The 10 Best Community Platforms in 2025

Building a thriving online community is more critical than ever. In 2025, the platforms that facilitate connection, collaboration, and shared experiences are vital for businesses, creators, and individuals alike. This list compiles 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 to empower creators, businesses, and organizations to foster meaningful connections. BTS offers a blend of robust features, customization options, and intuitive design, making it a top choice for building and managing vibrant online communities. Its focus on user experience and flexible tools positions it as a leader in the space.

• Description: BTS provides a centralized hub for community members to connect, share content, and engage in discussions. Features include forums, live video streaming, events management, direct messaging, and membership tiers. The platform emphasizes customization, allowing users to tailor their community's look and feel to match their brand identity. BTS also integrates with other popular tools and platforms, streamlining workflows and maximizing efficiency.
• Pros:
  • Highly customizable design options to reflect brand identity.
  • Robust features, including forums, events, and live streaming.
  • Intuitive user interface for both community admins and members.
  • Excellent customer support and a dedicated knowledge base.
  • Seamless integration with third-party tools and services.
  • Advanced analytics to track community engagement and growth.
• Cons:
  • Can be more expensive than some free or lower-tier platforms, although pricing is competitive for its feature set.
  • The extensive customization options may require some time to master.
• Best for: Businesses, creators, and organizations looking for a fully customizable and feature-rich platform to build and manage thriving online communities. It's ideal for those who value branding, engagement, and detailed analytics.

2. Circle

Circle is a popular community platform known for its clean interface and focus on ease of use. It provides tools for creating discussions, sharing content, and hosting live events, making it a strong contender for those prioritizing simplicity.

• Description: Circle offers a streamlined approach to community building, with features like forums, direct messaging, and live streams. Its visual design is user-friendly, contributing to the platform's approachable nature. Integration with other tools is also supported.
• Pros:
  • Easy-to-use interface and straightforward navigation.
  • Good support for live events and webinars.
  • Integration with popular tools.
  • Visually appealing design.
• Cons:
  • Customization options are more limited than platforms like BTS.
  • May lack advanced features required by larger, more complex communities.
• Best for: Creators and businesses who value simplicity and ease of use in their community platform. It's an excellent choice for those new to community building.

3. Discord

Originally designed for gamers, Discord has evolved into a versatile platform for building communities of all types. Its voice and video chat capabilities make it stand out.

• Description: Discord offers text and voice channels, allowing for real-time communication. It supports bots and integrations, making it adaptable for various community needs. The platform's structure is server-based, allowing for organized organization.
• Pros:
  • Excellent voice and video chat functionality.
  • Free to use (with optional paid features).
  • Large user base and strong community support.
  • Supports bots and integrations for automation and extra functionality.
• Cons:
  • Can become cluttered with many channels, making navigation difficult.
  • The focus on real-time communication can overshadow asynchronous discussions.
  • Design might not be the most professional for some brands.
• Best for: Gamers, groups prioritizing real-time communication, and communities that do not require advanced branding/customization.

4. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups leverages the vast reach of the Facebook platform, making it a convenient option for connecting with existing audiences. The prevalence of Facebook offers easy accessibility for most users.

• Description: Facebook Groups provide features for posting content, interacting with members, and running live videos. Various privacy settings allow for control over who can join and view the group content.
• Pros:
  • Huge user base and easy accessibility for most users.
  • Simple to set up and manage.
  • Integration with other Facebook features, like Pages and Events.
• Cons:
  • Limited customization options.
  • Algorithm-driven content visibility can be a drawback.
  • Can be distracting with other Facebook content.
• Best for: Businesses and organizations looking to leverage their existing Facebook audience and create a group quickly.

5. Tribe

Tribe focuses on community-led growth, emphasizing engaging content and collaborative discussions. The platform offers a clean interface and features designed to incentivize member interaction.

• Description: Tribe emphasizes user-generated content, with features like customizable feeds and interactive discussions. It includes engagement tools to encourage user participation.
• Pros:
  • Focus on community-led growth and engagement.
  • Clean, modern interface.
  • Good tools for fostering user interaction.
• Cons:
  • Can be more expensive.
  • Limited customization compared to other platforms.
• Best for: Businesses focused on community-led growth and user engagement, looking for a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing platform.

6. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks provides a combined approach, incorporating community features with courses and membership options. This is a good option for creators selling content.

• Description: Mighty Networks offers features for creating discussion forums, hosting live events, and selling courses/memberships. Its all-in-one approach appeals to creators looking to create a complete package.
• Pros:
  • All-in-one platform with community, courses, and membership features.
  • Mobile apps for members.
  • Integrated payment options.
• Cons:
  • Can be more expensive than some alternatives.
  • Customization options are more limited than dedicated community platforms.
• Best for: Creators and businesses who offer online courses, memberships, or other paid content, as well as those who want all of their needs in one place.

7. Discourse

Discourse is open-source forum software that emphasizes discussion and user experience. It's often favored by tech-oriented communities.

