10 Circle.so Alternatives: Discover Better Community Platforms

Looking for something better than Circle.so to build your online community? You’re not alone!

While Circle.so has been a popular choice for community builders, it’s not the only fish in the sea - and certainly not the best fit for everyone.

Whether you’re on the hunt for more customization options, a sleeker user experience, or just want to shake things up, there are plenty of Circle.so alternatives out there that can take community building to the next level.

In this article, we’re going to explore 10 community platforms that could be the perfect match for your unique needs. From versatile tools to more niche solutions, these Circle alternatives offer something for everyone.

Not sure how to create an online community? Read our guide!

What Is Circle?

Circle.so is an all-in-one community platform for creators, brands, and businesses to build engaging online communities.

It’s essentially a hub where your community members can connect, learn, and grow together.

Launched to simplify community management, Circle.so offers a sleek interface that’s easy to navigate for both admins and community members.

Whether you’re hosting discussions, creating courses, or organizing events, it provides the tools you need to keep everything running smoothly.

Key features

• Custom spaces & layouts: Organize your community into different spaces with customizable layouts like post view, list view, or card view. Each space can cater to specific needs, whether it's for discussion, courses, or events.

• Monetization: You can easily set up paid memberships, create paywalled content, and even offer tiered subscription plans. This makes it simple to monetize your community while providing value to your members.

• Event hosting: Host live streams, webinars, and virtual events directly within the platform, with the capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 participants.

• Course creation: Build and manage online courses with a flexible course builder that supports various content formats, from videos to PDFs. While it’s a bit basic compared to dedicated course platforms, it’s integrated right into your community.

• Automations & workflows: Automate tasks like member onboarding, content posting, or sending reminders with customizable workflows to keep your community running smoothly.

• Integrations: Circle.so integrates with multiple third-party tools, from email marketing platforms to payment processors, allowing you to expand its functionality as needed.

Pricing

• Basic Plan ($49/month): Ideal for new communities, this plan includes essential features like custom spaces, group chats, and the ability to use your own domain. However, it limits you to 100 community members and 10GB of storage.

• Professional Plan ($99/month): This popular option offers unlimited members, advanced analytics, live streaming, and the ability to fully white-label your community.

• Business Plan ($219/month): Perfect for scaling communities, this plan includes everything from the Professional plan plus advanced features like API access, more storage, and enhanced automation capabilities.

• Enterprise Plan ($399/month): Designed for large organizations, this plan offers priority support, custom SSO, and even more administrative control, including up to 100 moderators and advanced workflow capabilities.

Benefits

Circle.so offers a balance of customization, monetization, and ease of use, making it suitable for a wide range of creators and businesses.

Whether you’re looking to build a private community, sell courses, or manage memberships, it may provide the features you need to create a vibrant and engaged online space.

Why Should You Consider a Circle Alternative?

While Circle sounds like a great online community platform so far, many people are choosing to explore alternatives for several reasons:

Performance issues

Some users have reported long load times when uploading large files, such as videos, which can be frustrating, especially for those running media-heavy communities. Although embedding videos can help, it's not a perfect solution.

Costly

The pricing plans can be steep, especially for smaller communities or startups. The cost adds up quickly if you need access to advanced features like detailed analytics, custom branding, or API integrations. The Basic plan starts at $49/month, but to unlock all the features, you may end up paying $399/month or more, which can be a significant investment.

Limited customization options

Users have expressed frustration with the inability to deeply customize the user interface or fully remove Circle branding unless they opt for the most expensive plans. For those needing extensive customization to match their brand's identity, this can be a dealbreaker​.

Limited analytics

The analytics features, especially in the lower-tier plans, are often seen as too basic. For communities that require detailed insights into member engagement and activity, this limitation can be a significant drawback.

The 10 Best Alternatives to Circle

Many people are unsatisfied with Circle's limitations.

But that doesn't mean you can't find a better community platform!

Below we have compiled the top Circle.so competitors that might offer the features, customization, or pricing you're looking for.

1. HeySummit - The best Circle alternative

Who is it for? Independent professionals and small to medium-sized businesses looking for a cost-effective, out-of-the-box solution to organize their virtual events with minimal hassle, focusing on community growth.

Are you about to host your first virtual event? Read our easy how-to guide for a successful virtual event here.

HeySummit is an all-in-one platform designed primarily for hosting virtual summits, webinars, and online events.

It's an excellent tool for anyone looking to boost community engagement and manage online events with ease (irrespective of scale). It offers a suite of features tailored to make event planning and execution as smooth as possible.

Key features

• Customizable landing pages: Create visually appealing landing pages with custom themes, colors, and layouts that align with your brand. You can also embed videos, images, and documents directly into your event pages.

• Speaker and attendee management: Easily manage speakers, track attendees, and handle sponsorships. The platform also provides tools for surveys and lead retrieval, helping you measure engagement and effectiveness.

