11 of the best online community software platforms for solutions

Do you want to find the ideal online community platform to host your company's online community?

Selecting the best community software available online could be a daunting task, considering that aspects like user-friendliness as well as customer support, flexibility, and more are on the line. To alleviate the stress of making this important decision, we've reviewed the top 11 online community software products currently available.

Check out the article to find the complete details -- including ugly and bad -- of the top products available. There are a lot of guidelines on what you should look for in an online community platform so you'll have the ability to pick the right one for your company.

What exactly are these companies?

Platforms for online community are solutions for software that allow you to create an online environment that allows your users to meet to, interact and learn from other members.

Each platform has strengths and weaknesses. Being aware of your preferences can aid you to narrow down your options as we review the top communities available on the web and their capabilities. We'll get started!

What are the key characteristics to look for when using a platform for community engagement?

Community software comes with a crucial community component, along with other functions that add value and help attain specific goals. If you are looking for the right solution, you need to choose a solution that will work with your organization now and into the future.

Don't focus on certain functions. Instead, consider the entire array of functions, and think about the way it fits into the vision you have for your company.

Things to look for the best community-based software product

Simple and simple to manage. There is a good chance that you will invest a great deal of time in creating and managing your group. It is important to have an enjoyable interaction. Make sure that the software you decide to utilize is intuitive and allows you to work efficiently. Of obviously, you'd like it to be easy to navigate and fun to your customers too!

It is simple to use. Your guests will be able to easily log in when organizing an event, or want to join in. There's less hurdles for users to log in and it's easier for new members to join.

is a part of other areas of your business. Many communities make up an entire set of services which include on-line classes, coaches and other training tools. All of it must have the same branded appearance and style, and must be simple to move between spaces to get from one to the next.

Includes marketing and sales capabilities. You can't grow your online presence if nobody knows about. The ideal scenario is that the site will have tools to aid you in promoting your community as well as selling memberships. This will help in growing sales of other items.

Insightful analytics. To provide a fantastic experience that is appealing to members and keep them interested it is essential to know what's working and what's not. Analytics tools give you all the data you require about the behavior of your customers and their preferences to help you focus your focus to offer your customers with the best service possible.

11 of the most reputable online community solutions for software companies

Let's take a look at the most popular online community softwares that are currently being used.

1.

The main benefits are:

Simple. makes it super easy to build and run your community on the internet. You can make your community an independent product, or you can use it to improve your course or coach program.

Multi-level. You can create either free or paid communities for the purpose of creating a "membership funnel" to promote your company. Your free membership can attract new customers through the use of providing them a space to communicate with fellow members in your community as well as with your. Make use of the numerous marketing tools available to sell the premium community, where members have access to premium content or benefits.

Integration with your sales and marketing technology stack. One of the things that sets it apart from other solutions is its complete set of tools that can be used to build enterprises. If you are a registered user, you have access to the complete toolset, including:

• Builder for websites
• Build a landing page
• Marketing software for email
• Funnel builder
• Pay processing pages and the order page
• The host of the podcast

All your software are designed to work together to eliminate to worry about developing technology integrations, or identifying problems. Sign up and you're set to roll.

It is a complete solution that also saves you costs. If you are investing in one-off items and developing your own technological stack you can easily invest hundreds of dollars per month. With just one expense per month that will cover all the things you require for running a successful online company.

The Basic plan will cost $100 per month, and it includes 3 digital products (a community, and two other) as well as the potential for 10,000 contacts. If you are unable to make use of the basic plan, you can switch onto the Grow plan for the cost of $159 per month. This gives you 15 items in addition to up to 25,000 contacts.

Test it out for 14 days at absolutely no cost.

It has everything your online business requires for your online venture. Everything you need in one location. Yes! Let's go!

2. Facebook groups

If you're an avid Facebook person, then you probably you are connected to at at least an Facebook group. Facebook lets you create private groups, which allows members to connect with followers for personal or business reasons.

