I’ve been digging into this whole online community thing lately because let’s face it building a cool space where people can connect is super exciting right? I mean think about it – you could be bringing together a whole bunch of people who share the same passion as you whether that’s learning a new skill sharing ideas or just hanging out and having a good time.

Ready to build a kick-ass online community? 🔥 Learnworlds is the real deal, especially if you’re all about online courses and building a strong educational space. 😎 Check out their 30-day free trial and see if it’s your jam! Give Learnworlds a shot!

The 12 Best Platforms for Community Engagement in 2024

So I’ve been researching all these different platforms and I’ve got to tell you – there are so many options! It’s a little overwhelming but I’m here to break it down for you.

We’re going to take a look at the 12 best platforms for community engagement in 2024 and I’ll give you the lowdown on what makes each one special and what their pros and cons are.

Plus we’ll chat about the key features you should be looking for in any community platform.

What’s the Deal with Community Engagement Platforms Anyway?

Think of them like the building blocks of a super-cool online hangout spot – they’re like the software that makes your community actually work.

They give you all the tools you need to build a place where people can connect share their thoughts learn from each other and maybe even do some pretty awesome stuff together!

Imagine you’re building a club but instead of meeting in a physical space you’re creating a digital one.

These platforms are like the tools that make your online club happen.

They give you the space to have discussions share content host events and even sell things to your members if that’s your jam.

Why Do You Need One?

These platforms are more than just fancy chat rooms they’re about creating something really special.

Here’s why they’re such a big deal:

They create a sense of belonging: People want to feel like they’re part of something bigger. Community platforms give them that feeling of connection and make them feel like they’re not alone.
They’re perfect for learning: Think online courses workshops or even just sharing tips and tricks. It’s a way to learn from each other and grow together.
They can help you make some cash: If you’re creating courses or offering memberships community platforms are perfect for selling those things and building a sustainable income stream.
They help you build your brand: A strong community can really boost your brand awareness and reputation. People feel more connected to you if they’re part of something you built.

What to Look For in a Community Platform:

Finding the right platform is crucial so you need to think about what’s important to you.

Here are some key things to consider:

Ease of Use: Nobody wants to deal with complicated software so choose a platform with a clean and intuitive interface. You should be able to get started quickly and without a ton of tech knowledge.
Scalability: You want a platform that can grow with your community. As you get more members you need to make sure it can handle the increased traffic without slowing down.
Customization: You should be able to make the platform feel unique to your community. Think about things like branding themes and layouts – you want it to reflect your style and personality.
Integrations: Seamlessly connecting with other tools is important. This might mean integrating with email marketing services payment processors or other platforms you’re already using.
Support: It’s always nice to have someone to help you out if you get stuck! Choose a platform that offers good customer support whether it’s through email live chat or a knowledge base.
Pricing: Take a close look at their different plans. Consider what features you need and what your budget is.

12 Community Platforms to Check Out

Now let’s get to the good stuff! Here’s a rundown of some of the best community platforms out there along with what makes them unique:

1. LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds is like the ultimate online learning hub and it’s really focused on building strong communities around education.

Think of it as a space where you can create courses host events and foster interactions with your students.

What makes Learnworlds stand out?

Community Dashboard: It has a central hub for all your community activities including discussion forums activity feeds and even separate spaces for different courses.
Monetization Options: They offer features to sell courses memberships and other digital products so you can make money from your community.
Focus on Education: If you’re an educator it’s packed with features to help you create awesome courses and manage student engagement.

Pricing:

Free Trial: They offer a 30-day free trial to test it out.
Paid Plans: They have several plans starting at around $24 per month with different features and pricing tiers.

Pros:

Super easy to use even if you’re not a tech whiz.
They have a ton of resources and support to help you build your community.
They really focus on making it easy to create and sell online courses.

Cons:

It’s a bit pricier than some of the other platforms out there but the features and support are worth it if you’re serious about building an educational community.

2. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks is all about building niche communities those special spaces that bring together people who are passionate about a specific topic.

It’s like creating a private club but online.

What makes Mighty Networks stand out?

Niche Focus: They specialize in building communities with a strong sense of identity. It’s perfect for building a community around a specific hobby interest or passion.
Monetization Options: They offer a variety of ways to make money from your community including memberships events and online courses.
User-Friendly Interface: They’ve created a super user-friendly interface so it’s easy to navigate and find what you’re looking for.

Pricing:

Free Trial: They offer a 14-day free trial.
Paid Plans: Their paid plans start at around $39 per month.

Pros:

Really good at building strong community engagement.
Great for communities focused on sharing knowledge and connecting with like-minded people.
They have some cool features for building online courses and memberships.

Cons:

The pricing can be a bit steep for some budgets.
It’s not as versatile as some other platforms for creating various types of content.

3. Circle

Circle is a modern community platform that’s all about simplicity and clean design.

It’s perfect for creators brands and educators who want to create a space where people can interact and learn from each other.

What makes Circle stand out?

Clean and Intuitive Interface: It’s easy to use and navigate even for people who are new to online communities.
Focus on Learning and Collaboration: It’s great for creating spaces for online courses memberships and events so people can learn and collaborate together.
Integrations: They integrate seamlessly with other tools and services.

