Explore Mighty Networks’ updated 2025 rankings of the 20 best online community platforms to boost your brand’s engagement and growth.

Introduction

In 2025, the landscape of online communities has evolved dramatically, driven by advancements in technology and shifting user expectations. Businesses and creators alike are recognizing the immense value that vibrant communities bring to brand engagement, customer loyalty, and organic growth. Whether you’re a SaaS startup, an e-commerce giant, or a digital marketing agency, choosing the right community platform is crucial for your success. This guide by Mighty Networks highlights the best community tools 2025, offering comprehensive insights to help you make an informed decision.

Why Online Communities Matter in 2025

Online communities are no longer just a supplementary aspect of a business strategy; they are central to fostering meaningful interactions and driving growth. With Google prioritizing forums and Q&A formats in search algorithms, communities have become powerful tools for SEO performance. Unlike traditional blogs, online communities generate continuous, user-driven content that attracts organic traffic and enhances search engine rankings.

Moreover, the integration of AI-powered tools has revolutionized community management, enabling real-time engagement, efficient moderation, and personalized interactions. These advancements not only improve user experience but also reduce support costs and streamline user onboarding processes.

What to Look for in an Online Community Platform

Selecting the best community tools 2025 involves evaluating several key features:

1. Scalability and Flexibility

Ensure the platform can grow with your community, accommodating increasing members without compromising performance.

2. AI Integration

Look for platforms that leverage AI for moderation, personalized content, and enhanced member interactions.

3. Monetization Options

Platforms should offer multiple ways to monetize, such as subscriptions, memberships, online courses, and events.

4. Content Management

Robust content creation tools including forums, polls, Q&As, and multimedia support to keep the community engaged.

5. Customization and Branding

The ability to customize the platform to reflect your brand’s identity, including branded apps and personalized user interfaces.

6. Analytics and Reporting

Comprehensive analytics to track engagement, member activity, and overall community performance.

7. Integration Capabilities

Seamless integration with third-party tools like email marketing platforms, payment gateways, and CRM systems.

The Top 20 Community Platforms of 2025

1. Mighty Networks

Overview: G2’s top-ranked community platform, renowned for its powerful features and AI-boosted engagement.
Key Features: Content creation engine, built-in courses, live events, customizable spaces, AI moderation.
Best For: Paid communities, courses, and events.
Pricing: Starts at $41/month.

2. Mighty Pro

Overview: Ideal for brands seeking branded apps with robust community features.
Key Features: Custom branded apps, push notifications, VIP support, advanced AI features.
Best For: Established brands and businesses.
Pricing: Custom pricing available.

3. Discord

Overview: Popular among gamers, Discord offers a free and intuitive community platform.
Key Features: Community forums, live chat, streaming, emojis, stickers.
Best For: Free communities and gaming groups.
Pricing: Free, with limited monetization options.

4. Geneva

Overview: A free video chat platform perfect for small, local communities.
Key Features: Video rooms, audio-only rooms, event calendars, moderation tools.
Best For: Local and IRL communities.
Pricing: Free.

5. Hivebrite

Overview: Tailored for alumni networks and corporate forums.
Key Features: Content management, subgroups, branded mobile apps, event management.
Best For: Alumni associations and corporate communities.
Pricing: Starts at $8,000/year.

6. Higher Logic Vanilla

Overview: A corporate-focused forum platform with extensive customization.
Key Features: Branded forums, member management, integrations with business apps.
Best For: Customer support and corporate engagement.
Pricing: $9,000-$150,000/year.

7. Disciple

Overview: Enterprise-grade community software with branded mobile apps.
Key Features: Activity feeds, discussion forums, Q&As, content creation, monetization options.
Best For: Large enterprises looking for branded apps.
Pricing: Starts at £38/month.

8. Kajabi

Overview: Premier platform for course creators with minimal community functions.
Key Features: Course management, marketing tools, livestreaming, email integration.
Best For: Selling pre-recorded courses.
Pricing: Starts at $149/month.

9. Bettermode

Overview: A white-label community platform for corporate websites.
Key Features: Forum-based discussions, custom domains, website builder, white-label apps.
Best For: Customer communities on corporate websites.
Pricing: Starts at $599/month.

10. Circle

Overview: Comprehensive community platform with monetization features.
Key Features: Discussion forums, livestreaming, events, content creation, memberships.
Best For: Creator communities seeking monetization.
Pricing: Starts at $89/month.