Facebook's groups are for no cost, however there are cost-cutting measures that affect the credibility and trust. The public's trust in the business has dropped to 66% over the past few years..

For example, after building the Facebook group which would be hosting the group, Kathryn Aragon discovered that many members were no longer using Facebook. To boost engagement in members of the group, she decided move the group to a different platform.

The key advantages for Facebook as social media platforms are the following advantages:

Privacy. The content within the group is only accessible to other members.

discussion. Posts and comments enable members to talk about issues in real-time. Updates from the group can be directly sent to members. This makes it easier to communicate.

Management of Members. Administrators of groups can control group members, and access privileges.

The drawbacks include that there are no owners (that's one of the issues) as well as there is no member directory as well as the management of websites. They aren't facebook'scustomers. They're Facebook's customers. Do not forget about the massive Facebook outage in October 2021, which affected small-scale businesses across all over the world to immediately be blocked from accessing their communities and customers.

Another major issue cited by community members is that there's no support in person, and only support forums offered to assist in assistance with troubleshooting.

3. Discord

Since it gained traction within the world of gaming, Discord has become a popular community platform that is accessible to everyone. The goal of the platform is to create spaces in which players can communicate with each others who share a similar passion.

Discord is an internet-based application used by a community-focused firm. Discord offers real-time video and audio calls. The software also has customized roles to distinguish admins from members. Because of its tech and gaming roots The design is a dark tone, which may or not match with your brand's style. Discord does not offer the option of branding your member area.

It provides the following benefits:

AI-Powered Bots. Bots are programmed to greet new members and modify the user service. The members will be aware of the fact that a bot is communicating with them. You are able to create fun experiences by using the bot and also provide important information.

Reliable, secure private channels. Discord does not have a time-lag, so it feels as if you're in the same room. Discord is renowned for its privacy and the channels are safe and allow users to be secure during chats.

Moderator Academy. This is a complete guide to help both first-time and veteran moderators who want to improve their community management.

The downside is that creating your Discord community can be a challenge. It's an extremely steep learning curve , which means that you may not achieve maximum benefit from the service. Your Discord server will be with the other communities you have participants in, which means you'll have to compete for their focus.

Discord is free to download. Just download the app and then create it. You can also upgrade to Discord Nitro ($99.99 per year) to gain access to more emojis and uploads with more capacity, as well as high-quality video, and various other enhancements.

4. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks offers an online course platform with integrated community functions. The system is robust, and customizable to fit your needs and tools to encourage community participation.

The key element to Mighty Networks features include:
   

Mobile access. This online community platform features the mobile application that allows users to interact with each other while on the move. In fact, it's easier to engage via your smartphone than on the web.

Email alerts. Members receive email notifications when there's new community activity. It gives them a swift signal to log in and check out what they haven't observed.

Branding. Mighty Network allows you to build a brand-friendly area that is similar in style and appearance to your web site. Add your logo's color to tabs, buttons, actions and iconography for text.

Important to be aware that Might Networks is a community-focused platform. If you plan to build different kinds of products for your company, it is possible that you will need to purchase other software and software that host them.

5. Hivebrite

Hivebrite is a community management software which is an all-in-one system that was specially designed for educational and nonprofit organisations. It is used by more than 500 establishments such as Vanderbilt University, WWF, and Sabin Vaccine Institute.

The company doesn't list their prices on their website. To test Hivebrite's services, you'll have to register for a demo--a clear indication that they offer prices for corporate customers.

They do come with attractive functions. The community you manage can be completely branded. Furthermore, it permits you to take control of your community's members, content and members as well as tools for marketing all from one place.

One of Hivebrite's most distinctive features:

Live feed. It's possible to livestream to community members and hold real-time events.

Access rights. With Hivebrite, it is possible to grant different access rights to different members, including students and graduates. Additionally, you can create different levels of membership with the ability to grant access to members paying.

