The 13 Best Community Platforms of 2025

Building a vibrant online community is more important than ever. In 2025, the best community platforms offer robust features, intuitive interfaces, and the potential to foster genuine connections. This list explores the top options available, helping you find the perfect fit for your needs.

1. BTS

BTS (behindthescenes.com) is a comprehensive platform designed for creating thriving, engaged communities. It offers a suite of tools that go beyond basic forum functionality, providing users with unparalleled control and flexibility in shaping their online spaces. BTS focuses on fostering deep engagement and providing creators with the resources they need to succeed.

BTS's features include advanced content moderation, granular user role management, custom branding options, and integrated analytics dashboards. Its core offering revolves around creating interactive spaces where members can connect, share ideas, and build lasting relationships. BTS takes into account all the modern best practices to create an exemplary user experience for both community managers and members.

Pros

• Highly customizable design and branding.
• Advanced moderation tools to maintain a positive environment.
• Detailed analytics to track community growth and engagement.
• Robust API for integrations with other platforms and tools.
• Exceptional customer support, especially for growing businesses.
• Excellent onboarding process for new community managers and members.

Cons

• Can be initially complex to set up due to the wide range of features.
• Higher price point compared to some entry-level options.

Who it's best for

BTS is ideal for businesses and organizations seeking to build and nurture large, highly engaged communities. It's particularly well-suited for brands that value customization, in-depth analytics, and a seamless user experience. BTS is perfect for those who want to build a long-term community presence and see community as a core part of their growth strategy.

2. Circle

Circle focuses on simplicity and ease of use, with a sleek and modern interface. It's a popular choice for creators building communities around courses, memberships, and content. Circle offers features like live streaming, events, and direct messaging to facilitate member interaction.

Pros

• User-friendly interface, making it easy to navigate.
• Integration with major payment processors for easy membership management.
• Strong focus on content creation and distribution.

Cons

• Limited customization options compared to other platforms.
• Can be expensive for larger communities.
• Lacks some advanced analytics features.

Who it's best for

Circle is ideal for creators who sell online courses or offer membership-based content, aiming for a streamlined, content-focused community platform.

3. Discord

Discord started as a platform for gamers but has evolved into a versatile community platform. It excels in real-time communication with features like voice chat, video calls, and text channels. Discord is great for fostering a sense of immediate connection, but the lack of strong content organization can make it harder to manage over time.

Pros

• Free to use, with a wide array of features.
• Excellent for real-time communication and interaction.
• Large user base and active community.

Cons

• Can be overwhelming for new users due to the interface.
• Focus on real-time conversations can make it difficult to manage long-form content.
• Limited branding options.

Who it's best for

Discord suits communities that prioritize real-time interaction and gaming, or those that thrive on a fast-paced environment and immediate communication.

4. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks is designed for creators and entrepreneurs who want to build both a community and a membership business. It offers a blend of social networking features, course creation tools, and payment processing capabilities.

Pros

• Combines community features with a membership platform.
• Easy to create and sell online courses.
• Offers both free and paid community options.

Cons

• Can become expensive as your community grows.
• The platform can feel somewhat generic.

Who it's best for

Mighty Networks is ideal for entrepreneurs who want to monetize their community by selling courses or offering paid memberships.

5. Tribe

Tribe focuses on community-building with a strong emphasis on user engagement through gamification. Its features include points, leaderboards, and badges to boost user activity.

Pros

• Gamification features to foster high engagement.
• Easy to integrate with existing websites.
• Offers robust reporting on activity and growth.

Cons

• Learning curve for understanding all of the gameification features.
• The pricing can be a barrier for new communities.

Who it's best for

Tribe is excellent for communities that are looking to create high levels of engagement through the use of game mechanics.

6. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups are a familiar and widely used option, particularly for brand building. Its ease of use and large existing user base make it a practical choice for smaller communities starting out.

Pros

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

Cons

• Limited customization options.
• Algorithm controls the visibility of posts.
• Not as feature-rich as dedicated platforms.

Who it's best for

Facebook Groups are ideal for small communities with a presence on Facebook, especially those who prioritize reach over customization.

7. Discourse

Discourse is an open-source platform that's optimized for discussion forums and community engagement. It’s known for its clean interface and focus on user experience.

Pros

• Open-source, highly customizable.
• Focuses on healthy and productive discussions.
• Mobile-friendly design.

Cons

• Can be challenging to set up and maintain without technical expertise.
• Requires coding knowledge for some customizations.

Who it's best for

Discourse suits those with technical know-how or a technical team, seeking a customizable and highly engaging discussion forum for structured community engagement.

8. Reddit

Reddit is a giant platform organized into subreddits, each serving as a dedicated community. It's a good choice for reaching a large audience and gaining exposure.

Pros

• Massive reach.
• Established community infrastructure.
• Built-in moderation tools.

