The foundation of any thriving online community is a group of highly enthusiastic individuals. The primary goal behind creating an online community for brands is to find more ways to engage with their audience. Fortunately, we have several online community website software to make it easier.
One of the most incredible benefits of using a community website platform is keeping all your worries about managing your community website behind and focusing on more critical tasks for your brand’s success. Brands can engage with the audience and manage conversations from a centralized place. Continue reading to learn more about community website solutions.
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What is an Online Community Website Software?
An online community website software typically refers to a platform to help brands get all the tools to create, host, and manage their community website. However, the primary purpose of any community website software is to create content and make the employees feel heard. In other words, it offers complete assistance if you want to establish a scalable and vibrant community while fostering real relationships.
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Best Community Website Software to Look for
So are you looking for the best Community Website Software for your online community? Let’s have a look at this detailed list:
1. BuddyPress – Best Community Website Software
Do you want a robust and reliable online community website platform for your online community? BuddyPress is a sophisticated WordPress plugin designed to meet the demands of WordPress users and turn their websites into a thriving community.
In other words, web designers and programmers can include community features on their websites. However, you’ll need to make some styling changes to personalize your brand. That’s where you need a compatible theme.
Wbcom offers BuddyX and Reign themes entirely for your BuddyPress community. You can choose between the two based on your needs and pricing factors. If you want a theme for basic community needs, BuddyX Pro is the right option. Also, there’s a free version available. However, Reign is the perfect choice when you need an advanced theme for a sophisticated community.
Features:
- User profiles with avatars and custom fields
- Group creation and management
- Private messaging and activity streams
- Notifications and mentions
- Integration with WordPress themes and plugins
Pros:
- Free and open-source
- Easily integrates with WordPress
- Customizable with plugins and themes
- Strong community support
- Suitable for a wide range of community types
Cons:
- Requires WordPress installation
- Some features may require additional plugins
- Can become resource-heavy with larger communities
2. Hivebrite – Best Community Website Software
Hivebrite has been considered the most powerful community solution for brands. It is the ultimate online community website software you’ll find for all your needs. Get all the management tools you need to build, engage, and manage your online community. Users of Hivebrite have access to a broad range of interaction tools at any time and from any location. Take control of your member database with effective filters and targeting options. Hold complete control over how your users will join and sign up for your community.
Features:
- Advanced customization options
- Event management and ticketing
- Job boards and directories
- Fundraising and donation features
- Data analytics and reporting
Pros:
- Comprehensive feature set for large organizations
- Fully customizable
- Strong support for nonprofits and educational institutions
- Great analytics tools
Cons:
- Expensive for small communities
- Requires time to set up and manage
3. Mighty Networks – Best Community Website Software
Mighty Networks offers a comprehensive solution for building thriving online communities with a focus on content and courses. The platform enables creators to not only engage their audience but also monetize their content through membership tiers and subscriptions. It’s an all-in-one solution for community creators who want to offer courses, run events, or create paid memberships without relying on third-party tools.
Features:
- Customizable membership plans
- Integrated course creation tools
- Event hosting capabilities
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Gamification and community engagement tools
Pros:
- All-in-one solution for creators
- Mobile-friendly platform
- Easy monetization options
- Strong engagement tools
Cons:
- Pricing can be high for advanced features
- Limited integrations with external tools
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4. Circle
Circle is a premium community platform designed for creators and brands looking to build engaged audiences. It offers a clean, user-friendly interface that makes it easy to manage members, host events, and monetize through memberships. Circle’s main selling point is its integration with popular tools like Zoom and Slack, making it ideal for course creators, coaches, and businesses looking to add community features to their existing digital offerings.
Features:
- Integrated with Zoom, Slack, and other tools
- Membership and subscription features
- Event management tools
- Customizable spaces for different topics
- Mobile-friendly design
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Excellent integrations
- Easy to manage subscriptions
- Strong engagement tools
Cons:
- High monthly cost for premium features
- Limited customization without coding
5. Discourse
Want powerful yet incredible online community website software for communities of all kinds? Discourse is a stunning software that enables users to build a flourishing community around your brand. The entire codebase of Discourse is open source, making it free to the public. Moreover, you’ll get responsive hosted customer support to get quick assistance anytime. Get complete control over your community with powerful moderation tools and keep the discussions healthy and protected.