• Analytics: HeySummit offers robust analytics, allowing you to monitor traffic, participant engagement, and overall event performance. This is essential for optimizing future events and improving audience interaction.

• Integrated engagement tools: The platform offers features like live chat, Q&A sessions, and surveys, which are essential for fostering interaction and engagement within your community during events.

• Social media platform and CRM integrations: Connect HeySummit to various CRM tools and social media to expand your event’s reach and manage attendee data more effectively.

Pricing

• Starter Plan: $39/month, ideal for small events with basic features like 250 attendee registrations and 7% transaction fees.

• Growth Plan: $79/month, includes features like custom domains, affiliate management, and up to 1,250 attendee registrations.

• Success Plan: $279/month, offering advanced features such as private events, custom ticketing options, and the ability to remove HeySummit branding.

• Free Trial: Ready to see how HeySummit can help you grow your online community? Sign up for a 14-day trial here.

Why is HeySummit a better alternative to Circle?

• Event-centric community engagement: HeySummit is specifically designed to help you create engaging, event-driven communities. If your community thrives on regular summits, webinars, or courses, HeySummit’s tools are specifically tailored to provide a more integrated and focused environment than Circle.

• Advanced customization: With HeySummit, you have greater flexibility in customizing your event and community spaces, ensuring that every aspect aligns with your brand. Circle.so, although customizable, doesn't offer the same depth of event-specific features.

• Streamlined event management: HeySummit simplifies the entire process of event management, from registration to post-event analytics, making it easier to keep your vibrant community engaged and active through consistent, high-quality events.

2. Mighty Networks

Who is it for? Creators, coaches, and entrepreneurs who want to offer membership subscriptions, courses, and exclusive content to a niche audience.

Mighty Networks is a versatile platform that allows creators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to build and manage a thriving online community.

It combines social networking, online courses, and membership sites into one cohesive experience, making it a popular choice for those looking to create a highly engaged community space.

Key features

• Community building: Mighty Networks offers tools to create, manage, and grow your community. You can set up spaces for discussions, events, and content sharing, fostering a sense of belonging and interaction among members.

• Online courses: The platform includes built-in course creation tools that allow you to deliver educational content directly within your community. This feature is ideal for creators who want to combine learning with community engagement.

• Custom branding: Mighty Networks lets you customize your community's appearance, so it aligns perfectly with your brand. You can control everything from the color scheme to the layout, making your community look and feel unique.

• Native mobile apps: Members can access your community through dedicated mobile apps for iOS and Android, providing a seamless experience across devices.

Pricing

• Community Plan: At $39/month, this plan includes full access to community features, custom branding, and unlimited members.

• Business Plan: Priced at $119/month, it adds online course creation, member subscriptions, and advanced analytics, making it perfect for creators looking to monetize their community.

• Pro Plan: Custom pricing for larger enterprises, this plan offers white-label mobile apps, additional support, and advanced integrations.

Pros

• Integrated courses and community: Mighty Networks allows you to seamlessly combine online courses with your community, making it easy to engage learners and build a cohesive learning environment.

• Mobile-friendly: With dedicated apps for iOS and Android, your members can stay connected with your community on the go.

Cons

• Learning curve: Some users report that it takes time to fully grasp the platform's capabilities, particularly when setting up courses and custom features.

• Pricey for smaller communities: The higher-tier plans can be expensive, especially for smaller communities that need advanced features but have limited budgets.

3. Facebook groups

Who is it for? Those looking for a simple, cost-effective way to build a community, especially if your audience is already active on Facebook.

Facebook Groups have long been a go-to option for building online communities.

This alternative to Circle.so offers a familiar and accessible platform for people to connect, share content, and engage in discussions.

Key features

• Group privacy options: Facebook allows you to choose from three privacy settings - public, closed, or secret - depending on how you want to manage visibility and membership.

• Content sharing and discussions: Members of a Facebook group can share posts, images, videos, and links, fostering discussions around shared interests. Features like polls and events also help drive engagement.

• Admin tools: Group admins have access to a range of tools to manage membership, moderate content, and control group settings. This includes the ability to schedule posts, manage rules, and approve new members.

• Notifications and alerts: Members receive notifications about new posts, comments, and activities, helping to keep the group lively and engaging.

Pricing

Facebook Groups are completely free to use, making them an attractive option for those looking to build a community without any upfront costs. There are no hidden fees or premium features.

Pros

• Free to use: One of the biggest advantages of Facebook Groups is that they are entirely free, with no premium tiers or subscription fees.

• Familiar interface: Most people are already familiar with Facebook's interface, so there's little to no learning curve for new members.

Cons

• Algorithm control: Facebook's algorithm determines what content is shown to group members, which can result in posts being missed or not prioritized as you would like.