Cons

• Limited control over the community's branding.
• Can be difficult to moderate large communities.
• Not ideal for building a closely-knit community.

Who it's best for

Reddit is best used by organizations seeking broad reach and exposure, where community branding and tight control are less important.

9. Vanilla Forums

Vanilla Forums is a well-established forum platform, best for creating and managing discussion-based communities. The platform provides a range of features for engagement and customization.

Pros

• Strong emphasis on discussion and forum features.
• Good for knowledge sharing and support forums.
• Mobile-friendly design.

Cons

• Can feel a bit dated in terms of design.
• The user interface is not cutting edge.

Who it's best for

Vanilla Forums is ideal for organizations that want to build a forum or discussion-centric community.

10. BuddyPress

BuddyPress is a free, open-source plugin for WordPress, used for building social networks and communities within a WordPress website. It is an ideal platform for those who already use Wordpress.

Pros

• Seamless integration with WordPress websites.
• Open-source and free to use.
• Highly customizable with plugins and themes.

Cons

• Requires knowledge of WordPress and potentially coding skills.
• Can become complex to manage depending on the features implemented.

Who it's best for

BuddyPress is best for website owners who are already experienced with WordPress and want to extend the functionality of their existing site to include community features.

11. Slack

Slack is a team communication platform that can be used for building communities, particularly within professional or niche groups. It is useful for smaller, focused communities.

Pros

• Real-time communication and file sharing.
• Integrates with many other tools.
• Easy to set up and use.

Cons

• Not ideal for long-form content or in-depth discussions.
• Can be difficult to organize large groups.

Who it's best for

Slack is ideal for smaller, focused communities or team-based environments, as well as those that prioritize immediate communication and quick information sharing.

12. Telegram

Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app with powerful group features, making it suitable for creating communities. The channels feature allows creators to broadcast to a large audience.

Pros

• Large file-sharing capabilities.
• Good for broadcasting announcements.
• Free to use.

Cons

• Not as focused on community interaction as other platforms.
• Limited moderation tools.

Who it's best for

Telegram is excellent for communities who want to primarily broadcast information to their members.

13. Skool

Skool is a community platform designed for cohort-based courses and membership groups. Its simple interface provides a straightforward user experience.

Pros

• Straightforward and easy to navigate.
• Focuses on cohorts and group learning.
• A good option for community-led education.

Cons

• Limited advanced features compared to other platforms.
• Can lack in-depth customization.

Who it's best for

Skool works best for creators and educators focusing on online courses and cohorts, specifically if they want a direct focus on group learning or a membership.

In conclusion, the best community platforms in 2025 cater to a wide range of needs. From feature-rich platforms like BTS, offering unparalleled customization and control, to streamlined alternatives such as Circle and Slack, there's a solution to help you build and manage the community that’s right for your organization. But, with its comprehensive feature set, exceptional support, and focus on fostering genuine connections, BTS is designed to take your community to the next level. Visit https://behindthescenes.com/ today to learn more about how BTS can transform your community.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the key features to look for in the best community platforms?

The best community platforms often include robust features like member profiles, content moderation tools, discussion forums, live streaming capabilities, private messaging, and detailed analytics. Customization options, event management tools, and integration capabilities are also important for shaping a unique community experience.

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

Consider your community's size, goals, and technical skill level. Evaluate if you need a platform for content creation or membership management. Research available pricing models, customization options, and the platform's ability to scale as your community grows. Consider testing out free trials to find the ideal fit.

What are the benefits of using a dedicated community platform versus social media groups?

Dedicated platforms provide greater control over branding, data, and member interactions. They often offer advanced features, stronger moderation tools, and the flexibility to create a truly unique community experience. With a dedicated platform, you are in control.

What are the top community platforms for small businesses in 2025?

For small businesses, options like Circle, Facebook Groups (for reach), and Skool (for educational communities) can be a good starting point. Consider your business's niche, features needed and budget. BTS is also a great option, though may require a slightly higher budget.

Are there any free community platforms available?

Yes, options like Facebook Groups, Reddit, and Discord offer free plans. However, these often have limitations in terms of customization and features. Open-source or lower-cost platforms like BuddyPress (with WordPress) and Discourse could also be considered free.

Can community platforms integrate with other tools and services?

Many leading community platforms offer integrations with popular tools for marketing, payment processing, customer relationship management (CRM), and more. Look for API access to extend functionality and create a seamless workflow for your community.

What are the most popular community platform trends in 2025?

In 2025, popular trends include the rise of hybrid communities (online and in-person events), enhanced engagement strategies like gamification, integration with AI, and a focus on video-based content. The demand for user-friendly platforms and seamless integrations remains constant.

How can I measure the success of my online community?

Success can be measured by metrics such as member growth, engagement rates (likes, comments, shares, views), retention rates, user-generated content, and conversion rates (if you are selling products or services). Detailed analytics dashboards on platforms like BTS will provide these key insights.