Features:
- Trust levels and user progression
- Real-time notifications and updates
- Extensive plugin support
- Moderation and spam control tools
- Optimized for SEO and mobile devices
Pros:
- Highly customizable and open-source
- Strong moderation tools
- Free for small communities
- Large developer community
Cons:
- Requires hosting or installation
- Can be overwhelming for beginners
6. Vanilla Forums
Vanilla Forums is a cloud-based community platform designed for building online forums and support communities. Known for its flexibility and scalability, Vanilla provides an easy-to-use interface with powerful moderation tools. It supports customer engagement through Q&A forums, product reviews, and knowledge sharing. Vanilla is popular with businesses looking to create support communities and engage with customers.
Features:
- Customizable themes and layouts
- Q&A forums and customer support tools
- User reputation and badges
- Analytics and reporting
- Multilingual support
Pros:
- Ideal for support communities
- Flexible and scalable
- Robust analytics and engagement tools
- Great for businesses
Cons:
- Expensive for small communities
- Limited customization for design
7. Tribe
Do you want a 100% white-label platform for your online community? The tribe is a stunning platform to customize your community for your brand. Launch your branded community with the best online community website software and delight your customers with better engagement opportunities. Encourage discussions around your brands and nurture connections to facilitate customer relationships. Allows your members to learn more about your brand through onboarding, content resources, events, and other engagement strategies.
Features:
- Modular System: Pick and choose features such as Q&A, polls, or discussions.
- Gamification: Points, badges, and leaderboards to engage users.
- Third-party Integrations: Connects with tools like Slack, Intercom, and Zendesk.
- Custom Domains: Use your own domain for branding purposes.
Pros:
- Flexible and customizable.
- Strong integrations with third-party platforms.
- Powerful moderation tools.
Cons:
- The interface can be overwhelming for beginners.
- Some advanced features are only available in higher-priced plans.
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8. Vesta
Vesta is the all-in-one platform to help streamline, connect, and expand your customer acquisition, engagement, loyalty, and insights initiatives. Let your members learn more about your brand and give them a personalized experience in your community. Give a customized community dashboard to each community member that is catered to their interests, tastes, and preferences. As a result, Vesta has become one of the most sought-after brand choices with more than 12 years of experience in the industry.
Features:
- Customizable branded community spaces
- User engagement tools like discussions, polls, and surveys
- Integrated rewards and loyalty programs
- Advanced analytics for tracking member engagement
- Event management tools and member directories
Pros:
- Focused on brand engagement and customer loyalty
- Advanced analytics and reporting tools
- Customizable to match your brand identity
- Integration with CRM and marketing automation tools
Cons:
- Primarily suited for businesses and enterprises
- Pricing can be higher for smaller organizations
- Limited features for casual, non-branded communities
9. Zapnito
Want an excellent platform to showcase your skills, products, or services? Zapnito offers an incredible way to create your community with the customers who matter more to your organization. Create a community and nurture relationships with thousands of pre-built tools to gain maximum engagement. The ultimate online community website software to create modern, creative, and adaptable online courses to showcase your skills uniquely.
Features:
- Knowledge-sharing tools like articles, videos, and webinars
- Branded, customizable community spaces
- Private and public community options
- Built-in analytics for tracking engagement
- Integration with CRM and marketing automation tools
Pros:
- Ideal for expert-led communities
- Strong content and knowledge-sharing features
- Customizable branding for professional networks
- Scalable for businesses of all sizes
Cons:
- Primarily designed for professional or expert communities
- Pricing can be high for smaller groups
- Not suitable for casual, social communities
10. PeerBoard
Get the perfect white-label experience with PeerBoard. A robust, reliable, and straightforward community-building solution to customize your fully branded community within minutes. Personalize your community experience with a platform built significantly to expand functionalities such as memberships, e-learning, e-commerce, SAAs, non-profits, and marketplaces.
