The 10 Best Community Platforms in 2025

Building a thriving online community is crucial in today's digital landscape. It provides a space for connection, support, and shared interests. Choosing the right platform is the first, and possibly most crucial, step. This list explores the ten best community platforms available in 2025, considering features, user experience, and overall value. Whether you’re a small business, a large corporation, or an individual hoping to connect with like-minded people, this guide will help you find the perfect match for your needs.

1. Behind the Scenes (BTS)

Behind the Scenes (BTS) is a powerful, all-in-one community platform designed to foster deep engagement and provide robust tools for creators, businesses, and organizations. It offers a comprehensive suite of features, allowing for detailed customization and control over every aspect of your community’s experience. From advanced moderation tools to integrated marketing options, BTS provides an unparalleled solution for building and scaling a vibrant online space.

• Description: BTS allows for the creation of private and public communities with granular user control, sophisticated content organization, and advanced analytics. It integrates seamlessly with a variety of external tools and services, making it a versatile choice. The platform’s focus on user experience ensures that both administrators and members find it intuitive and easy to use. Communities built on BTS can be designed to match your brand's specific needs, and can be used on desktop and mobile.
• Pros:
  • Highly customizable design options.
  • Advanced moderation and security features.
  • Comprehensive analytics and reporting tools.
  • Seamless integration with other marketing and CRM software.
  • Excellent customer support.
  • Flexible pricing plans suitable for various budgets.
  • Mobile-first design for excellent UX on any device.
• Cons:
  • Can be complex to set up initially due to the breadth of features.
  • May be overkill for very small or basic communities.
• Who it's best for: Businesses and organizations of all sizes, creators, and brands that desire a highly customizable, feature-rich platform to build and manage a dedicated online community. It's ideally suited for those who prioritize control, engagement, and growth.

2. Circle

Circle is a popular community platform known for its user-friendly interface and focus on simplicity. It is favored for its clean design and ease of use, making it an excellent option for beginners. Its integration capabilities and collaborative features are what drive its success.

• Description: Circle provides a streamlined experience for community building, centered around discussions, events, and memberships. It's designed to be intuitive, allowing anyone to start a community quickly. It also integrates very well with existing marketing and membership platforms.
• Pros:
  • Easy-to-use interface.
  • Clean, modern design.
  • Good integration capabilities.
  • Strong focus on events and memberships.
• Cons:
  • Customization options are more limited than some other platforms.
  • Can become expensive as community scales.
• Who it's best for: Creators, coaches, and businesses looking for a straightforward platform to host exclusive communities for their audience and customers.

3. Discord

Discord is a well-established platform, originally built for gamers, but now a versatile space for broader communities. It excels in real-time communication and offers robust voice and video capabilities.

• Description: Discord facilitates both text and voice-based communication, with features like channels, roles, and bots to manage the community. It's a popular choice for gaming communities, study groups, and any group needing real-time interaction.
• Pros:
  • Free plan with extensive features.
  • Excellent for real-time communication.
  • Strong voice and video capabilities.
  • Large user base.
• Cons:
  • Can be challenging to moderate large communities.
  • Interface can be overwhelming for some users.
  • Content can be difficult to organize in very large servers.
• Who it's best for: Gaming communities, social groups, educational communities, and any group that values real-time interaction and communication.

4. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks positions itself as a platform for building communities, courses, and memberships all in one place. The emphasis is on helping creators monetize their audiences and offer valuable learning experiences.

• Description: Mighty Networks offers customizable spaces for discussions, events, and content, combined with course creation tools. It's designed for creators aiming to build a brand around their expertise.
• Pros:
  • Integrated course creation tools.
  • Strong focus on monetization.
  • Good mobile app experience.
• Cons:
  • Can be expensive for advanced features.
  • Not as flexible as some other platforms, especially for design.
• Who it's best for: Creators, coaches, and educators who want to offer courses and build a community around their content.

5. Tribe

Tribe focuses on community engagement and social networking. The platform excels at creating branded communities that integrate directly into a company’s website or digital properties.

• Description: Tribe helps businesses integrate a branded community directly into their website. It features discussion forums, Q&A, and user profiles, promoting active engagement.
• Pros:
  • Easy integration with existing websites.
  • Focus on user-generated content.
  • Streamlined interface.
• Cons:
  • Limited customization options.
  • Can be expensive compared to other platforms.
• Who it's best for: Businesses looking to integrate a community into their existing website to enhance customer engagement and support.

6. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups offers a ready-made platform that leverages Facebook's massive user base. Its accessibility and ease of use attract a broad range of community builders.