Modular capabilities. As your community expands, you can to activate different features. Forums are available for as well as networking and events groups. Media center, messages and even a jobboard or directory.

The most difficult part is connecting it with your database , and other tech. It is likely that you'll have engage an IT specialist to establish the APIs that sync the platform to various applications.

6. Tribe.so

Tribe is a community-based, customizable platform with an app ecosystem and specifically third-party integrations and the tools to integrate the community with other products and websites. The use cases are customer education, about the experience of customers, satisfaction for clients, support for customers, brand leadership, and feedback from customers about products.

Through Tribe Its core features take care of essential community components. Apps extend your capabilities. As an example:

• Slack gives admins and moderators notifications of various activities.
• Zapier connects your community to the other technology tools within your stack.
• Google Analytics helps you measure the level of activity in your community.

Tribe comes with the following features:

Social sharing. Tribe includes Open Graph tags that allow social sharing. It's simple to share content within the community, generating curiosity among potential members.

Integration. Third-party integrations with nearly 30 apps allow users to join their communities with the tools you're already employing.

Modification panel. Tribe gives you the option to approve, amend, or deny posts from users. In addition, you are able to archive content from the past in order to ensure your feed is free of unnecessary clutter.

Tribe is available for free to the first 100 users. The Plus Plan costs $59 monthly It allows Plus applications with up to 2,500 subscribers. Though to get the most from the app it is recommended to switch to the Premium Plan which has a cost per month of $299. This will allow the user to eliminate the Tribe branding, connect to the Tribe API and webhooks as well as increase the number of users up to 25,000.

7. Circle.so

Circle can be used to create an online community that can be used for your course along with coaching and support for your customers. It's been designed to facilitate the process of building communities by allowing users with the ability to build content, create private spaces, manage discussionsand make money from the subscription. The software comes with a wide range of features and allows you to build a brand-named space that can match your website.

Some of Circle's standout features are:

Integrations that are easy. Circle works with various tools from third parties including the software for marketing emails Slack, Wordpress, and it lets you market your community or merge it with other products.

Spaces which are hidden and secure. You can create distinct spaces for various categories of your membership. In this case, you could design a room specifically to accommodate core members and one for premium members.

Searchable member directory. It allows members to connect with each other through profiles that are customized and search filters.

Circle starts at $35 a month. It also includes a 4.4% fee for transactions per user. The Basic plan offers only what you need to run the community you've built including discussions as well as private messaging. You can upgrade up to the Pro Plan ($89 a month with a transaction cost per user) to unlock Live streaming classes as well as online classes, and other advanced analysis.

You may need to pay extra for additional features like administrators, additional space, white-labeling of email, and also individual Single Sign-On (SSO).

8. Vanilla Forums

Vanilla Forums was developed to allow small and large enterprises to deliver extraordinary customer service. It is frequently used to offer customer service and customer service, as well as marketing of products as well as branding awareness.

Vanilla provides a fantastic user experience, a seamless integration with your current tech stack along with flexible and customizable customizations to suit your branding.

The main elements of Vanilla Forums are:

Knowledge Base. You can create a self-service Help Center within your local community. It includes user guides and help documents.

Surveys can be customized. With Vanilla Forums you can send customized surveys to your audience to get immediate feedback.

Open source community. It is possible to download Vanilla's open source code for free of cost and create the community of your choice. Are you a person with a love for technology? It is possible to contribute to the development of code.

The site isn't ideal for those who are self-employed and sole-preneurs. Pricing is not available on the website. But if you're interested, you may schedule an appointment to talk to an agent for sales.

9. WildApricot

WildApricot offers a complete platform initially designed for nonprofits and associations. Today, its users are clubs, associations and associations along with local and state chapter associations.

Wild Apricot has a self-serve style that lets you personalize every aspect of your community. Its reputation and gamification systems allow you to showcase high-quality contents, and make features for members available as well as make moderation easy.

