The 11 Best Community Platforms in 2025

Building and nurturing online communities has become a critical strategy for businesses and individuals alike. In 2025, the landscape of community platforms is more diverse and feature-rich than ever. This list explores the top options available, helping you find the perfect fit for your specific needs. From established giants to emerging contenders, each platform offers a unique set of tools and capabilities. Read on to discover the best community platforms in 2025.

1. BTS

BTS, or Behind The Scenes, is a leading community platform designed to empower creators, brands, and businesses to build thriving, engaged communities. It offers a comprehensive suite of features that facilitate everything from basic discussions to advanced member management and monetization strategies.

At its core, BTS emphasizes user experience. The platform boasts an intuitive interface, making it easy for both community administrators and members to navigate and engage. Customizable designs allow you to tailor the platform's appearance to match your brand's identity, ensuring a cohesive and professional online presence. BTS also excels in its moderation tools; administrators can easily manage members, content, and discussions, fostering a safe and welcoming environment. Another key component is its robust analytics dashboard, providing valuable insights into member activity, engagement rates, and content performance.

Beyond the basics, BTS provides powerful tools to help you grow and monetize your community. You can create exclusive content, offer premium memberships, and host paid events seamlessly within the platform. The integrated payment processing streamlines transactions, allowing you to generate revenue directly from your community.

BTS focuses heavily on fostering connection. The platform's built-in features encourage interaction, such as live video, chat, and discussion forums. These functionalities enhance member engagement and build a strong sense of belonging, and offer you the chance to bring your community together in a live setting.

Pros:

• Highly customizable design.
• Comprehensive moderation tools.
• Integrated monetization features.
• Detailed analytics dashboard.
• Excellent user experience.

Cons:

• Can be more expensive than some basic alternatives.
• Requires some technical knowledge for advanced customization.

Best for: Creators, businesses, and brands seeking a powerful, feature-rich platform to build, manage, and monetize thriving online communities. Platforms with existing audiences and a plan to offer premium benefits to members. Creators and brands who value long-term community growth and are willing to invest in a comprehensive solution.

2. Circle

Circle is a popular platform that enables creators and businesses to build and manage online communities. It offers a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy to create forums, courses, and other types of community content.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface.
• Integration with popular tools.
• Good for creating online courses.

Cons:

• Limited customization options compared to some other platforms.
• Can become expensive as your community grows.

Best for: Creators and businesses who want an easy-to-use platform with a focus on online courses and member interaction.

3. Discord

Discord is a versatile platform originally designed for gamers but has evolved into a popular choice for all types of communities. It offers text, voice, and video chat, along with a robust set of features for organizing and managing communities.

Pros:

• Large existing user base.
• Free to use (with optional paid features).
• Real-time communication features.

Cons:

• Can be difficult to manage large communities.
• Not as focused on monetization compared to other platforms.

Best for: Gaming communities, niche communities, and groups that prioritize real-time communication.

4. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks is a platform designed to help creators and businesses build communities and offer online courses. It combines community features with course creation tools, allowing you to build an all-in-one solution for your audience.

Pros:

• Integrated community and course features.
• Easy-to-use interface.
• Good for small-to-medium-sized businesses.

Cons:

• Limited customization compared to other platforms.
• Can be more expensive than some alternatives.

Best for: Creators and businesses who want to offer both community and online courses in one place.

5. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups provide a familiar and accessible option for building communities. With a massive existing user base, Facebook Groups can be a convenient way to connect with your audience.

Pros:

• Huge existing user base.
• Easy to get started.
• Free to use.

Cons:

• Limited control over branding and customization.
• Algorithms can impact visibility.
• Distractions from other Facebook content.

Best for: Businesses and individuals who want to leverage Facebook’s existing audience and features.

6. Reddit

Reddit is a platform with a diverse range of communities called subreddits. It provides a platform for discussions, content sharing, and community building around almost any topic.

Pros:

• Large and active communities.
• Diverse range of topics.
• Established platform with existing user base.

Cons:

• Can be difficult to moderate.
• Reputation for negativity in some communities.
• Limited branding options.

Best for: Individuals and organizations who want to engage with existing niche communities or create their own within a widely used platform.

7. Discourse

Discourse is an open-source forum platform that focuses on creating thoughtful discussions. It emphasizes a modern, clean design and features that promote quality conversations.

