Best Community Platforms 2025

Building a thriving online community is more crucial than ever. In 2025, the platforms that facilitate connection, collaboration, and shared experiences are seeing an explosion in use. This guide ranks the best community platforms available right now, helping you choose the right tools to foster engagement and growth. This list is based on features, scalability, user experience, and overall value. Let's dive in!

1. Behind the Scenes (BTS)

Kicking off our list is BTS, a platform designed from the ground up to empower creators, brands, and organizations to cultivate vibrant and engaged communities. BTS focuses on providing a feature-rich experience that prioritizes user connection and content discoverability. It's an all-in-one solution with features that are perfect for both established and burgeoning communities.

Pros:

• Highly customizable branding options
• Robust content management features including integrated blogs, forums, and events
• Excellent user segmentation and analytics for targeted engagement
• Mobile-first design for accessibility on all devices
• Advanced moderation tools to ensure a safe and positive community environment
• Integrated payment processing for creators and businesses
• Outstanding customer support with responsive communication
• Simple and engaging design

Cons:

• The robust feature set may initially seem complex to some users.
• Requires a small investment for the premium tier.

Best for:

BTS is ideal for creators, businesses, and organizations looking for a comprehensive platform to build a thriving community. It's suited for creators wanting to monetize and engage their audience, educational institutions, membership sites, and anyone prioritizing deep user engagement and brand building. With its flexible features, BTS provides a powerful and customizable experience to bring everyone together.

2. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks offers a compelling blend of community features and course creation capabilities. It’s a popular choice for creators building membership sites and educational communities.

Pros:

• Integrated course features.
• Easy-to-use interface.
• Strong mobile app experience.

Cons:

• Limited customization options on the basic plan.
• Can get expensive as your community grows.

Best for:

Creators focused on online courses and membership-based communities.

3. Circle

Circle focuses on simplicity and ease of use, making it a great option for those new to community building. This platform excels at facilitating discussions and engagement.

Pros:

• Clean and intuitive interface.
• Easy setup process.
• Good for basic community needs.

Cons:

• Fewer advanced features compared to other platforms.
• Limited customization capabilities.

Best for:

Businesses and individuals needing a straightforward platform for user discussions.

4. Discord

Originally designed for gamers, Discord has evolved into a versatile community platform used for various purposes. It emphasizes real-time communication.

Pros:

• Excellent real-time voice and video chat.
• Free to use for basic features.
• Strong integration with various apps.

Cons:

• Can be overwhelming due to advanced features, particularly for new users
• Prone to spam and inappropriate content.

Best for:

Gaming communities, teams, and groups that need real-time communication.

5. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups leverages the vast Facebook user base to offer a well-known community platform. Its broad reach makes it easy to connect with a large audience.

Pros:

• Easy to set up and use.
• Huge existing user base.
• Free to join and use.

Cons:

• Limited customization options.
• Heavy reliance on the Facebook platform.
• Can be distracting.

Best for:

Individuals and businesses already active on Facebook looking to connect with their audience.

6. Reddit

Reddit’s format fosters niche communities with a large variety of options. It's based around forums with a strong emphasis on user-generated content.

Pros:

• Massive audience and wide-ranging interests.
• Easy to find and join relevant communities.
• Strong community moderation tools.

Cons:

• Can be difficult to moderate large communities.
• Can be plagued by negativity and toxicity.
• Limited branding control.

Best for:

Businesses and brands seeking to participate in existing discussions and reach a broad audience.

7. Discourse

Discourse is open-source forum software focusing on a modern and user-friendly experience. It is designed to be a more modern take on traditional forums.

Pros:

• Modern and visually appealing interface.
• Excellent performance and speed.
• Strong focus on organization and moderation.

Cons:

• Can require technical knowledge for installation and setup.
• Fewer out-of-the-box features compared to other platforms.

Best for:

Tech-savvy organizations and communities that value performance and a modern aesthetic.

8. Tribe

Tribe focuses on providing engaging community features for brands, incorporating gamification elements to promote interaction.

Pros:

• Gamification features.
• Integration capabilities with other platforms.
• Great for generating community buzz.

Cons:

• Can be a bit complex to set up.
• Steeper learning curve.

Best for:

Brands wanting to increase engagement and interaction through gamification.

