Best Community Software

Virtual spaces are made available via online community platforms, sometimes called community software, where people may interact, exchange ideas, and work together. 

Whether for work, learning, or shared interests, these platforms are vital for encouraging participation and communication. 

They improve ties and customer interactions by providing resources for communication, resource sharing, and event planning. 

Key Takeaways

• Community software fosters online connections and engagement among users with shared interests, benefiting businesses, organizations, and hobbyist groups.
• Top 2024 platforms include Slack, Mighty Networks, and Discord, each offering unique features to meet diverse community needs.
• When selecting community software, consider your goals, required features, integration capabilities, and scalability for long-term success.

Top 10 Community Software Platforms for 2024

One of the key attractions of these platforms is their ability to foster inclusivity, particularly when aligned with specific missions or goals. 

The best platforms emphasize security and build trust, which is crucial for community engagement. These tools highlight the importance of community by encouraging active participation, collaboration, and connection among members.

As the demand for community building grows, especially in digital spaces, the industry is expected to expand by 30% by 2030. 

Selecting a platform that aligns with your organization's objectives while being both functional and adaptable is essential for long-term success in fostering strong, engaged communities.

Here are our top selections for your consideration.

1. Slack

Slack is a premier platform for community engagement, hosting over three-quarters of a million organizations, including 80% of the companies listed on the Fortune 100.

Its user base is robust and growing. With 65 million active users per month, projections indicate this number will rise to 79 million by 2025.

In recent years, an innovative feature within Slack called AI Recaps—automated summaries that recap daily channel activity—has been introduced. 

This allows members to quickly catch up without wading through loads of messages. The new ‘Lists’ function has also been added to bolster team efficiency regarding task management, adding significant value for business operations and project-oriented online communities.

With its capability to handle file transfers up to sizes of 1GB, Slack caters well to businesses needing seamless large-file distribution. 

It accommodates structured conversations via public and private channels tailored around particular subjects or teams while integrating effortlessly with other applications like Google Drive, Notion, and Zoom— Amplifying collaborative potential. 

Communities can use Slack tickets through Suptask to enhance collaboration even further, allowing for quick problem-solving and task delegation.

Moreover, administrators have tools that grant them control over role assignment and member permissions, thus facilitating streamlined community governance.

2. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks stands out as a top-tier online community platform, notable for its extensive features that are dedicated to fostering vibrant communities. 

It supports unlimited members, admins, and moderators across all plans. It also presents diverse revenue-generating possibilities, such as paid memberships, educational courses, personal coaching sessions, and event organizing. 

This makes it highly appealing to both well-established enterprises and independent creators.

In terms of user experience, Mighty Networks’ interface is impressively visual while remaining straightforward to navigate – a significant boon for those managing the online community. 

Users are equipped with advanced analytics through a bespoke dashboard that provides deep insights into member engagement trends critical to steering their communities' growth trajectory. 

The Community plan starts at $33 per month, providing affordability and value. Its offerings can be explored during a free 14-day trial period.

Organizations aiming higher in their community-building ambitions might consider Mighty Pro—an upgraded service tier from Might Networks—which comes laden with premium benefits, including branded community apps tailored specifically for your audience or group identity on various platforms like iOS or Android, exclusive VIP support access, and cutting-edge AI-driven functionalities. 

Despite hurdles like intricate login procedures, Mighty Network has earned high praise—as reflected by customer satisfaction ratings—and even secured the title of “Best Online Community Platform” from G2 Crowd’s rankings, affirming its commendable presence in this competitive market space.

3. Circle

Circle stands out as a robust platform for content creators who wish to establish public and private communities centered on their work. 

It provides a comprehensive guide on how to build a community by offering features like hosting discussions, organizing events, and incorporating various integrations. These tools are all aimed at fostering community engagement through an extensive toolkit.

With subscription plans ranging from $89/month to $360/month and a 14-day trial period at no cost, Circle caters to diverse financial capacities. 

User reviews on sites like Capterra have been favorable, often highlighting its dual functionality that merges community-building elements with online learning capabilities.

4. Discord

Known for its excellence, Discord stands out as a leading free community platform highly favored by gamers, content creators, and those in education. 

The platform’s standout functionalities include real-time messaging, seamless file sharing, and crafting multifaceted communities using text and video channels.

While providing its services mainly under a complimentary model, Discord also presents an elective Nitro subscription at $9.99 monthly, enhancing user experience. 

Catering primarily to gamers alongside myriad hobbyist groups positions it as a dynamic resource for engaging interactions across diverse audiences in real-time.

5. Hivebrite

Hivebrite excels in facilitating the management of alumni associations by providing capabilities such as private messaging, updated RSS feeds, and tailor-made newsletters. 

