11 of the best online community software solution platforms

Oct 28, 2022

Looking for the right online community platform to host your company's community that is branded?

It is a daunting task to select the ideal software for your group can be a daunting task considering that elements like ease of use, and the capability to assist users, the ability to work with different platforms, and so on are on the line. To make it easier for you to make this big decision, we've reviewed the best 11 community software applications that provide the services they offer.

Learn all about the features -- the positive, negative, and the ugly of the top solutions on the market. We've provided a wealth of info on the things you should consider when selecting an online community site , which will help you choose the best option to suit your needs.

What is the purpose of online community software services provided by corporations?

Platforms to create online communities are solutions for software which allow you to build a digital space for members to learn from each other, and communicate with others.

Each platform has strengths and weaknesses. Understanding your needs will help you narrow down your choices while we review the most popular online communities as well as their features. We'll get started!

What are the main features to be looking at when you are a part of a community

The Community Software solutions offer the ability to integrate community features with other options that are beneficial and help achieve specific objectives. For a better choice, search for the right solution to help your business today and in the near future.

Take a look at the whole program Not just certain elements. Think about all aspects of the software, and consider how the software integrates into the longer-term goals of your company.

This is what you should seek out in a great community software solution:

Simple to use. Most likely, you'll be spending much of your time building or managing your group. It is important to enjoy the interactions. Make sure the platform can be easy to use and permits you to work efficiently. Of course, you'd want it to be user-friendly and enjoyable for your members to use!

Easy and easy to use. Your guests should be able to easily log in when you're planning an event or looking to take part. There are fewer obstacles for logging in to the system which means the less likely they is for them to take part.

Integrates with the rest of your enterprise. The majority of communities form part of an entire set of products including online courses along with coaching, as well as other materials for training. Everything needs to have identical branding and feel. Additionally, it should be easy to move between different areas.

incorporates marketing and sales capabilities. There's no way to grow an online community which is not known to anyone. The best platform will comprise tools to advertise your community as well as selling memberships and selling other items.

Analytics that are insightful. To provide a great experience to your customers that draws them in and keeps them interested, you have to understand the aspects that work and not. Analytics tools will provide you with the information you need about the behavior of your customers and their preferences so you can focus your efforts in the most efficient methods.

The top 11 companies offering community software solutions online.

Let's take a look at the top online community software today available.

1.

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The main benefits are:

Simple. makes it super easy to create and manage your online community. It's possible to build your community a standalone product or make it a part of your training or coaching programs.

Different tiers. You can create community groups that are free or paid for creating a "membership funnel" to advertise your business. The free membership you offer can draw new customers, by providing them with the opportunity to interact with you and your colleagues. Utilize's powerful marketing toolsets to market your community which is paid forso that members will have access to top information or gain.

It is a deep integration of the marketing and sales tech platform. One of the highlights of the platform is its comprehensive set of business-building tools. As a user, you can access the complete range of tools, which include:

  • Builder for websites
  • Build a landing page
  • Software for marketing emails
  • Funnel builder
  • Pages for ordering and processing payments
  • Podcast host

The tools you use can be integrated that means you won't need to deal with problems with building tech integrations or identifying issues. Simply sign up, and you'll then be set to rock and roll.

An integrated and complete solution will also save you cash. If you invest in one-off solutions and creating your own technology stack, you will easily invest hundreds of dollars every month. Paying just one bill per month, which covers everything you require to run an online company which is profitable.

The Basic plan costs just $119 for a month. It includes 3 digital items (a community and two others) and the possibility of 10,000 contacts. When you outgrow the basic plan, you may switch to the growth plan, which costs $159 per month. This gives you 15 items and up to 25,000 contacts.

You can try it for 14 days at no cost.

All the information your online business requires. All you require can be found in one spot. Yes! Let's go!

2. Facebook groups

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If you're an avid Facebook user You probably have at least at the very least one Facebook group. Facebook allows you to create private groups where you can interact with your friends and followers to talk about business or personal concerns.