Pricing:

Free Trial: They offer a 14-day free trial.
Paid Plans: Their paid plans start at around $49 per month.

Pros:

Simple easy-to-use interface.
It’s a good choice for creators who want to build a community around their work.
They have some cool features for creating and managing events.

Cons:

They don’t offer as many advanced features as some of the other platforms out there.
It’s not as feature-rich when it comes to building online courses.

4. Hivebrite

Hivebrite is a powerhouse of a platform that’s perfect for larger organizations and associations like alumni groups or professional networks.

It’s packed with features to help you manage events content and members.

What makes Hivebrite stand out?

Customizability: They offer a ton of customization options so you can create a branded experience that’s unique to your organization.
Robust Features: They have a lot of features including event management job boards fundraising capabilities and even advanced analytics.
Integrations: It integrates with a lot of third-party tools which is great if your organization has complex needs.

Pricing:

No public pricing: They don’t list their pricing on their website. They offer custom quotes based on your needs.

Pros:

It’s a great platform for managing larger more complex communities.
Their customizable features allow you to create a community that reflects your brand identity.
They offer a lot of features that cater to specific needs like event management or fundraising.

Cons:

The pricing is not transparent so you need to contact them for a quote.
It might be overkill for smaller communities or those with simpler needs.

5. Discourse

Discourse is all about forums.

If you want a place where people can have in-depth discussions and engage in lively debates Discourse is your best bet.

What makes Discourse stand out?

Open-Source Platform: It’s open-source meaning it’s free to use and modify so you can customize it to fit your exact needs.
Discussion Focused: They’re all about creating spaces for people to engage in discussions polls and debates.
Moderation Tools: They offer robust moderation tools to keep discussions on track and ensure a safe and respectful environment.

Pricing:

Free Trial: They offer a 14-day free trial.
Paid Plans: They offer various pricing options starting at around $10 per month.

Pros:

It’s a really good choice for building online forums.
They have a strong community of users who contribute to making the platform better.
They offer a lot of customization options.

Cons:

It’s not as user-friendly as some of the other platforms so you might need to put in some extra effort to learn how to use it.
They don’t offer as many features for creating other types of content.

6. Bettermode (Formerly Tribe)

Bettermode (formerly known as Tribe) is all about building branded communities for businesses.

It’s about creating a space where your customers can connect with your brand and each other.

What makes Bettermode stand out?

Focus on Customer Engagement: They’re great for businesses that want to create a community around their products or services.
Branding Tools: They have a lot of tools to help you create a branded experience that aligns with your company’s identity.
Gamification: They offer gamification features to make your community more engaging and encourage people to participate.

Pricing:

Free Plan: They offer a free plan with limited features.
Paid Plans: Their paid plans start at around $49 per month.

Pros:

They make it easy to build a community around your brand.
They have good features for managing customer support and engagement.
They offer a free plan so you can try it out without committing.

Cons:

The free plan has limited features so you might need to upgrade to a paid plan to unlock everything.
Their focus on branding makes them a bit less versatile for other types of communities.

7. Slack

Slack is known for its team communication features but it can also be used to build a community.

It’s like a super-powered chat room with tons of features.

What makes Slack stand out?

Real-Time Communication: They’re great for real-time communication and collaboration. It’s perfect for communities that need to be able to communicate quickly and easily.
Channels: You can create different channels for different topics so people can focus on the conversations that are most relevant to them.
Integrations: They offer tons of integrations with other tools so you can easily connect it with your existing workflow.

Pricing:

Free Plan: They offer a free plan with limited features.
Paid Plans: Their paid plans start at around $8 per month.

Pros:

It’s a powerful tool for real-time communication.
They offer a lot of features for managing large groups.
They have a free plan so you can try it out without committing.

Cons:

It’s not specifically designed for community building so you might need to get creative to use it effectively.
They don’t offer as many features for building online courses or memberships as some other platforms.

8. Kajabi

Kajabi is a super all-in-one platform for creators and entrepreneurs who want to create and sell online courses memberships and other digital products.

It’s like having a whole suite of tools in one place.

What makes Kajabi stand out?

Complete Solution: They offer everything you need to create market and sell digital products from course creation to email marketing and landing pages.
Sales and Marketing Features: They have a lot of tools to help you build funnels automate your marketing and manage your customer relationships.
Monetization: They make it easy to monetize your community through memberships courses and other products.

Pricing:

Free Trial: They offer a 14-day free trial.
Paid Plans: Their paid plans start at around $149 per month.

Pros:

They offer a complete solution for creating and selling digital products.
They have a lot of powerful sales and marketing features.
It’s great for creators who want to monetize their expertise.

Cons:

It can be a bit overwhelming for new users because it has so many features.
They can be a bit pricey but they offer a lot of value for money if you’re using all the features.

9. Thinkific

Thinkific is another popular online course platform that’s really focused on making it easy to create and sell courses.

It’s like having your own online learning platform built right into the platform.

What makes Thinkific stand out?

