11 top community software online solution platforms

Oct 28, 2022

Are you looking for the perfect online community platform for the community of your company?

The right software for your community online can be difficult, considering that aspects such as ease of use and customer service, platform flexibility, and much more are at stake. In order to ease the burden of making this important choice, we've examined the top 11 community software solutions that provide their services.

Check out all the details you need, which includes the good, the bad and the ugly the top-rated solutions available there. There are plenty of tips about what to think about when selecting an online community platform so you'll be able to choose the best option that meets your needs.

What are they exactly?

Platforms for online communities are solutions for software which allow you to build an online community for your members to learn, connect, and interact with each others.

Each platform has its own advantages. Understanding your needs can help narrow the choices as we go through the most popular online communities and their capabilities. It's time to get started!

What are the most important things to look at in a platform that is a part of a community?

Community software solutions have a basic community function, along with extra functions to improve the interaction and aid in reaching specific objectives. If you're looking for the right solution, you need you choose one that is compatible with your organization today and in the near future.

Focus on the whole bundle, not just specific features. Consider the entire package, and see the way it will fit into the longer-term goals of your business.

Things to look for when you are looking for a top software for community use:

Easy to operate. There will be many hours spent organizing groups or managing them. It is important to enjoy the interactions. It is essential to ensure that the system you select to utilize is easy to navigate and lets you work effectively. Of course, you would prefer it to be easy to work with and fun for your clients to use!

Simple to utilize. Members will be able to swiftly sign in when you are organizing an event, or even when they want to sign up. There is less hurdles being a part of the system. the more simple it will be for members are to join.

Connects with the rest of your company. The majority of communities form part of an overall network of services, such as online courses, coaching and other training resources. All of it must be brand-named using the same design and appearance and should be easy to navigate from one space from one to the other.

is a marketing and sales functions. It's difficult to establish a community that no one knows about. In the ideal scenario, the platform will have tools to help you create awareness for your community and also sell memberships, as well as selling other things.

Informative analytics. To provide a great experience to your customers that draws them in and keeps them there, you must know the things that are working and not. Analytics tools will provide every detail you'll need about your members behavior and preferences so you can concentrate your efforts to the most effective ways to engage them.

11 best online community software solution providers

Let's look over the most well-known online community software available today.

1.

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The main benefits are:

Simple. makes it super simple to build and run your own online community. Your community can be created in a standalone product, or employ it as an additional benefit to the coaching and courses you offer.

Multiple levels. You can create community groups that are cost-free or pay for the creation of an "membership funnel" to promote your company. The free membership you offer will attract new customers through giving them the chance to connect with your peers and you. Use's extensive marketing tools to market your community which has been paid for, meaning members can access exclusive content and benefits.

Deep integration into the sales and marketing tech system. One of the things that separates it from the other members of in the HTML0 suite is the extensive set of business-building tools. If you are a member, you have access to all the various tools available, which comprise:

  • Web Builder
  • Creator of landing pages
  • Software for marketing emails
  • Funnel builder
  • Pages for placing orders and processing payments
  • The host of the podcast

The tools you use have been designed to integrate for ease of developing tech integrations or diagnosing issues. Simply sign up, and you'll be set to go.

This is a full solution that can also save your money. If you invest in products that are only used once or creating your own technology stack, you can easily pay hundreds of dollars every month. With , you have only one monthly cost that includes everything you require for running an online company that is successful.

The Basic plan costs $119 each month. It provides 3 digital items (a community, and two more) as well as more than 10,000 contacts. If you're not able to use the Basic plan, it is possible to move to the growth plan for $159 per month. That gives you 15 products and up to 25,000 contact.

You can try it for free for 14 days

is everything your online business will require. All in one place. Yes! Let's go

2. Facebook groups

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If you're a regular Facebook user most likely you are part of at least some Facebook group. Facebook allows its users to establish private groups which allow you to connect with other members to talk about matters of personal or business concern.

Facebook groups are free, however, there are hidden costs regarding reliability and trust. The trust of the public in the business has dropped 66% in recent times.