Group membership on Facebook is gratis, however there are hidden costs with regard to trust and reputation. Trust in the company by the public has decreased by 66% over the last few years..

For instance, in the aftermath of the formation of an Facebook group that would house all members of the group, Kathryn Aragon discovered that the majority of members no actively making use of Facebook. To increase the amount of people who joined her community She decided to move her group over to a different website.

The primary benefits of Facebook as a social media platform arethe following:

private. The content within the group is only seen by those who belong to the group.

Discussion. Posts and comments enable members to talk about topics in real time. All group announcements will be sent to the members directly. This helps to streamline communication.

Members management. Administrators of groups can manage the group's members as well as the permissions.

A few of the issues are in the absence of ownership (that's an issue) and the absence of a members directory or website management. These aren't the site'scustomers. They're Facebook's customers. We should not forget about the huge Facebook downtime in October 2021. Small businesses across the world to lose access to their networks as well as their customers.

A major complaint of group owners is that there's no assistance that is immediate, as there are just forums for support to help troubleshoot.

3. Discord

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After gaining popularity within the world of gaming, Discord has become a popular community platform with all sorts of people. Its goal is to create spaces that allow people to connect with a common interest.

Discord is an online application used by a community-focused firm. Discord is a platform that provides live audio and video chats. Additionally, it offers customized roles to distinguish users from administrators. Given its gamer and techno-related roots, its aesthetics have a dark theme that may, or not, be in line with your company's design. Discord doesn't give you many options for branding your members' area.

It provides the following benefits:

AI-Powered Bots. Bots can be programmed to greet new members and customize the user experience. Members will know they are dealing with a real bot who interacts with them. It is possible to make enjoyable experiences using it , and also provide useful info.

Reliable, secure private channels. Discord is not any time-lag, so it appears to be within the same room. It is renowned as a secure platform and every channel is secure, making users be comfortable during chats.

Moderator Academy. It is an all-inclusive source for veteran and novice moderators looking to upgrade their management of their communities.

However, the process of setting up your Discord community can be complicated. There is a long process that can mean you won't be able to get the most out of the platform. There's a chance that your Discord server will be among the many different communities you have members participating in, meaning that it's competing for attention.

Discord is accessible at no cost. Just download the app and install it. There is the option to upgrade that you have installed to Discord Nitro ($99.99 per year) for access to more Emojis, bigger uploads, better-quality videos, along with other upgrades.

4. Mighty Networks

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Mighty Networks offers an online learning platform that comes with an integrated community feature. It is a robust platform that allows for customization of branding as well as functions to encourage participation from the community.

Key Mighty Networks features include: Key Mighty Networks features include:
   

Mobile access. This online community comes with a mobile app which allows members to communicate with members at the move. In fact, it's simpler to communicate with people on the phone as opposed to online.

Email alerts. Members will be notified by email every time there's something new happening within the community. It gives them a short reminder to sign in to see what they might have been missed.

Branding. Mighty Network allows you to make a brandable website that is similar in style and design to the website you have. Apply your brand's colors to tabs, buttons and hyperlinks, and icons.

It's vital to understand it is important to note it is important to note that Might Networks is a community-focused platform. If you're seeking to build diverse kinds of products for your business, you may have to invest in other programs and also software for hosting these.

5. Hivebrite

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Hivebrite is described as a comprehensive system for managing community, especially designed for educational or non-profit groups. It supports more than 500 establishments such as Vanderbilt University, WWF, and Sabin Vaccine Institute.

The company doesn't list their pricing on their website. To evaluate Hivebrite it is essential to sign up to the initial trial. This is a clear indication that they offer only price plans to corporations.

However, they come with appealing features. Your community is able to be completely marketing. It lets you manage your community, its content as well as tools for marketing all from one location.

A few of the best-known options offered by Hivebrite are:

Livestream. It's possible to livestream live for members of the community and hold real-time events.

Access right. With Hivebrite, you are able to assign access rights to various members, like graduates or students. You can also create tiers of membership which provide greater access to paying members.

