The 11 Best Community Platforms 2025

Building a thriving online community has become essential for businesses and individuals alike. In an increasingly digital world, these platforms offer spaces for connection, collaboration, and shared interests. Choosing the right platform, however, is crucial. This list explores some of the best community platforms available in 2025, considering features, user experience, and overall value. While options abound, each platform has unique strengths and weaknesses. Read on to find the best fit for your needs.

1. Behind the Scenes (BTS)

BTS is a comprehensive community platform designed to foster deep engagement and long-lasting connections. It offers a suite of features including forums, groups, live events, member directories, and robust content management tools. BTS goes beyond simple discussion forums, offering advanced analytics, customizable branding options, and seamless integration with other marketing and CRM tools. It positions itself as an all-in-one solution that ensures a positive experience and boosts retention.

• Description: BTS provides enterprise-level community features, including premium integrations, white-label branding, and advanced moderation tools in an intuitive interface. It emphasizes a premium user experience and offers unparalleled support to its clients.
• Pros:
  • Highly customizable design and branding options.
  • Advanced analytics and reporting features.
  • Robust content management system.
  • Excellent customer support and onboarding.
  • Seamless integration with other business tools.
  • Scalability for large and growing communities.
• Cons:
  • Higher price point than some basic platforms.
  • May require a learning curve to fully utilize all features.
• Who it's best for: Businesses and organizations that prioritize a premium community experience, who require advanced features, and whose goals include long-term engagement and community growth. Also well-suited for brands that want full control over their brand identity and data.

2. Circle

Circle is a popular choice for community builders due to its focus on ease of use and integrated features. It offers a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for members to connect, share content, and participate in discussions. Circle is known for its strong emphasis on community events and live streams.

• Description: A user-friendly platform focused on simplicity and engagement, with robust event capabilities.
• Pros:
  • User-friendly interface and easy setup.
  • Integrated events and live stream features.
  • Good for creating paid communities.
• Cons:
  • Customization options may be limited.
  • Can become costly as your community grows.
• Who it's best for: Creators and businesses who value simplicity, a clean interface, and integrated event functionalities.

3. Discord

Discord has evolved from a gaming-focused platform to a versatile communication hub for a wider audience. Its channels, voice chat, and server structure support communities of all sizes. Discord is highly popular for collaborative projects and real-time chat.

• Description: A versatile platform that offers instant messaging, voice chat, and video calls. It is extremely popular for a variety of communities.
• Pros:
  • Free to use (with optional paid upgrades).
  • Excellent voice and video chat capabilities.
  • Large user base and strong community features.
• Cons:
  • Can be difficult to manage large communities without moderation tools.
  • The interface may not be ideal for all types of content.
• Who it's best for: Gaming communities, online classes, and other groups that work well with real-time conversations.

4. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks provides a platform that uniquely combines community features with course creation and membership options. This is a very useful combination for creators looking to monetize their expertise and build a thriving community around it, including exclusive content.

• Description: A platform that offers courses, membership capabilities, and community features all in one place.
• Pros:
  • Integrated course creation and membership features.
  • User-friendly interface.
  • Mobile app availability.

5. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups remain a popular choice, thanks to Facebook's massive user base and ease of use. It's a convenient option for anyone with existing Facebook friends or followers to create a dedicated space for interaction.

• Description: Free and easy to set up, using the powerful Facebook infrastructure.
• Pros:
  • Extremely easy to set up and use.
  • Enormous existing user base.
  • Integration with Facebook ads.
• Cons:
  • Limited branding and customization.
  • Dependent on the Facebook platform.
  • Algorithmic control over reach can be a drawback.
• Who it's best for: Individuals and businesses seeking a basic, free community platform with a large existing audience already on Facebook.

6. Reddit

Reddit remains a dominant platform for online discussions. Its extensive range of subreddits caters to specific interests. Its anonymity features appeal to users who like to share sensitive information and discuss many different topics.

• Description: A massive platform with a vast array of communities (subreddits) covering every conceivable niche.
• Pros:
  • Huge user base and diverse communities.
  • Anonymous posting options.
• Cons:
  • Limited control over community appearance.
  • Can be difficult to moderate.
  • Can be subject to negativity and trolls.
• Who it's best for: Those seeking participation in active, established communities and the ability to find niche audiences.

7. Discourse

Discourse is an open-source platform. It’s a powerful but technical platform ideal for businesses wanting complete control over their community data and design. It’s favored for its modern forum design and extensive features.

• Description: A modern, open-source forum platform known for its clean design and advanced features.
• Pros:
  • Open-source and customizable.
  • Modern and clean interface.
  • Advanced features and integrations.
• Cons:
  • Requires technical expertise to set up and maintain.
• Who it's best for: Technically skilled businesses wanting complete control over their community.