For instance, after she set up the Facebook group which would be hosting her community, Kathryn Aragon discovered that many members were no longer were using Facebook. To increase the number of members who have joined the community, she decided to shift the community to another site.

The most significant advantages of Facebook as a social media platform arethe following advantages:

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

Discussion. Posts and comments permit members to debate issues in real-time. The group's updates are delivered directly to the members, which helps to simplify communications.

Members management. Administrators of groups can manage the group members and the permissions.

Some of the negatives include lack control (that's a biggie) and there is no directory of members or website management. Members aren't Facebook'scustomers. They're Facebook's customers. Let's not forget the huge Facebook interruption which occurred during the month of October 2021. The downtime caused small businesses around the world to be blocked from accessing their communities as well as their customers.

One of the major complaints from group owners is that they do not receive help in person. just support forums available to aid in solving problems.

3. Discord

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Since it gained traction within the gaming world, Discord has become a wildly popular social network for all types of users. Its goal: to create areas where members can get together to share the same interests.

A community-based online software solution provider, Discord offers real-time video and audio calls. It also includes custom roles that distinguish between members and administrators. Given its gamer and techie background, the layout is dark and could or might not be in line with your brand's style. Discord doesn't give you the possibility of branding your membership space.

It offers the following features:

AI-Powered Bots. Bots can be designed to welcome new customers and customize the user experience. The members will be aware of the fact that this is a real bot that is interacting with them. However, you can create fun experiences with it while providing useful details.

Reliable, secure private channels. Discord does not have a time-lag, so it can feel like you're together in the same space. Discord is renowned for its privacy and security. The channels are safe that allows people to feel secure when they engage in conversations.

Moderator Academy. This comprehensive manual is to both first-time and veteran moderators who want to improve their abilities in managing communities.

However, the process of setting up your Discord community isn't an easy task. It means you'll need to learn which means you may not have the ability to make most of the benefits offered by Discord. You're likely to find that your Discord server will join your other Discord communities that you have members participating in, meaning you'll have to compete to gain their attention.

Discord is free to download. You just need to download the app and install it. The upgrade option is to upgrade your Version to Discord Nitro ($99.99 annually) for access to more Emojis, bigger uploads, high-resolution video and more.

4. Mighty Networks

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Mighty Networks offers an online learning platform that has an integrated community function. The platform is robust and allows users to personalize the look and feel of your brand as well as features that foster community involvement.

It is the key to Mighty Networks features include:
   

Mobile access. This online community platform features an app for mobile devices that lets users interact with each other at the move. It's actually easier to connect with your smartphone than on the web.

Email alerts. Members receive email notifications every time there's something new happening within the community. Members receive a quick reminder to log in to see the other activities they might be not aware of.

Branding. Mighty Network allows you to design a brand-named section that is identical in style and look like your website. Simply apply your logo's colors on buttons, tabs, text buttons, links and even actions icons.

It's crucial to consider the reality that Might Networks is a community-focused platform. If you're planning to build various kinds of products for your company it may be necessary invest in additional apps or software for hosting them.

5. Hivebrite

hivebrite-website

Hivebrite is a community management system that is all-in-one specifically designed to be used by non-profit organizations and educational establishments. It supports more than 500 organizations including Vanderbilt University, WWF, and Sabin Vaccine Institute.

Their prices aren't displayed on their website. For a chance to test Hivebrite for yourself it is necessary to sign up for an initial demo. It's clear that they only offer price plans for corporations.

But, they also come with attractive features. The community can be brand-named. Furthermore, it lets you to manage your community's information, marketing tools, and content from one location.

Some of Hivebrite's standout features:

Live feed. It's possible to live stream to members of the community and hold real-time gatherings.

Rights of access. With Hivebrite, you can grant diverse access rights to specific user groups, like graduates and students. It is also possible to create different levels of membership with more access for those who pay.

Modular capabilities. As your community expands, you can to enable different functions. The options include forums, events and networking groups. Media center, messages and job boards or directory.