Course Creation: They make it super easy to create engaging courses with features like quizzes assignments and even gamification.
Marketing Tools: They offer tools to help you market and sell your courses including landing pages payment gateways and integrations with other services.
User-Friendly Interface: They have a user-friendly interface making it easy to create and manage courses.

Pricing:

Free Plan: They offer a free plan with limited features.
Paid Plans: Their paid plans start at around $49 per month.

Pros:

It’s a great platform for creating and selling online courses.
They offer a user-friendly interface making it easy to get started.
They have a free plan so you can try it out before committing.

Cons:

They don’t offer as many features for building a full-fledged community as some other platforms.
They’re not as strong when it comes to sales and marketing features as Kajabi.

10. Disciple

Disciple is like a mobile-first community platform that’s perfect for creators who want to build a branded community on the go.

It’s all about connecting with your audience through apps.

What makes Disciple stand out?

Mobile-First Focus: They’ve designed it for mobile use making it easy for people to access your community on their phones.
Branding: They give you a lot of control over branding so you can create a community that reflects your brand identity.
Monetization Options: They offer monetization features to help you make money from your community like subscriptions and in-app purchases.

Pricing:

Packages based on community size: They offer packages based on the size of your community.

Pros:

It’s designed for mobile use which makes it super convenient.
They offer good features for building a branded community.
They have monetization features to help you make money from your community.

Cons:

The pricing can be a bit pricey depending on the size of your community.
They don’t offer as many features for creating online courses or hosting events as some other platforms.

11. Discord

Discord is originally known for gaming communities but it’s become a popular choice for all sorts of communities who need a platform for real-time communication.

What makes Discord stand out?

Real-Time Communication: They’re really good for voice and text chat making it perfect for communities who want to interact in real-time.
Channels: You can create different channels for different topics to help keep conversations organized.
Customizable: It’s highly customizable so you can make it your own.

Pricing:

Free Version: They offer a free version for small communities.
Paid Plans: They offer paid plans for larger communities.

Pros:

It’s a powerful tool for real-time communication.
It’s super customizable.
They offer a free version so you can try it out before committing.

Cons:

It’s not specifically designed for community building so you might need to get creative to use it effectively.
They don’t offer as many features for creating online courses or memberships as some other platforms.

12. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups is a built-in feature of Facebook that’s perfect for creating a space for your customers or fans to connect with each other.

It’s a simple way to build a community without having to create a separate platform.

What makes Facebook Groups stand out?

Accessibility: It’s easy for people to join since they likely already have a Facebook account.
Built-in Features: Facebook already has a lot of features that you can use in your group like discussions events and polls.
Free: It’s free to use which is a big bonus.

Pricing:

Free: It’s free to use.

Pros:

It’s easy to use since most people already have a Facebook account.
It’s a good way to connect with your customers.
It’s free.

Cons:

You’re limited by Facebook’s features.
You don’t have a lot of control over customization or branding.
You might have to deal with spam or irrelevant posts.

13. LinkedIn Groups

LinkedIn Groups is a space for professionals to connect with each other.

It’s a good choice for building a community around a specific industry or profession.

What makes LinkedIn Groups stand out?

Professional Focus: It’s specifically designed for professional networking.
Industry-Specific: You can create groups that are focused on a specific industry or profession.
Content Sharing: They have features for sharing articles videos and other content.

Pricing:

Free: It’s free to use.

Pros:

It’s a good choice for building a community around a specific industry or profession.
It’s free.

Cons:

It’s not as versatile as some of the other platforms out there.
It’s not as customizable.
You might have to deal with spam or irrelevant posts.

Community Engagement: Tips to Keep Things Buzzing

So you’ve chosen your platform and you’re ready to build your amazing community.

Here are some tips to make sure your community stays engaged and thriving:

Gamification: Use gamification features like badges leaderboards and points to make things fun and encourage people to participate.
Live Events: Host regular live events or webinars to create real-time interaction and give your community a chance to ask questions.
User-Generated Content: Encourage members to share their own content like articles videos or even just their experiences to make your community feel more dynamic and relevant.
Content Variety: Keep things fresh by introducing new topics hosting different events and trying out new features.
Community Management: Keep a close eye on your community and track engagement metrics to see what’s working and what’s not. Respond to comments answer questions and create a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Choosing the Right Platform:

It all comes down to finding the platform that best suits your needs and your community’s goals.

Think about your budget the type of community you want to build and the features that are most important to you.

The right platform will help you create a space where people can connect learn and grow all while having a blast along the way.

Let me know if you have any questions or if you want to chat about which platform might be the best fit for you!

The 12 Best Platforms for Community Engagement in 2024

What’s the Deal with Community Engagement Platforms Anyway?

Why Do You Need One?

What to Look For in a Community Platform:

12 Community Platforms to Check Out

1. LearnWorlds

2. Mighty Networks

3. Circle

4. Hivebrite

5. Discourse

6. Bettermode (Formerly Tribe)

7. Slack

8. Kajabi

9. Thinkific

10. Disciple

11. Discord

12. Facebook Groups

13. LinkedIn Groups

Community Engagement: Tips to Keep Things Buzzing

Choosing the Right Platform:

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