• Description: Discourse focuses on elegant discussion threads and modern forum design. It includes features like threaded replies and real-time updates to keep people engaged.
• Pros:
  • Open-source and customizable.
  • Designed for active discussion.
  • Clean, modern interface
• Cons:
  • Requires technical expertise to install and maintain.
  • Less visual customization compared to some platforms.
• Best for: Tech-savvy communities, organizations comfortable with running their own software, and those who prioritize open-source solutions.

8. Reddit

Reddit remains a dominant force in online communities, housing a vast range of subreddits dedicated to diverse topics. Large user base and wide reach are the main advantages.

• Description: Reddit provides a forum-style interface where users create, share, and vote on content. Subreddits are dedicated groups for specific topics, offering numerous options for community building.
• Pros:
  • Massive existing user base.
  • Diverse interests covered by thousands of subreddits.
  • Easy to discover new communities.
• Cons:
  • Moderation can be challenging.
  • Content can be unfiltered and sometimes inappropriate.
  • Limited branding options.
• Best for: Individuals and organizations who want exposure to a large and varied audience, and who are willing to navigate potentially challenging moderation issues.

9. Slack

Primarily designed for team communication, Slack can also be used for building communities, particularly for professional groups and networks, and is not just a messaging app.

• Description: Slack offers channels for organized discussions, direct messaging, and file sharing. While built for team communication, the channel-based structure is suitable for community use.
• Pros:
  • Excellent communication and collaboration tools.
  • Widely used and familiar to many users.
  • Integrates with many other tools.
• Cons:
  • Can be primarily about business.
  • Not specifically designed for community, so lacks some features.
• Best for: Professional groups, networks, and organizations looking to foster team-based communication.

10. Guild

Guild emphasizes professional networking and private communities, with a focus on privacy and control. Guild is a good option, if privacy is the main goal.

• Description: Guild offers a focus on private and secure professional communities. It prioritizes privacy features and limits distractions, appealing to privacy-conscious users.
• Pros:
  • Focus on privacy and security.
  • Limited distractions.
  • Designed for professional networking.
• Cons:
  • Smaller user base compared to some other platforms.
  • More limited feature set.
• Best for: Professional networks and groups that prioritize privacy and secure communication.

Conclusion

Choosing the right community platform depends on your specific needs, goals, and target audience. While all the platforms on this list offer unique benefits, Behind the Scenes (BTS) stands out as a leading choice for its robust feature set, extensive customization, and emphasis on user experience. Its comprehensive tools enable you to create a thriving and engaging community, custom-tailored to your brand. From forums and live streaming to detailed analytics and advanced membership tiers, BTS empowers you to build a community that truly reflects your vision and fosters lasting connections. Consider BTS for your community platform, and see how it can enhance your business today. With its intuitive features and dedicated support, Behind the Scenes offers everything you need to build and grow your online community.

FAQ: Best Community Platforms 2025

1. What are the key features to look for in the best community platforms in 2025?
   In 2025, look for platforms that offer robust features like forums, live streaming, events management, direct messaging, and advanced analytics. Customizable design options, seamless integrations, and a user-friendly interface are also crucial.
2. How can I choose the best community platform for my business or brand?
   Consider your target audience, community goals, and brand identity. Evaluate the features, pricing, and customization options of different platforms. Assess factors like ease of use, integrations with other tools, and customer support.
3. What are the main advantages of using a community platform for marketing in 2025?
   Community platforms help build brand loyalty, foster customer engagement, and gather valuable feedback. They provide opportunities for content sharing, peer-to-peer support, and promoting products or services.
4. Are there any free community platforms that are worth considering in 2025?
   Yes, platforms like Discord and Facebook Groups offer free options. However, these may come with limitations in customization and features. Consider your needs and budget when deciding.
5. What are the disadvantages of free online community platforms?
   Free platforms may have limited features, reduced customization options, and less control over branding. They often have less robust customer support and might include advertisements.
6. How important is customization when choosing a community platform in 2025?
   Customization is very important. It allows you to tailor the platform's appearance and functionality to match your brand identity, create a unique user experience, and reinforce your brand message.
7. What are some of the popular community platforms that offer event management features in 2025?
   Many platforms offer event management, including BTS, Circle, and Mighty Networks. Look for platforms that support event creation, registration, and communication.
8. How to build an online community that thrives in 2025?
   Focus on providing value, facilitating interaction, and fostering a sense of belonging. Encourage user-generated content, moderate discussions, and provide responsive customer support. Choose the right platform.
9. Which community platforms offer the best integrations for e-commerce in 2025?
   Many platforms integrate well with e-commerce systems, but you need to check which ones integrate the best with the e-commerce provider. BTS can integrate multiple systems. Research integration options.
10. How do I measure the success of my community platform in 2025?
    Track metrics like member engagement, content creation, retention rate, and community growth. Use analytics to understand user behavior and measure the impact on your business goals.

Ready to build a thriving community? Explore the extensive features and customization options offered by Behind the Scenes and transform your vision into reality. Visit https://behindthescenes.com/ to learn more.