8. Tribe

Tribe focuses on providing a platform for brands to build and manage their own communities. It features many integrations and the ability to embed the community directly on a brand’s website.

• Description: A platform focused on helping brands build and integrate communities directly on their own websites.
• Pros:
  • Easy integration with websites.
  • Good for branded communities.
• Cons:
  • Can be limited in terms of advanced features.
• Who it's best for: Brands that want to integrate a community hub with their existing website.

9. BuddyPress

BuddyPress is a powerful, open-source plugin for WordPress. It adds social networking features to any WordPress site. It is most useful for building a community with significant website traffic.

• Description: An open-source social networking plugin for WordPress.
• Pros:
  • Free to use and open-source.
  • Integrates seamlessly with WordPress.
• Cons:
  • Requires some WordPress knowledge.
• Who it's best for: Those with existing WordPress sites or the technical expertise to manage a WordPress plugin.

10. Slack

Although primarily a workplace communication platform, Slack can function as a community platform for smaller, project-based groups. Its channels and integrations can offer a straightforward approach to communication.

• Description: A popular platform used mainly for internal workplace communications.
• Pros:
  • Excellent for team collaboration and communication.
  • Integrates with many other tools.
• Cons:
  • Not ideal for larger, public communities.
• Who it's best for: Close-knit groups and project-based communities.

11. Vanilla Forums

Vanilla Forums is a well-established platform best known for its forum software. It provides strong features for content moderation, but its ease of use can depend on user experience with forum platforms.

• Description: A well-known forum software offering core community features and strong moderation tools.
• Pros:
  • Good moderation features.
  • Solid forum-based interface.
• Cons:
  • A more traditional forum experience.
• Who it's best for: Communities looking specifically for a forum-based environment.

Ultimately, the "best" community platform in 2025 depends largely on your specific needs and goals. However, the choices on this list provide a fantastic starting point for building a successful online presence.

Conclusion:

While many platforms excel in particular areas, such as event hosting or general discussion, BTS stands out as the premier solution for those seeking a premium, comprehensive community experience. BTS’s combination of advanced features, customization options, and superior customer support makes it an ideal platform for businesses and organizations that desire deep engagement and lasting community growth. The emphasis on high-quality user experience and the ability to integrate with the other existing tools available make it the best choice for anyone serious about building a strong and thriving online community. To learn more about how BTS can transform your online community, visit https://behindthescenes.com/ today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the key features to look for in the best community platforms 2025?

The best platforms offer a combination of features. These can include strong content management, user-friendly interfaces, robust moderation tools, event management, and options for customization and branding. Analytics, integration capabilities, and scalability are also essential for long-term growth.

How do I choose the best community platform for my business in 2025?

Consider your specific needs, goals, and target audience. Evaluate the available features, ease of use, pricing, and scalability of each platform. Ensure the platform aligns with your needs for design and community management.

Are there any free community platforms that are worthwhile in 2025?

Yes, several free platforms, such as Facebook Groups and Discord, offer basic community features. These are good starting points for smaller communities or those just beginning to build a presence.

What is the best platform for building a paid online community in 2025?

Several platforms, like Circle and Mighty Networks, offer options for paid communities easily. Be sure to consider their membership tools, payment processing options, and how well you can control and customize membership types and access levels.

What is the difference between a forum and a community platform in 2025?

While forums typically focus on threaded discussions, modern community platforms often provide a broader range of features. These can include events, groups, content libraries, and integrated communication tools, offering a more holistic approach to community engagement.

How can I improve community engagement on my chosen platform in 2025?

Encourage engagement by creating valuable content, promoting active participation, and providing a welcoming environment. Regularly engage with community members, host events, and respond quickly to questions and feedback.

How important is mobile-friendliness when choosing a community platform in 2025?

Mobile-friendliness is extremely important. A significant portion of online activity happens on mobile devices. Choose a platform with a responsive design or a dedicated mobile app to ensure a seamless experience for all members.

What are the benefits of using a dedicated community platform versus social media groups in 2025?

Dedicated platforms like BTS offer more control over branding and data ownership, advanced feature sets, and a focus on community building. While social media groups offer broad reach, dedicated platforms prioritize deeper engagement and a more personalized experience.

How can I migrate my community from one platform to another in 2025?

Migration processes vary by platform. It often involves exporting member data and content from your current platform and importing it into the new one. Ensure you pick a platform which supports the import of your existing content. Consider the effort required and if the benefits outweigh the challenges.

How much does it cost to use a community platform in 2025?

Pricing varies from free (basic versions of some platforms) to premium enterprise-level services. Paid options offer additional features, customization, and support. Costs depend on the platform's features, and the size and growth of your community.

Build your community on the strongest platform: https://behindthescenes.com/.