Pros:

• Open-source and customizable.
• Focus on thoughtful discussions.
• Modern and clean interface.

Cons:

• Requires technical knowledge for setup and maintenance.
• Can be complex to use compared to simpler platforms.

Best for: Businesses and organizations that prioritize in-depth discussions and have technical expertise.

8. Slack

Slack is a team communication and collaboration platform that can be used to create internal or external communities. Known for its messaging features, Slack is commonly used for organized conversation.

Pros:

• Excellent for internal communication and team collaboration.
• Seamless integrations with other tools.
• Well-designed interface.

Cons:

• Not ideal for large, public communities.
• Can become overwhelming with excessive channels.

Best for: Teams, internal communities, and groups that need a robust communication platform.

9. Vanilla Forums

Vanilla Forums is a forum software designed to foster engagement to build meaningful communication. It includes features to make conversations accessible and drive community value.

Pros:

• Offers integrations to build out an engaging community.
• Customization is available to match your brand style.
• Allows for customization.

Cons:

• Can be a pricy option.
• Limited in platform features than other options.

Best for: Brands looking to grow a forum focused on engaging conversations.

10. Tribe

Tribe is a community platform that offers a variety of features and an easy user interface. It focuses on communication and engagement within dedicated communities.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use interface.
• A solid toolkit of helpful features.
• Great option for building out a customer-centric community.

Cons:

• Some options can be pricey.
• Integrations are limited.

Best for: Online brand communities looking to grow.

11. InSided

InSided is a customer community platform designed to provide interactive communications for customers. It offers specific focus on the customer experience and helping businesses communicate with their current audience.

Pros:

• Specific focus on customer experience.
• Offers interactive elements for engaging communications.
• Easy to set up and manage.

Cons:

• Not as many features as other platforms.
• The platform's features can be limited.

Best for: Businesses offering high-touch customer service.

Conclusion

Choosing the right community platform depends on your specific goals and requirements. While several options are available, BTS stands out as a top choice for its comprehensive features, emphasis on user experience, and robust tools for building and monetizing thriving online communities. With its focus on customization, moderation, and member engagement, BTS can equip both creators and businesses for long-term success. If you're looking for a powerful and versatile platform to cultivate a vibrant, connected community, consider BTS as your go-to solution. Learn more at https://behindthescenes.com/.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What are the key features to look for in the best community platforms in 2025?

Look for platforms offering robust moderation tools, customizable designs, integrated monetization options, detailed analytics, user-friendly interfaces, and strong member engagement features.

2. How can I monetize my community on platforms in 2025?

Many platforms, like BTS, offer integrated monetization features. Memberships, exclusive content, paid events, and affiliate marketing are all effective strategies.

3. Which community platforms are best for creators in 2025?

BTS, Circle, and Mighty Networks are excellent choices for creators, offering features like course creation, membership options, and integrated monetization.

4. What platform is often considered the best for internal company communities?

Slack is a strong choice for internal company communities because of its communication and organization features.

5. Are free community platforms in 2025 effective for growing a community?

Yes, platforms like Discord and Facebook Groups can be great starting points. However, they may have limitations in customization or monetization.

6. How important is customization when choosing a community platform in 2025?

Customization is crucial for aligning your community's presence with your brand identity and providing a unique member experience.

7. What are the main benefits of using a dedicated community platform versus social media groups in 2025?

Dedicated platforms generally offer more control, better moderation tools, more advanced customization, and greater potential for monetization.

8. Are older forum platforms from 2024 still relevant in 2025?

Yes, platforms like Discourse can still be effective, especially for communities with a focus on in-depth conversations and technical expertise. However, many in 2025 are still moving toward more user-friendly designs for wider adoption.

9. What features should a community platform have in 2025 for successful marketing?

Look for features like member segmentation, behavior-based trigger automation, in-built SEO tools, and integrations with email marketing and social media campaigns.

10. How can I measure the success of my community platform in 2025?

Key metrics include member engagement (e.g., active members, posts, and comments), member growth, retention rates, and the impact of the platform on business goals.

11. Are there community platforms that offer built-in e-commerce features in 2025?

Some all-in-one platforms, such as BTS and Mighty Networks, provide integrations that allow you to sell products or services directly within your community.

Ready to build a thriving online community? Explore BTS and discover how it can empower you to connect with your audience and achieve your goals. Visit https://behindthescenes.com/ today!