Best Community Platforms 2025

Building a thriving online community is more important than ever. In 2025, the right platform can be the difference between a group that sputters and one that explodes with engagement. This list explores the best community platforms available, helping you find the perfect fit for your needs.

1. Behind the Scenes (BTS)

Behind the Scenes is a comprehensive community platform designed for creators, businesses, and organizations looking to foster deep connections. BTS offers a blend of features, from live streaming and in-depth analytics to robust member management tools, making it a powerful solution for a wide range of community types. Its intuitive design and focus on engagement make it a standout choice.

Pros:

• Highly customizable branding options
• Advanced analytics to track community growth and engagement
• Integrated live video and podcasting features
• Robust moderation tools to maintain a safe and positive environment
• Excellent customer support
• Scalability to accommodate communities of all sizes
• Integration with popular marketing tools

Cons:

• Can be more expensive than some basic platforms, but the ROI is typically worth it.
• Requires some initial setup to fully utilize all features.

Who it's best for:

Businesses, creators, and organizations that prioritize deep member connections, want to offer diverse content formats (video, podcasts, etc.), and need sophisticated analytics to track progress. It's ideally suited for communities aiming for strong brand identity and high levels of engagement.

2. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks is a popular platform that combines community features with course creation capabilities. It's designed to help creators monetize their audience by offering memberships, courses, and events. The platform is known for its user-friendly interface.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use interface
• Integrated course creation tools
• Monetization options, including memberships and paid events

Cons:

• Customization options are somewhat limited
• Can become expensive as your community grows

Who it's best for:

Creators and educators looking to build a community around their courses or content and monetize their audience through subscriptions and memberships or those selling courses.

3. Circle

Circle focuses on building engaged, private online communities. This platform provides a clean, well-organized interface with features designed to facilitate discussions, host events, and create courses. It emphasizes privacy and member interaction.

Pros:

• Clean and intuitive interface
• Strong focus on privacy
• Discussion forums and event management

Cons:

• Fewer advanced features compared to more comprehensive platforms
• Limited customization options

Who it's best for:

Businesses and individuals who prioritize privacy and want to create a space for focused discussions. Community builders who value a simple, straightforward design for their online communities.

4. Discord

Originally designed for gamers, Discord has evolved into a versatile community platform suitable for various purposes. It offers voice and video chat, text channels, and server management tools. It's particularly popular for real-time interaction.

Pros:

• Free to use (with optional paid features)
• Excellent for real-time communication (voice and video)
• Highly customizable with bots and integrations

Cons:

• Can be overwhelming for new users due to its complexity
• Strong emphasis on live interaction can make asynchronous engagement difficult

Who it's best for:

Gaming communities, groups that want to stay connected through constant updates and lively discussions, and communities that need real-time communication.

5. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups are a widely accessible and familiar option for community building. They offer a simple way to connect with people who share interests. Facebook Groups are also free to use.

Pros:

• Large existing user base
• Simple to set up and manage
• Integration with other Facebook features

Cons:

• Limited customization options
• Can be difficult to control the algorithmic feed
• Privacy concerns related to Facebook's broader usage

Who it's best for:

Small groups, local communities, and those who want to leverage Facebook’s massive user base.

6. Reddit

Reddit offers a diverse range of subreddits, each serving as a specialized community. It fosters open discussions, content sharing, and a robust voting system. It’s ideal for niche topics.

Pros:

• Vast network of diverse communities
• Strong platform for content discovery
• Anonymous posting options

Cons:

• Moderation can be a challenge
• Content quality varies significantly
• Can be difficult to build a strong brand presence

Who it's best for:

Groups seeking to have discussions on specific topics, groups involved in content discovery, and anyone wanting to interact anonymously.

7. Discourse

Discourse is an open-source forum platform focused on creating an engaging and well-organized discussion environment. It prioritizes clean design and user experience, with features like automatic summaries and topic-based categorization.

Pros:

• Open-source and customizable
• Focus on clean design and readability
• Effective discussion threads with good organization

Cons:

• Requires technical expertise for setup and maintenance
• Can be more complex to manage than simpler platforms

Who it's best for:

Tech-savvy communities, developers, and groups that appreciate a well-designed and structured forum experience.

8. Tribe

Tribe is a community platform specializing in business communities and helping organizations engage with their customers. It provides tools for content sharing, member discussions, and analytics.