One of the biggest challenges of this platform is connecting it to databases , as well as other technologies. The majority of times it is necessary to engage an IT specialist to finish the APIs to synchronize the platform to various software.

6. Tribe.so

tribe.so-website

Tribe is a modular community platform, with an app ecosystem, direct third-party integrations, and ways to integrate the community in other applications and sites. Examples of use cases are customer education, customer satisfaction and service support for customers branding leadership, product feedback.

In Tribe principal functions, you can take the care of vital community elements. These apps are able to help increase your options. Examples:

  • Slack lets administrators and moderators to receive alerts of different events.
  • Zapier connects your group to the other technology tools within the stack.
  • Google Analytics helps you measure the activity of your community.

Tribe comes with the following features:

Social sharing. Tribe includes Open Graph tags that enable social sharing. This allows you to share content within the community and generate the interest of potential members.

Integration. Third-party integrations with over 30 different apps let the integration of your community using the tools you're already using.

Moderation panel. Tribe gives you the option to accept editing, deleting, or denying posts from users. It is also possible to archive older material to ensure your feed clean.

Tribe is available for free to the first 100 members. The Plus Plan costs monthly at $59 and allows users who can use the Plus application plus more than 2,500 users. However, to benefit to the greatest benefit of the app, users are required to upgrade to the Premium Plan at $299 per month. This will allow you to remove the Tribe branding, and access the webhooks and API and also increase your membership up to 25,000.

7. Circle.so

circle.so-website

Circle permits you to create a community around your courses and also provide coaching or support for customers. It is designed to ease the process of building a community, providing members with content-creation tools and private spaces, manage discussion, and even increase the value of your membership. It's packed with options and allows you to create an area with your logo that matches your site.

One of the most memorable features offered by Circle include:

Easy integrations. Circle works well with third-party software, like mail marketing software, Slack, Wordpress, and  so you could advertise your company or incorporate it with other products.

Spaces that are secret and private. You can create separate areas for different members in your membership. For instance, you might have one space to accommodate the core members, and another space that is reserved for premium members.

Searchable member directory. It allows members to connect to one another by creating profiles that are personalized as well as filters for searching.

Circle costs $35 per month. This includes a 4% transaction fee per user. The basic plan provides the basics of your group including discussions forums, private messages and discussion forums. Change to the Premium Plan ($89 per month, plus 1percent fee per transaction per user) to unlock Live streaming classes, online courses as well as more sophisticated analytics.

You may need to pay extra for add-ons such as extra space for administrators, additional spaces, email white-labeling, and a custom single sign-on (SSO).

8. Vanilla Forums

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Vanilla Forums has been created to allow mid-sized and enterprise organizations to deliver exceptional customer service. The platform is often utilized to provide customer support and service, as well as marketing, as well as the marketing of brands.

Vanilla offers a smooth user experience and seamless integration into your existing technological stack and adaptable customizations that can be tailored to your company's needs.

The most important characteristics of Vanilla Forums:

Knowledge Base. You can create a self-service Help Center within your community that includes user guides as well as Help documentation.

Surveys are customizable. With Vanilla Forums you're able to send personalized surveys to your customers in order to get feedback directly.

Open source community. You are able to download Vanilla's open source code at no cost and then manage your own community. Do you have a passion in technology? You can even contribute to the development of.

It's not ideal for self-employed creators or entrepreneurs on their own, as pricing is not available via the site. If you're interested in joining, it's possible to schedule an appointment to talk to one of the sales reps.

9. WildApricot

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WildApricot could be described as an integrated platform originally developed for non-profits and associations. It is currently utilized by associations, clubs as well as chapters at the at the state and local level.

Wild Apricot has a self-serve design that lets you customize the entire element of your community. The gamification system and reputation system allow you to make quality content, provide members-friendly features accessible, and make moderation easier.

It contains these essential attributes:

Event managing. Plan events such as auctions, online webinars, conferences and more. You can also find sponsors for your occasion. Additionally, you are able to publish your event calendar and create registrations for your events.