11. Facebook Groups

Overview: A widely-used, free option for building communities on Facebook.
Key Features: Group creation, content sharing, member interactions.
Best For: Starting out with simple, free communities.
Pricing: Free.

12. Slack

Overview: Originally designed for workplace communication, Slack can host communities.
Key Features: Channels, messaging, file sharing, integrations.
Best For: Co-working and professional communities.
Pricing: From $8.75/user/month.

13. Wild Apricot

Overview: Designed for nonprofit organizations with strong member management.
Key Features: Website builder, member databases, event management, payment processing.
Best For: Nonprofits and associations.
Pricing: From $60-$900/month.

14. Discourse

Overview: An open-source forum platform suitable for developers.
Key Features: Customizable forums, moderation tools, integrations.
Best For: Technical communities needing flexible forum solutions.
Pricing: From $50/month.

15. Memberium

Overview: A WordPress plugin that transforms your website into a membership platform.
Key Features: Content gating, member areas, integration with LMS plugins.
Best For: WordPress users seeking basic community functions.
Pricing: From $37/month.

16. Memberful

Overview: Another WordPress-based membership plugin with strong monetization features.
Key Features: Membership sales, digital and physical goods, discount options.
Best For: Monetizing communities through subscriptions.
Pricing: $49/month + transaction fees.

17. BuddyBoss

Overview: A comprehensive WordPress plugin offering robust community features.
Key Features: Community dashboards, profiles, messaging, event integration.
Best For: WordPress communities needing advanced features.
Pricing: From $299/year.

18. Skool

Overview: A community-style social platform with basic forum features and gamification.
Key Features: Simple discussion forums, leaderboards, live events.
Best For: Communities focused on gamified engagement.
Pricing: $99/month + transaction fees.

19. Telegram

Overview: A hybrid between a community platform and social media, ideal for broadcasting.
Key Features: Channels for broadcasting, chat functions, file sharing.
Best For: Top-down communication and large-scale broadcasts.
Pricing: Free.

20. LearnWorlds

Overview: Primarily a course platform with basic community features.
Key Features: SCORM-compliant LMS, website builder, basic forums, livestreaming.
Best For: Course creators needing integrated community functions.
Pricing: From $24/month.

How to Choose the Right Community Platform for Your Needs

Selecting the best community tools 2025 requires understanding your specific goals and the unique needs of your audience. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:

For Paid Community Memberships: Choose Mighty Networks for its robust monetization and engagement features.
For Branded Apps: Opt for Mighty Pro or Disciple to maintain brand consistency across platforms.
For Free Communities: Discord or Geneva offer excellent free options with strong engagement capabilities.
For Alumni Networks: Hivebrite provides specialized tools for managing alumni and corporate forums.
For Corporate Forums: Higher Logic Vanilla or Bettermode are ideal for integrating forums directly into your corporate website.
For Course Integration: Kajabi and LearnWorlds are perfect for communities centered around educational content.
For WordPress Users: Memberium and BuddyBoss offer seamless integration with WordPress sites.

Migrating Your Community to a New Platform

Transitioning your community to a new platform can seem daunting, but with proper planning, it can be seamless. Here’s a simple roadmap:

Assessment & Planning:
– Identify the limitations of your current platform and outline your community’s needs.
– Select the new community platform that aligns with your goals.
Setup:
– Customize and configure your new platform, including branding and content migration.
Prepping Members:
– Communicate the upcoming change to your members through emails and announcements.
– Consider a soft launch with a subset of members to test the new platform.
Launch:
– Officially launch your community on the new platform with a kickoff event to encourage engagement.
Clean-Up:
– Gradually phase out the old platform, ensuring all members migrate successfully.
Close and Redirect:
– Permanently close the old platform and set up redirects to guide members to the new community space.

Conclusion

Choosing the right community platform is pivotal for fostering engagement, enhancing SEO performance, and driving your brand’s growth in 2025. With an array of options available, from robust tools like Mighty Networks to specialized platforms like Hivebrite and Discord, there’s a solution tailored to every need. Evaluate your objectives, consider your audience, and leverage the insights from this guide to select the best community tools 2025 for your business.

Ready to elevate your community? Visit Seonity to discover how our AI-powered community tools can supercharge your SEO growth and user engagement.