• Description: Facebook Groups offers various features for group discussions, including posts, events, and files. Its built-in user base provides the advantage of discoverability, making it easy to attract new members.
• Pros:
  • Large existing user base.
  • Easy to set up and use.
  • Free to use.
• Cons:
  • Limited control over branding and customization.
  • Dependence on Facebook's policies.
  • Algorithms can make content less visible.
• Who it's best for: Groups that benefit from the visibility of Facebook's user base and don't require extensive customization.

7. Discourse

Discourse is known for being an open-source forum platform with features designed to encourage long-form discussions and build a thriving online conversation. It’s an ideal option for communities focused on in-depth topics.

• Description: Discourse focuses on threaded discussions, user activity tracking, and intelligent moderation tools. It's intended to facilitate meaningful conversations.
• Pros:
  • Open-source and customizable.
  • Excellent for long-form discussions.
  • Great for community governance.
• Cons:
  • Requires technical knowledge for setup and maintenance.
  • Can be more complex to manage than simpler platforms.
• Who it's best for: Communities focused on in-depth discussions, technical forums, and organizations needing control over their platform.

8. Reddit

Reddit functions as a massive network of communities organized around various interests. It is one of the most populated platforms in the world and offers powerful tools for community management.

• Description: Reddit provides a platform to create and manage subreddits, which are communities centered around specific topics. It supports discussions, content sharing, and moderation, and lets members upvote or downvote content.
• Pros:
  • Vast user base.
  • Strong moderation tools.
  • Highly discoverable.
• Cons:
  • Can be difficult to control the direction of a community.
  • Requires active moderation.
  • User interface can be overwhelming for new users.
• Who it's best for: Communities that want to tap into Reddit’s massive user base and want assistance from Reddit’s built-in moderation tools.

9. Vanilla Forums

Vanilla Forums focuses on customer community software. It is particularly designed for businesses looking to provide customer support, gather feedback, and create brand advocacy.

• Description: Vanilla Forums is built for customer support and engagement. It offers features like discussions, Q&A, and knowledge bases to facilitate interaction.
• Pros:
  • Designed for customer-focused communities.
  • Integration with support systems.
• Cons:
  • Can be complex to set up and configure initially.
• Who it's best for: Businesses that want to build a customer-focused community to improve support, gather feedback, and build brand loyalty.

10. Slack

Slack, while primarily designed for team communication, can also be utilized for community building, especially for groups that need strong real-time communication and file sharing.

• Description: Slack offers channels for organized discussions, direct messaging, file sharing, and video calls. It's designed to streamline communication within a team or community.
• Pros:
  • Excellent for real-time communication.
  • Good integration capabilities.
  • Easy-to-use interface.
• Cons:
  • Can be less organized for large communities.
• Who it's best for: Communities that need a platform for real-time communication, file sharing, and quick feedback. It is most suitable for focused and active communities.

Conclusion

Selecting the right community platform is crucial for the success of your online presence. While each of the platforms above offers unique features and caters to specific needs, https://behindthescenes.com/ stands out as a highly versatile and powerful choice. Its robust feature set, emphasis on customization, and user-friendly interface make it ideal for businesses, creators, and organizations seeking to build thriving, engaging communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the key features to look for in the best community platforms in 2025? Look for robust features like ease of use, strong moderation tools, customization options, integration capabilities, and analytics.
• How do I choose the right community platform for my business or brand in 2025? Consider your community's size, your desired engagement level, the need for customization, and the importance of integrations with other tools.
• What are the most popular online community platforms in 2025? Popular choices include BTS, Circle, Discord, and Mighty Networks, each offering unique strengths.
• Can I customize community platforms in 2025? Yes, many platforms offer customization options; however, the degree of customization will vary.
• Are there free community platforms available in 2025? Yes, some platforms offer free plans with limited features. Discord and Facebook Groups are prime examples.
• What are the benefits of using a dedicated community platform in 2025? Dedicated platforms build a sense of community, enhance engagement, provide great spaces for networking and offer direct feedback from your audience.
• How do community platforms help with user engagement in 2025? They offer features like discussion forums and events, which create opportunities for interaction and content sharing and build deeper connections between users.
• Which community platform is best for creators in 2025? Circle, Mighty Networks, and BTS are all solid options, depending on specific needs.
• What are the emerging trends in community platforms for 2025? Trends include a stronger focus on integration, AI-assisted moderation, and personalized user experiences.
• How important is mobile-friendliness in a community platform in 2025? Very important; a mobile-friendly platform ensures users can access and engage with the community from any device.

Ready to build your ideal online community? Visit https://behindthescenes.com/ today to learn more and get started. BTS offers the tools and support you need to create a vibrant and engaging online space for your audience.