Features:
- Discussion boards and threaded conversations
- Customizable user profiles and roles
- Real-time notifications and activity feeds
- Integration with existing websites via plugins or APIs
- Analytics and reporting tools
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Easy integration with websites and apps
- Flexible customization options
- Good for both small and large communities
- Real-time engagement features
Cons:
- Limited features in the free version
- Can become costly with advanced features
- Less suited for communities requiring extensive customization
11. Kajabi
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform designed for creators who want to sell courses, create content, and build online communities. While it is primarily known for its course-building capabilities, Kajabi also offers powerful community features, making it easy for creators to offer a combination of membership content and community interaction in one place.
Features:
- Course creation tools
- Membership site functionality
- Integrated email marketing
- Mobile app for communities
- Analytics and reporting
Pros:
- All-in-one platform for content creators
- Strong community and membership features
- Built-in marketing tools
- Mobile-friendly
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other community platforms
- Limited customization without coding
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12. Thinkific
Thinkific is a course creation platform with built-in community features that allow creators to engage their audience beyond just content delivery. With its easy-to-use interface and strong integration options, Thinkific helps creators build communities around their courses through discussions, groups, and member interaction.
Features:
- Course creation and delivery
- Integrated discussion boards
- Membership site functionality
- Drip content and payment plans
- Analytics and reporting
Pros:
- Ideal for course creators
- Easyto manage and monetize courses
- Strong engagement tools
- Customizable with themes and branding
Cons:
- Limited community features outside of course-related interactions
- Expensive for larger communities
13. Discord
Originally designed for gamers, Discord has evolved into a highly versatile platform for building online communities. With real-time voice, video, and text chat, Discord is ideal for communities that want to maintain ongoing, live conversations. It’s particularly popular with younger audiences and hobbyist groups, but it lacks advanced community management features.
Features:
- Real-time voice, video, and text chat
- Customizable channels and roles
- Bots for automating tasks
- Mobile and desktop apps
- File and media sharing
Pros:
- Great for real-time engagement
- Free to use with premium options
- Flexible moderation tools
- Popular with younger audiences
Cons:
- Lacks advanced community management tools
- Not ideal for formal communities
14. Slack
Slack is more than just a communication tool—it’s increasingly being used as a community-building platform, especially for small and medium-sized professional groups. With channels, direct messaging, and integrations with various tools, Slack offers an engaging and structured way for teams and communities to interact in real-time. However, it lacks some of the more advanced community-building features found in dedicated platforms.
Features:
- Channels for different topics or projects
- Direct messaging and group chats
- Integration with over 2,000 apps
- File sharing and collaboration tools
- Mobile and desktop apps
Pros:
- Real-time communication
- Extensive integrations
- Ideal for professional and team-based communities
- Easy to set up
Cons:
- Limited customization for branding
- Lacks advanced community engagement features
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15. Facebook Groups
Facebook Groups remain one of the most popular and accessible platforms for building online communities. With its ease of access, widespread use, and integration with other Facebook services, it’s ideal for both casual and professional communities. However, it has limitations in customization, branding, and data control, which can be restrictive for those looking for more control over their community.
Features:
- Integrated with Facebook’s ecosystem
- Easy to create and join groups
- Free to use
- Real-time posts and comments
- Event and poll creation
Pros:
- Huge user base
- Simple setup
- Free to use
- Built-in engagement tools
Cons:
- Limited customization
- Facebook controls the data
- No advanced features for monetization
After understanding community website software understand how to monetize your online community.
Winding Up on Online Community Website Software
Your target audience is interested to know more about your brand besides your products or services. You can even convert a few people into brand evangelists. That’s where the need for online community website software arises. First, you must choose a platform that significantly boosts engagement and conversion by allowing complete control over your community. The above community website software have been considered among the top choice of brands. However, BuddyPress is the perfect choice for WordPress websites. Later, combine it with the Reign or BuddyX theme to boost your opportunities.
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