Real-time community · $179-$499/month
Reign vs Heartbeat.
Verdict
Heartbeat is Discord-style for paid communities. Reign costs less + does more (LMS, marketplace, etc.).
Where each wins
Honest take.
R
Reign wins
One-time cost vs $179+/mo recurring. Self-hosted. Multi-shape (not just chat).
H
Heartbeat wins
Discord-style channels with paid community model built in. Modern UI for younger audiences.
Side-by-side
4 comparisons.
| Feature | Reign | Heartbeat |
|---|---|---|
| Cost (3-year) | ~$1k | ~$6.5k-$18k |
| Real-time chat | BP Better Messages | Native + Discord-style |
| LMS / courses | Native (LearnDash etc.) | Embedded only |
| Marketplace | Native | Not supported |