Donations. With WildApricot, you are able to accept donations as well as track progress towards goals for fundraising. It is also possible to export the records of your donations for easier management and tracking of the donations.

CRM. Like , WildApricot offers CRM (customer relationship management) tool that includes an extensive member directory which is available from any place.

Third-party tools are essential for marketing and running your business. Most of them work in conjunction with WildApricot and include WordPress, Mailchimp, and Zapier. Additionally there is a payment processing option that is only available to U.S. and Canada residents.

It is possible to try WildApricot free of charge with up to 50 contacts. The price can then be increased in the event that your audience grows

  • A month of $48 for 100 contacts.
  • 60 dollars a month for 250 contacts
  • Contacts of $500 for $110 per month. Contacts
  • $190 a month for 2 000 contacts

10. Disciple Media

disciple-media-website

Disciple Media is a social platform composed of three elements that include a console for managing your content on mobile and desktopdevices, a mobile application that lets users interact with each other and with the community on the web giving people the opportunity to connect on desktop.

The platform is designed for use by creators, founders and influencers who want to develop their own personal brand on social media platform.

Disciple Media includes the following features:

Multi-layouts. You can store and distribute content from one central place. Utilize groups, folders, and lists to create customized structures for your group.

Mobile app. Disciple Media is an online social network in the sense that its mobile user experience is geared towards its customers. It also has a web-based app however it is limited in capacities compared with the mobile application.

In-app purchase. Disciple lets you make sponsorships, in-app purchases and other promotions as well as turn your users into customers.

The cost of Disciple depends on the number of participants as well as your preference of web-based, mobile or both:

  • On the web only: $46 a month for 100 users
  • Mobile only. 458 dollars a month for 500 users
  • Mobile and web Mobile: $504 per 500 members

Other features include APIs, whitelabeling, and extra administrators. In addition, you'll be charged to coach in the community's support for members as well as mastermind-related features.

11. Vibely.io

vibely.io-website

Vibely.io was created by two ex- Asana staff, Teri Yu and Theresa Lee and wanted to disrupt the community of creators with a positive approach. Their tagline "Built exclusively by females, and not by gamer guys," gives you an indication of the style they're trying to create.

Vibely.io is a user-owned online community platform that permits creators to communicate with users and gather the user-generated content.

Vibely.io's top features include:

Commitment to positivity. Vibely is committed to never allow spam, trolls or even violence. Its goal is to create an environment that's inclusive of all.

Accountability tools and challenges. This application offers leaderboards tracksers, challenges, and challenges to keep everybody motivated.

Ambassadors. Vibely lets you appoint members of your community as ambassadors who will help welcome and manage the community members.

You can create your own Vibely community for free and with no limits in the number of members and ambassadors and super-administrators. However, on the plan that is free it is not feasible to make recurring payment. The Mastermind plans permit payments that take 10 percent of revenue.

The top online community software firm

There are a variety of factors to take into consideration when choosing the right online platform for community building. The tools you need are needed for the establishment of the community for your community. Your platform should be easy to use for both you and your members.
   
    Based on our research There are a myriad of choices available - however, one is a standout as an all-in-one platform for business.

Only empowers you to create and monetize a vibrant community along with other digital items like online courses and coaching. In addition, it gives you all the resources you require for marketing and selling such products so that it is possible to expand and grow an enterprise that is based on knowledge.

If you're considering starting forums, look into the forums we've examined. If you have a large community it may be reasonable (or even completely free).

The free software choices can leave users subject to various algorithms and rules of the game and limits your potential for growth. They lack the capabilities you'll require and often limit the amount of users you can accept.

The community you build is yours to manage. You decide on the rules of membership, the conditions and costs of membership. You decide whether or not to pay.

If you're planning to establish an online community, is the ideal solution. With video tutorials and walkthroughs, you can for quick start. Through the University, you have access to professional training on the basics of running an online community. It's free to everyone who wants to learn about it.

Start your free 14-day trial from now!

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