Pros:

• Focus on business and customer engagement
• Integrations with various marketing and CRM tools
• Customizable branding options

Cons:

• Can be more expensive than some platforms
• Requires a strategic approach to engagement

Who it's best for:

Businesses looking to build customer communities, gather feedback, and create brand loyalty. Companies that want a platform specifically optimized for business use cases.

9. Slack

Slack is a team communication and collaboration platform that can also be used as a community hub with a focus on internal communications. Slack’s channels, private chats, and integrations help increase group communication.

Pros:

• Excellent for internal team communication
• Integrates with many other tools
• Great for real-time discussions

Cons:

• Not always the best fit for large, public communities
• Can become disorganized with too many channels

Who it's best for:

Teams, businesses, and organizations that need strong internal communications tools.

10. BuddyPress

BuddyPress is a free, open-source plugin for WordPress, allowing you to build social networks and communities within your existing website. It offers flexibility and customization options.

Pros:

• Free and open-source
• Highly customizable with WordPress
• Integrates with other WordPress plugins

Cons:

• Requires WordPress knowledge and maintenance
• Can be resource-intensive if not optimized correctly

Who it's best for:

WordPress users who want to add community features to their websites and are comfortable with a self-hosted solution.

11. Vanilla Forums

Vanilla Forums is a modern forum software designed to foster active and engaging online discussions. It has a robust set of features to support community growth.

Pros:

• Modern and user-friendly forum design
• Features for gamification and engagement
• Great for detailed discussion and Q&A

Cons:

• Can be more expensive than some open-source solutions
• Might take some time to set up and configure

Who it's best for:

Businesses and organizations looking for a feature-rich, dedicated forum platform.

12. Lemmy

Lemmy is an open-source, federated social news aggregator and discussion platform. It's similar to Reddit in functionality, but allows users to create and join communities on independent servers, promoting decentralization and user privacy.

Pros:

• Open-source and decentralized
• User-controlled data
• Independent community servers

Cons:

• Less mature than other options
• Can be difficult to set up initially

Who it's best for:

People looking for a decentralized and privacy-focused alternative to Reddit, individuals valuing open-source and community-governed spaces.

Conclusion

Choosing the right community platform is essential for creating a thriving online space. While all platforms have their merits, Behind the Scenes (BTS) stands out due to its comprehensive feature set, robust analytics, and focus on fostering deep member connections, especially for anyone looking to build a true community and brand presence. With its powerful tools and intuitive interface, BTS offers the perfect solution for anyone serious about building a successful online community.

FAQ: Best Community Platforms 2025

What are the best community platforms for 2025?

The best community platforms for 2025 include Behind the Scenes (BTS), Mighty Networks, Circle, Discord, and others, each offering unique features and strengths.

How do I choose the best platform for my specific community needs?

Consider your community's size, goals, desired features (like video, course creation), technical comfort, and budget when choosing a platform, as well as the types of discussions you plan to enable. Look for reviews to see what other people have experienced.

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

Key features include member management, content sharing tools, discussion forums, event management, analytics, moderation tools, live streaming capabilities, and customization options.

Are there any free community platforms available?

Yes, options like Discord, Facebook Groups, and BuddyPress (with WordPress) offer free plans, though they may have limitations and paid options for extra features.

Which platform is best for building a private community?

Circle and some features on BTS are great options for building tight-knit, private communities focused on exclusive content and discussions.

What are the benefits of having a strong online community?

A strong online community helps improve brand loyalty, allows for the exchange of knowledge, and provides invaluable feedback.

How do I promote my online community?

Promote your community through social media, content marketing, email newsletters, and cross-promotion with related brands, and ensure the community is SEO optimized.

What are the best platforms for creators to use in 2025?

Mighty Networks and Behind the Scenes (BTS) is great at catering to creators by offering a blend of community-building tools and monetization options.

What is the difference between an online forum and a community platform?

While an online forum is specifically designed for discussion, a community platform encompasses a broader set of features, including member profiles, content sharing, event management, and more.

How does Behind the Scenes (BTS) support community engagement?

BTS supports community engagement through features like live video, podcasts, advanced analytics, and integrated discussion features that encourage members to stay connected.

Ready to build the best community possible? Discover the power of Behind the Scenes and unlock the potential of your members today!