Modular capability. As your community increases, you're able to turn on different functions. Forums are available for and events, networking group messaging, media center and a directories or job board.

One of the issues for this platform is integration with your database and other tech. It is likely that you will need to engage an IT specialist to design an API that connects the platform with various tools.

6. Tribe.so

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Tribe is a customizable community platform that includes an app-based ecosystem that allows direct integrations with companies of third parties and options to integrate the community within other products and sites. Tribe's use cases Tribe include education of customers, customer success customer service branding leadership, as well as customer feedback on products.

In Tribe, the core tools manage essential community components. The applications can help you improve your skills. Examples:

  • Slack gives admins and moderators with the possibility of receiving alerts about different events.
  • Zapier is a way for your organization to be connected with other applications in your tech stack.
  • Google Analytics helps you measure activities in your local community.

Tribe is a collection of the following attributes:

Social Share. Tribe includes Open Graph tags which facilitate social sharing. It is easy to share information with friends within the community, and also generate interest from potential users.

Integration. Third-party integrations with more than 30 applications allow users to join your communities using the tools you're using already.

Moderation Panel. Tribe gives you the option to approve, edit, or reject content from other users. Additionally, you can archive content from the past in order to ensure that your feed is clean.

Tribe is offered for free to as many as 100 users. A Plus Plan costs $59 per month and allows users access to Plus-related applications as well as up to 2500 users. To get the best out of the app, you'll be required move to the Premium Plan at $299 per month. This will allow you to take off the Tribe logo, utilize its webhooks and API, in addition to extending the number of members to 25,000.

7. Circle.so

circle.so-website

Circle can help you create a community around your courses and coaching customer service. It's goal is to streamline the process of creating communities. It allows you to create content and private spaces, drive debate, and ultimately monetize your membership. It comes with a variety of options , and let you create a community with a logo to match your website.

Some of the most well-known features of Circle are:

Easy integrations. Circle works with other third-party programs, including tools to market via email, Slack, Wordpress, as well as allowing users to promote their community  and even connect both with different software.

Secret and private spaces. You can create separate areas for different members within your group. This is for instance, you might use one area to house the core members, and a separate space for premium members.

Searchable member directory. Members can connect between themselves by creating personalized profile fields and also with search filtering.

Circle costs $35 per month plus an additional 4% transaction cost per user. The base plan offers the bare essentials for the community you've created, which includes conversations and private messaging. Make the upgrade to the Premium Plan ($89 per month, including a transaction charge per user) for access to live streaming courses Online classes, live streaming courses and advanced analysis.

There is a chance you'll need spend more money for additions like additional administrators, extra space and white-labeling email and also customized single-sign-on (SSO).

8. Vanilla Forums

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Vanilla Forums is developed to help mid-sized and enterprise organizations to deliver exceptional customer support. It is frequently used to assist customers, the customer experience, and product marketing and the promotion of brands.

Vanilla provides a smooth user experience that integrates with your existing tech stack and flexible design for the specific needs of your company.

Key features of Vanilla Forums are:

Knowledge Base. You can create Self-Service Help Centers within your community that contains user guides as well as assistance documents.

Customization of surveys. With Vanilla Forums you can create customized surveys for your readers to get directly feedback.

Open source community. It is possible to download Vanilla's Open Source code for free and create your own community. Do you have a tech background? Contribute to the code.

This is not the best platform for independent creators or solopreneurs. Pricing is not accessible on the website. However, if you're interested you can make an appointment to one of their sales representatives.

9. WildApricot

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WildApricot It is an all-in-one software designed specifically for associations and non-profit organizations. It is currently used by associations, clubs and local and state chapter associations.

Wild Apricot has a self-serve design that lets you customize each aspect of your community. The gamification system and reputation system lets you create good content, let members access options, and even automate the moderation process.