It also includes the following key features:

Event Management. Plan events such as virtual auctions, online conference, or webinars. Get sponsors to support your occasion. You can also design your own event calendar and organize event registration.

Donations. With WildApricot, it is possible to accept donations and share the progress you have made towards your goal for donations. In addition, you can export the donations data for easier keep track of and manage donation.

CRM. Like , WildApricot offers a CRM (customer relationship management) tool with the largest members directory that can be accessed from anywhere.

Third-party software is required for managing your company's marketing. Most likely, they will integrate with WildApricot that includes WordPress, Mailchimp, and Zapier. Payment processing will be restricted for U.S. and Canada residents.

It is possible to try WildApricot at no cost for as long as you have 50 contacts. Your price will then increase when your network grows

• A month of $48 for 100 contacts
• 60 dollars per month , for 250 contacts
• Rent of $110 per month for 500 contacts
• A month of $190 for 2000 contacts

10. Disciple Media

Disciple Media is a community platform made up of three elements comprised of a console, which can manage the content you post via your mobile or desktop, the mobile application that allows users to interact with each other, and the community on the web giving users the chance to join on desktops.

It's designed for creators, founders, and influencers who want to establish their own brand social platform.

Disciple Media includes the following features:

Multi-layouts. You can store and distribute content in an centralized location. Make use of folders, groups and lists to design specific structures to your users.

Mobile app. Disciple Media is similar to a social network site since the mobile experience is geared towards the users. It is accessible on the web however it is limited in options compared with the mobile version.

In-app purchases. Disciple lets you purchase in-app items in addition to sponsorships, and make your users subscriber.

The price of Disciple is determined by the number of participants and the choice of web, mobile or both.

• Only on the web: $46 a month for 100 people
• Only for mobile, $500 per month at $458 for up to 500 users.
• Mobile and Web Mobile: $504 per 500 subscribers

These add-ons include API white labeling, API extra administrative users. In addition, you'll be charged for coaching in the community, member support, and mastermind-related functions.

11. Vibely.io

Vibely.io was created by two ex- Asana employees Teri Yu, and Theresa Lee who wanted to challenge the communities of creators positively. Their tagline "Built exclusively by females, and not gamer guys," provides a sense of what they're looking to create.

Vibely.io is an online community platform which lets creators interact with their audience, and also collect the material that fans create.

Vibely.io's best features are:

The dedication to positivity. Vibely will the ban on trolls, spam and any other form of violence. The goal of Vibely is to create an environment where all people feel welcome.

Tools for accountability and challenges. It has leaderboards, challenges, and trackers that keep everyone entertained.

Ambassadors. Vibely allows you to designate individuals from your local community to aid in the welcoming of and the management of members.

Create your personal Vibely community at no cost, without a limit on the number of individuals that are ambassadors, members, or super administrators. However, on the plan which is completely free, there's the option of taking periodic payments. The Mastermind plans allows for payments that take 10% of the revenue.

The best online community software provider

There's a lot to consider when choosing the best online platform for community building. You will require tools to build the base, promote and market your community. Furthermore, the platform must be welcoming for your members and you.
   
    Based on our tests, there are many choices to pick from, however one stand out as the complete platform for business.

The only thing you can do is create and monetize a lively community and also other digital items like online coaching and courses. You also get all the resources you require to market and sell the products so that you can develop and expand a lucrative information-based business.

If you're looking to set up a forum you might choose one of the other forums we've looked at. Based on the size of your group is, the choice could be affordable (or perhaps completely free).

Free software can be subject to external guidelines and rules, and also limiting the growth possibilities. There aren't all the functions you require and often cap the number of participants that you are able to accept.

The community you establish is yours to manage. You decide the guidelines the terms and conditions, and the cost of membership, whether paid or free.

If you're planning to create an online social network This is the best solution. With videos and video walksthroughs to get you started within a matter of minutes. Through The University, you have access to running basics and an online community. It is available for free to everyone who wants the opportunity.

Take advantage of a free 14-day trial as of now!

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