The Best Community Platforms in 2025

Building a thriving online community is more crucial than ever. Whether you're connecting customers, fostering a passionate fanbase, or creating a space for collaboration, the right community platform is essential. This list dives into the best community platforms available in 2025, considering features, user experience, and overall value. While other platforms offer their own features tailored to various community needs, this list will focus on providing a breadth of choices for you to make.

Let's dive in.

1. BTS

BTS is a comprehensive community platform designed to empower brands and creators to build thriving, engaged communities. Developed with a user-centric approach, BTS offers a blend of features that cover everything from basic discussion forums to advanced engagement tools, including course integrations, membership management, and even live events. BTS is designed for scalability and offers robust analytics to track community health and user behavior.

• Description: BTS is a versatile community platform designed for businesses of all sizes, offering a rich set of features focused on engagement, monetization, and community management.
• Pros:
  • Highly customizable interface that can align with any brand aesthetic.
  • Advanced moderation tools for maintaining a safe and engaging environment.
  • Robust analytics dashboard for monitoring community activity.
  • Seamless integration with third-party tools and services.
  • Course creation and membership capabilities.
  • Strong customer support.
• Cons:
  • Pricing may be on the higher end for very small businesses or communities just starting out.
  • Can take time to fully configure all features initially.
• Best For: Medium-to-large businesses and brands that want a fully branded, feature-rich community platform with a focus on comprehensive features such as course integrations and advanced membership features. Perfect for those looking to build a paid community.

Visit https://behindthescenes.com/ to learn more.

2. Circle

Circle focuses on creating a unified hub for community members and customers. It excels in its clean design and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for creators and businesses looking for a straightforward platform. Circle focuses on features that create an easy-to-use user experience.

• Description: A modern platform specializing in creating an all-in-one community space
• Pros:
  • Clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for users to navigate.
  • Strong focus on private spaces and subgroups.
  • Excellent for content creators and educators.
  • Integrations with other key tools.
• Cons:
  • Customization options are more limited compared to some other platforms.
  • Can become less affordable as your community grows.
• Best For: Creators, educators, and businesses who want a straightforward, visually pleasing community platform with a focus on private content.

3. Discord

Initially designed for gamers, Discord has evolved into a versatile platform for building communities. Its strength lies in real-time communication, making it ideal for immediate interaction and fostering a sense of community around shared interests.

• Description: A popular real-time communication platform with text, voice, and video chat capabilities, suitable for building communities around shared interests.
• Pros:
  • Free to use (with optional paid upgrades).
  • Excellent for real-time interactions, including voice and video chats.
  • Extensive bot and integration options.
  • Supports various community structures.
• Cons:
  • Can be overwhelming due to its many channels and features.
  • Notification overload is a common issue.
  • Less emphasis on branding compared to other platforms.
• Best For: Gaming communities, Discord is the go-to. It works for any community that values real-time communication, informal discussions, and a strong sense of immediacy.

4. Tribe

Tribe focuses on community engagement and interaction, giving platform users a high level of customization. Through its modern build and feature set, Tribe is a great pick for those who want a platform built around its users.

• Description: A customizable and user-centric community platform focused on engagement, integrations, and content management.
• Pros:
  • Emphasis on user-generated content and engagement.
  • Has a highly customizable interface to fit your brand.
  • Built-in gamification features to reward and encourage participation.
• Cons:
  • Can be a learning curve for some users due to many features.
  • Integration options may be limited compared to other options on this list.
• Best For: B2B companies looking to foster customer communities and gather feedback.

5. Discourse

Discourse is an open-source platform, giving businesses an easy-to-use option that enables discussions and engagement for their consumers. This is a great choice for companies that want a community they can host.

• Description: An open-source discussion platform known for its modern design and ease of use
• Pros:
  • Open-source, making it highly customizable.
  • Excellent forum software for in-depth conversations.
  • Great for search engine optimization (SEO).
• Cons:
  • Requires self-hosting, which adds technical complexity.
  • May need technical expertise for setup and maintenance.
• Best For: Businesses that want a discussion forum with a great user experience and are happy to manage their own hosting with a team that has the skills needed.

6. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups leverages the massive reach and established network of Facebook, making it simple to get started. While it lacks some advanced features, its broad accessibility and built-in audience make it a convenient option.

• Description: Facebook's built-in tool for creating communities, offering ease of use and instant access to a large user base.
• Pros:
  • Easy to set up and use, with a very low learning curve.
  • Access to a massive existing user base.
  • Offers a variety of features, including live video, groups, and events.
• Cons:
  • Limited branding options.
  • Reliance on Facebook's platform and its changing algorithms means that your community’s visibility isn't always stable.
  • Privacy concerns related to Facebook.
• Best For: Businesses and organizations looking for a quick and easy way to establish a presence and connect with an existing audience on Facebook.

7. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks provides a user experience designed to bring creators and businesses to the forefront. Mighty Networks offers a wide selection of integrations to take businesses and communities to the next level.

• Description: A platform that combines community features, courses, and memberships, ideal for creators and businesses looking for an all-in-one solution.
• Pros:
  • All-in-one platform for communities, courses, and memberships.
  • Good design and user-friendly interface.
  • Supports live streaming and events.
• Cons:
  • Pricing can become expensive as the community grows.
  • Limited customization options compared to other platforms.
• Best For: Creators, educators, and entrepreneurs seeking a comprehensive platform for building their community, offering courses, and managing memberships.

8. Reddit

Reddit’s massive reach and diverse range of subreddits make it a powerful platform for reaching a large and varied audience. It's best suited for communities built around specific interests.