It includes these key features:

Event Management. Plan events such as online auctions, virtual webinars, conferences and more. There are sponsors for your events. Also, you can make your own calendar of events and arrange events registration.

donations. With WildApricot, it is possible to accept donations and track progress towards your goal in exchange for them. It is also possible to export your donation records for easier track and manage the donation.

CRM. Like , WildApricot also offers CRM (customer relationship management) program that has the largest member directory that can be accessed any time.

It is necessary to use third-party software for marketing and running your company. These tools will likely be integrated with WildApricot which comprises WordPress, Mailchimp, and Zapier. Payment processing, however, will only be available to U.S. and Canada residents.

WildApricot is a no-cost service that allows you to try the service for free by contacting as many as 50 contacts. Prices will rise as your community grows:

  • $48 a month for 100 contacts
  • A month's rent of $60 for 250 contacts.
  • A month's rent of $110 for 500 contacts
  • One month for $190. 2000 contacts

10. Disciple Media

disciple-media-website

Disciple Media is a platform for social interaction. It consists of three parts that include the console for managing your content for mobile and desktops, a mobile app where members can engage, and the web community that gives users an opportunity to communicate on their desktops.

The platform is designed to be used by creatives, entrepreneurs and influential personalities who wish to establish their own brand social media network.

Disciple Media includes the following features:

Multi-layouts. You can store and distribute content from one central location. Make use of folders, groups and lists to create an individual structure for your organization.

Mobile app. Disciple Media is similar to a social network in that its mobile application experiences are targeted towards customers. Its web-based application is accessible with limited features compared to the mobile application.

In-app purchases. Disciple lets you build sponsorships, in-app purchases and sponsorships, so you can convert your customers into subscribers.

The cost of the course is based on the amount of participants as well as the option of using mobile or web or both.

  • Web only: $46 a month for 100 users
  • Only mobile: $458 per month for 500 participants
  • Mobile and web 504 dollars per 500 users

The add-ons are API white-labeling API whitelabelingas well. There is also a cost for community coaching, members' support and mastermind functions.

11. Vibely.io

vibely.io-website

Vibely.io was created by two former Asana staffers, Teri Yu and Theresa Lee They saw breaking up the creator community in a positive way. Their tagline "Built with women in mind, and not by gaming dudes" will give you an idea of what they're looking for.

Vibely.io is an internet-based creator-controlled community platform that lets creators interact with other users as well as collect user-generated content.

Vibely.io's top features include:

A commitment to positive thinking. Vibely guarantees no trolls, spam, or violence. They aim to create an environment that's welcoming of all users.

Challenges and tools to increase accountability. This app has leadersboards, challenges, and trackers to keep everyone in the loop and motivated.

Ambassadors. Vibely lets you choose individuals in your community who will help you welcome and manage your members.

You can create your own Vibely community at no cost, with no limit on the number of people who can be members, ambassadors or super admins. On the free plan you are not able to accept the recurring payment. The Mastermind plans permit payments in addition to taking a 10% cut of revenues.

The top online community software firm

There are a variety of things to be considered in deciding on the ideal online community-based platform. You will require tools for the creation, marketing, and market your community and the platform should fit the needs of both members and your.
   
    From our evaluations, there's plenty of great options. One stands out as an all-in-one business platform.

It allows you to build and profit from a active community, along with additional digital products such as online coaching and courses. Additionally, it offers everything you require for marketing and selling the products so that you can expand and grow an effective business based on knowledge.

If you're considering establishing forums, you're able to pick one of other community platforms we've reviewed. Based on the size of your group is, it could be acceptable (or perhaps for free).

The free software choices are subject to external rules and algorithms, while also limiting your growth potential. They do not provide the features that you require and typically limit the number of people they accept.

The community you join is yours. Your rules determine the terms and conditions as also the fee regardless of whether you are paying or not.

If you're seeking to start an online community, then this could be the ideal solution. With video walkthroughs and tutorials that will allow you to get your community online within a matter of minutes. Through University you can access basic aspects of running an internet-based community. The site is accessible to everyone who uses it.

Begin your no-cost 14-day trial as of the software today!

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