It gives users the flexibility to set up communities that are either publicly accessible or exclusive to invited members.

Hivebrite offers an array of supplementary materials, including a blog, online seminars (webinars), audio broadcasts (podcasts), and a comprehensive repository of content designed to assist its users. 

Its advanced tools for managing databases and personalization options can be fine-tuned to meet the distinct demands of various community types.

User testimonials consistently praise Hivebrite's customer service and support. However, budget considerations may arise for smaller entities since pricing begins at $8,000 annually, with an approximate monthly expense ranging between $500 and $600.

Hivebrite’s versatility suits a diverse range of groups, such as small enterprises, medium-sized companies, larger corporations, educational institutions, and professional bodies.

6. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups provide an uncomplicated and user-friendly experience for individuals embarking on community building or seeking a cost-free platform. 

They offer essential features like facilitating discussions, content sharing, organizing events, and overseeing community moderation—making them well-equipped to address different requirements within a community.

Opting for Facebook as the home for your new community brings the benefit of tapping into its substantial existing user base along with simple accessibility. 

One might encounter hurdles such as decreased post visibility driven by Facebook’s algorithmic preferences and an absence of payment integrations—a significant consideration when expanding larger communities. 

Yet, even amid these obstacles, users have rated Facebook Groups highly, 4.3 out of 5 stars, signifying widespread approval.

Catering to privacy preferences and needs across various audiences is feasible with Facebook Groups since they can be set up as public or private entities. 

Their versatility extends their applicability to hobbyist groups to professional networks, including coaches and businesses—all in pursuit of fostering connections through community engagement strategies tailored for diverse collectives.

7. Vanilla Forums

Vanilla Forums is a fundamental platform for online communities, especially praised for its specialized corporate forum-centric services. 

It is pivotal in crafting branded customer communities and bolsters customer success strategies by offering an adaptable and captivating community space.

This community management platform is equipped with features that facilitate personalized interactions within the community. It has received commendation through user ratings averaging 4.4 out of 5, reflecting widespread approval. 

Vanilla Forum’s exclusive concentration on forum functionalities without built-in monetization capabilities might constrain certain users seeking comprehensive features in a community management solution.

8. Tribe

Bettermode, formerly known as Tribe, is a cloud-driven community platform designed to craft engaging spaces dedicated primarily to text-based interactive discussion forums. 

This platform provides adaptable discussion forums that are user-friendly and do not require technical expertise for either initiation or customization, thus allowing broad accessibility.

Supporting various content formats such as forums, blogs, and Q&A segments addresses users' multifaceted demands. 

Bettermode’s capacity for integration with widely used applications like Zendesk and Salesforce bolsters its utility as an efficient resource for managing communities.

9. Discourse

Discourse's platform offers a contemporary interface that improves the overall user experience and makes it more captivating than old-school forums. 

It facilitates vibrant conversations by allowing for the use of multi-media elements, polls, and emojis, which significantly boosts user engagement.

By leveraging a Trust Model, Discourse motivates users to participate more actively by rewarding them with extra privileges as their activity increases. 

Its extensive plugin ecosystem enables personalization of features, integrating analytical tools and diverse methods to foster engagement.

10. FeverBee

FeverBee is dedicated to crafting community strategies that cater specifically to the individual needs of organizations, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach common among competitors. 

Their evaluation of customer satisfaction takes into account various criteria including feature diversity and quality, user-friendly experience, and economic value—highlighting their commitment to delivering an exceptional user experience.

The service provides a technical analysis report which scrutinizes different community platforms in terms of provided services, integration capabilities, pricing structures, and security measures. 

This offers crucial information for companies aiming at enhancing their community engagement strategy with data-driven insights rooted in psychological principles.

Through bespoke training modules for community managers designed by FeverBee, these professionals can hone their skills leading to greater engagement within communities as well as more efficient support mechanisms. 

Having served over 300 clients since its founding year in 2010 demonstrates FeverBee’s reputation as a reliable collaborator in the realm of community building.

FAQ

What is community software?

Community software creates digital spaces for people with shared interests to connect, collaborate, and engage online.

What are the benefits of using community software?

It boosts customer support, builds strong relationships, provides insights, and fosters user engagement and belonging.

How do I choose the right community software?

Clarify your community’s goals, involve stakeholders, compare features, and ensure scalability for future growth.

What are some of the top community software platforms for 2024?

For fostering engagement and connection, top platforms include Slack, Mighty Networks, Circle, Discord, and Facebook Groups.

What should I look for in a community platform?

Look for discussion threads, event management, integrations, and scalability to meet your community’s goals effectively.