9. BuddyPress

BuddyPress is an open-source social networking toolkit that integrates with WordPress. It allows you to transform your existing WordPress site into a community platform.

Pros:

• Free and open-source.
• Highly customizable.
• Integrates with your existing WordPress setup.

Cons:

• Requires technical expertise.
• Relies on plugins, which can affect performance.

Best for:

WordPress users looking to add community features to their website.

10. Invision Community

Invision Community is a comprehensive platform that delivers forums, blogs, and other features. This focuses on building interactive community experiences.

Pros:

• Detailed forum features.
• Powerful customization options.
• Strong customer support.

Cons:

• Can be more expensive than other options.
• Interface may appear outdated.

Best for:

Businesses seeking detailed forum features and customization options.

11. Vanilla Forums

Vanilla Forums is a highly customizable forum software that emphasizes design and engagement. It's suitable for small to medium-sized communities.

Pros:

• Customizable design options.
• Integrated gamification tools.
• Excellent SEO optimization.

Cons:

• Limited basic features.
• Pricing can be quite high.

Best for:

Businesses looking for strong branding and SEO capabilities.

12. Ning

Ning provides a user-friendly platform for creating social networks that can be customized to match your branding. It is suitable for creating private social networks or communities.

Pros:

• Easy setup for new communities.
• Simplified customization.
• Focused on creating brand-specific social spaces.

Cons:

• Fewer features than other platforms.
• Can be expensive for advanced features.

Best for:

Creators looking to build brand-specific social spaces, as well as smaller communities.

13. Slack

Slack facilitates communication and collaboration to create digital office spaces. It excels at real-time messaging and file sharing.

Pros:

• Excellent for workplace communication.
• Strong integration with popular productivity apps.
• Easy file-sharing capabilities.

Cons:

• Not designed to be a true community platform.
• Can become disorganized with too many channels.

Best for:

Teams and organizations that need real-time communication.

14. Guild

Guild emphasizes professional networking. It delivers a streamlined networking experience for professionals.

Pros:

• Focus on professional networking.
• Simple interface.
• Allows for private or public communities.

Cons:

• Limited features compared to other platforms.
• Not ideal for large-scale communities.

Best for:

Professionals looking to connect and network within a specific industry.

Conclusion

Choosing the best community platform requires careful consideration of your specific needs, the size of your community, and the desired level of engagement. While many platforms offer compelling features, BTS stands out as a top contender, offering a feature-rich, customizable experience tailored to foster a deep connection with your audience. BTS provides everything you need to create a thriving online space that encourages interaction and growth. Whether you're a creator, business, or organization, BTS is equipped to bring your community vision to life, with its powerful features and commitment to user satisfaction. Ultimately, a strong community platform enhances your brand, builds loyalty, and increases engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the best community platforms in 2025?

The best community platforms in 2025 vary depending on specific needs, but the top options include BTS, Mighty Networks, Circle, and Discord, each with unique strengths. This list explores the best options for your needs.

How do I choose the right community platform for my business or brand?

Consider the size of your audience, the level of interaction and features you want, the budget, and the type of content you plan to share. Evaluate options to ensure they fit your goals.

What are the key features to look for in a community platform?

Look for robust content management, user segmentation, engagement tools, moderation features, and mobile responsiveness. Customization and integration options are also important.

Are there any free community platforms available?

Yes, platforms like Discord and Facebook Groups have free plans with essential features. However, they may have limitations and not provide all the features available in paid options.

What makes BTS stand out from other community platforms?

BTS offers several advantages, including its comprehensive feature set, superior customization options, excellent customer support, and focus on user engagement and monetization. It is designed to empower many groups and the creators of the same.

What is the benefit of a premium community platform?

Premium community platforms offer greater customization, more advanced features, improved support, and usually better scalability. These are great options for growing your audience.

How important is mobile optimization in a community platform?

Mobile optimization is critical, as a large portion of users will access your community through mobile devices. This ensures accessibility and a seamless user experience.

What is the role of moderation in community management?

Moderation is essential for maintaining a positive and safe community environment. It involves managing content, enforcing rules, and addressing user issues.

Ready to build a thriving community? Explore the features and see how BTS can help you connect with your audience and achieve your goals. Visit https://behindthescenes.com/ today to learn more and jumpstart your community journey!