricing available upon request.
15. Zapnito
Zapnito is a knowledge-sharing and expert community platform designed for organizations that want to showcase expertise and foster collaboration.
Features:
- Content publishing and blogging tools
- Webinar hosting and video integration
- Customizable member profiles
- Integration with CRM and email marketing tools
- Analytics and community insights
Pricing: Pricing available upon request.
16. Thinkific
Thinkific is primarily an online course platform, but it also offers community-building tools. It’s great for educators and trainers who want to combine learning with community engagement.
Features:
- Course creation and management
- Membership and subscription options
- Community spaces with discussions and groups
- Custom branding and themes
- Integration with marketing tools
Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $49 per month.
17. Substack
Substack is a platform for writers and creators to build communities around their newsletters. It allows creators to monetize their content through subscriptions.
Features:
- Newsletter creation and distribution
- Membership tiers and paid subscriptions
- Commenting and community engagement
- Custom domains and branding
- Analytics and reporting tools
Pricing: Substack takes a 10% commission on paid subscriptions.
18. FeverBee
FeverBee is a community consultancy and platform that helps organizations build thriving online communities. It offers strategic guidance and tools to grow engagement.
Features:
- Community strategy and consultancy
- Custom community platform development
- Member engagement and retention tools
- Analytics and reporting
- Training and workshops
Pricing: Pricing available upon request.
Also Read: Why Online Beauty Communities Are So Appealing
19. PlatformOS
PlatformOS is a highly customizable platform for building complex online communities and marketplaces. It’s suitable for large-scale projects requiring bespoke solutions.
Features:
- Custom development and integrations
- Marketplace and e-commerce features
- Membership management and subscriptions
- API access and developer tools
- High scalability and security
Pricing: Pricing available upon request.
20. LinkedIn Groups
LinkedIn Groups is a feature of LinkedIn that allows professionals to create and join communities around shared interests. It’s ideal for networking, knowledge sharing, and industry-specific discussions.
Features:
- Professional networking and connections
- Group discussions and Q&A
- Integration with LinkedIn profiles and content
- Event promotion and job postings
- Free to use with optional LinkedIn Premium features
Pricing: Free; LinkedIn Premium starts at $29.99 per month.
Final Thoughts on 20 Best Platforms to Build Online Community
Choosing the right platform to build your online community depends on your specific needs, budget, and goals. Whether you’re looking for a feature-rich WordPress theme like BuddyX and Reign or a dedicated platform like Mighty Networks and Circle, there’s a solution for every type of community. Consider your community’s requirements, such as the need for real-time communication, content creation, or monetization, and select a platform that aligns with your vision.
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