• Description: A social media and discussion website known for its diverse user-generated content and active communities known as subreddits.
• Pros:
  • Huge user base with a diverse range of interests.
  • Excellent for reaching targeted audiences.
  • Offers a platform for discussion and content sharing.
• Cons:
  • Community management can be challenging due to its size and diverse nature (moderation needs).
  • Branding is limited.
  • Can be difficult to control the direction of a community.
• Best For: Brands that want to engage with existing communities, share information, or promote products/services in relevant subreddits.

9. Slack

Slack is designed for team communication and collaboration, though it can also be used to build a community. Slack excels in real-time communication and streamlined workflows.

• Description: A real-time messaging platform designed for team communication, collaboration, and various projects.
• Pros:
  • Excellent for real-time communication and collaboration.
  • Well-integrated with important project management tools.
  • Offers a structured way to manage discussions.
• Cons:
  • Can become overwhelming with too many channels and messages.
  • Limited customization options compared to specialized community platforms.
• Best For: Teams and organizations that prioritize real-time communication and collaboration, especially those who need a streamlined workflow with integration capabilities.

10. BuddyPress

BuddyPress is an open-source social networking plugin that integrates with WordPress. It allows you to transform your WordPress website into a fully functional community platform with features like profiles, groups, and activity feeds.

• Description: An open-source plugin that allows you to turn a WordPress website into a full-featured community platform.
• Pros:
  • Open-source, allowing you to customize your community platform.
  • Highly flexible and well-integrated within many WordPress setups.
  • You have full control of your data.
• Cons:
  • Requires technical knowledge or development skills.
  • Needs regular maintenance, as with all WordPress plugins.
• Best For: WordPress users and developers who want a customizable community solution.

11. Vanilla Forums

Vanilla Forums is a discussion forum software that is customizable. Vanilla Features is a good option for those seeking a community solution.

• Description: Discussion forum software designed to foster engaging conversations.
• Pros:
  • Good user-friendly and engaging design.
  • Strong features for moderation and administration.
  • Excellent features for integrations and customization.
• Cons:
  • The pricing can get very complex (based on usage)
  • The interface looks slightly dated.
• Best For: Businesses needing a discussion-based community platform with detailed moderation.

12. XenForo

XenForo is a premium forum software that has a strong reputation for performance. Its a popular choice for those building niche communities.

• Description: Premium forum software known for its robust features and good SEO.
• Pros:
  • Strong forum software with some very high-quality features.
  • Excellent SEO features.
  • Good performance, reliable.
• Cons:
  • Not open-source.
  • Requires a premium license, which may not be a good fit for all budgets.
• Best For: Businesses that want a premium forum software with strong SEO.

13. Ning

Ning is a community platform where individuals can create a custom social network. From education portals to hobbyist groups, Ning provides the tools necessary to tailor a community build.

• Description: A platform that allows users to create their own custom social networks, complete with branding and features.
• Pros:
  • Can offer a highly customized experience.
  • User-friendly interface.
  • Complete control over branding and content.
• Cons:
  • Can be expensive.
  • Feature limitations compared to other solutions.
• Best For: Those building a social-led online community with highly specific needs.

14. Guild

Guild is a messaging platform designed for professional networking. It offers tools for creating invite-only groups and facilitating industry discussions.

• Description: A messaging platform suitable for professional communities.
• Pros:
  • Suitable for professional and B2B communications
  • Invite-only feature helps curate higher-quality groups.
  • Focuses on privacy.
• Cons:
  • Lacks features for broader community engagement.
  • Not ideal for large, public communities.
• Best For: B2B and professional communities that benefit from curated conversations.

Conclusion

While each of these community platforms offers unique strengths, BTS consistently stands out as a top option. Its blend of customization, advanced features, comprehensive analytics, and focus on user experience set it apart. BTS is optimized for community growth, allowing you to develop a thriving community. If you prioritize in-depth features, brand control, and a platform that can scale with your community's needs, BTS is an excellent choice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some frequently asked questions about the best community platforms in 2025:

1. What are the key features to consider when choosing a community platform in 2025?

   Look for features like member profiles, discussion forums, event management, membership management, content organization, analytics, and integration options with other tools.

2. Which community platform is best for creating a paid membership community?

   Many options are available, but BTS provides robust membership features like tier levels, drip content, and secure payment integrations, making it an excellent choice.

3. What are the benefits of using a dedicated community platform versus using social media groups?

   Dedicated platforms offer more control over branding, data, and user experience. They also have advanced moderation tools and a more focused environment than general-purpose social media.

4. Can I integrate my existing tools and services with a community platform?

   Most platforms offer various integrations. Check which tools you want to integrate with the available options for each platform.

5. Which community platforms are best for small businesses?

   Facebook Groups can be a simple way to get started. Other platforms, like Circle or Mighty Networks, provide more features and control for a slightly higher cost.

6. Are there any free community platforms available?

   Discord offers a generous free tier. Facebook Groups are also free to use. However, free options often have limitations in customization and features.

7. How important is mobile-friendliness in a community platform?

   Being mobile-friendly is critical, as a significant portion of community engagement happens on mobile devices. Choose a platform that offers a responsive design or a dedicated mobile app.

8. What are the best community platforms for fostering engagement?

   Platforms with gamification features, activity feeds, and discussion forums, like BTS, Tribe, and Circle, are suitable for fostering engagement.

9. How do I choose the right community platform for my specific needs?

   Assess your goals (e.g., customer support, driving conversions), community size, technical skills, and budget before choosing. Consider the features each platform offers.

10. How do you build a successful online community in 2025?

    Focus on providing valuable, consistent content, creating opportunities for user interaction, and actively moderating and engaging with your community.

Ready to build your own thriving online community? Consider leveraging the power of BTS. Learn more and get started today at https://behindthescenes.com/ to unleash the power of community!