• Distraction risk: Facebook is full of distractions - ads, notifications, and unrelated content can pull members away from your group, making it harder to maintain focused engagement.

4. Slack

Who is it for? Professional and interest-based communities that need real-time, organized communication in a work-like environment.

Slack is a popular team communication platform originally designed for team collaboration within businesses. However, its versatility has made it a popular choice for building online communities as well.

Key features

• Channels: Slack allows you to create dedicated channels for different topics, projects, or groups. This helps keep conversations organized and ensures that members can easily find and participate in discussions relevant to them.

• Direct messaging: Members can send private messages to each other or create a group chat for more focused discussions outside of the main channels.

• Integrations and bots: Slack supports a wide range of integrations with other tools like Google Drive, Trello, and Zoom. Additionally, you can use bots to automate tasks, such as reminders, polls, or even moderating content.

• File Sharing: Users can easily share files, images, and documents within channels or direct messages, making it a great tool for collaboration and resource sharing within a community.

Pricing

• Free Plan: The free version includes basic features like 10,000 searchable messages, 10 app integrations, and 1:1 voice and video calls.

• Pro Plan: Priced at $7.25 per user/month, the Pro plan offers unlimited message history, unlimited integrations, group video calls, and more.

• Business+ Plan: At $12.50 per user/month, this plan adds advanced features like SAML-based single sign-on (SSO), compliance exports, and priority support.

• Enterprise Grid: Custom pricing is available for large organizations, offering enterprise-level features and support.

Pros

• Wide range of integrations: With support for numerous integrations, Slack can easily connect with tools your community might already be using.

• Cross-platform access: Slack is available on desktop, web, and mobile devices, ensuring that members can stay connected from anywhere.

Cons

• Learning curve: For new users, Slack’s various features and the channel-based structure can be somewhat overwhelming, leading to a learning curve that might deter some members.

• Cost for larger communities: While Slack is free for small teams, the cost can add up quickly for larger communities, as the pricing is based on a per-user, per-month model.

5. Kajabi

Who is it for? Those looking to integrate content creation, marketing, and sales under one roof.

Kajabi is an all-in-one platform designed to help creators, entrepreneurs, and businesses build and grow online courses, membership sites, and digital products.

Unlike platforms solely focused on community building, Kajabi combines a wide range of tools for creating, marketing, and selling digital content, making it a powerful option for those looking to monetize their expertise.

Key features

• Course creation and management: The comprehensive platform provides robust tools for creating and managing online courses, including customizable templates, video hosting, quizzes, and assessments. It’s ideal for educators and creators who want to deliver structured content.

• Website builder: With Kajabi, you can create fully branded websites using drag-and-drop functionality. This includes landing pages, sales pages, and blog posts, all integrated into one platform.

• Email marketing: Kajabi offers advanced email marketing tools, including automation, segmentation, and personalized email campaigns. This helps in nurturing your community and driving engagement through targeted communication.

• Membership sites: You can set up membership tiers and manage subscriptions directly through Kajabi, allowing for recurring revenue streams and exclusive content access.

Pricing

• Basic Plan: $149/month, which includes 3 products, 3 pipelines, unlimited marketing emails, and up to 10,000 contacts.

• Growth Plan: $199/month, offering 15 products, 15 pipelines, advanced automations, and up to 25,000 contacts.

• Pro Plan: $399/month, which includes 100 products, 100 pipelines, advanced features like code editor access, and up to 100,000 contacts.

Pros

• All-in-one solution: Kajabi integrates website building, course creation, email marketing, and sales funnels into one platform, reducing the need for multiple tools and simplifying management.

• Advanced marketing tools: The platform’s marketing automation, email campaigns, and sales pipelines are highly effective for driving conversions and scaling your business.

Cons

• Higher cost: Kajabi is more expensive than many other community platforms, especially for small businesses or those just starting out.

• Learning curve: Due to its wide range of features, Kajabi can have a steep learning curve, especially for users who are new to digital marketing and online course platforms.

6. Crowdstack

Who is it for? Communities that prioritize organized discussions, knowledge sharing, and privacy.

Crowdstack is a versatile community platform designed to help organizations, brands, and interest groups create and manage engaged online communities.

The online platform offers a range of features tailored to support discussions, content sharing, and community member interaction in a secure, customizable environment.

Key features

• Discussion forum: This community feature lets members create discussion posts, ask questions, and share insights. The platform supports threaded conversations, making it easy to follow discussions over time.

• Content sharing: Members can share a variety of content types, including blogs, photos, videos, and documents. This feature allows the community to become a rich resource for its members, fostering deeper engagement.

• Member management: Crowdstack includes tools for managing member profiles, roles, and permissions. This helps community managers control access to content and features, ensuring that the right people have the right level of access.

• Analytics and reporting: Crowdstack provides detailed analytics and reporting tools to help you track member activity, engagement levels, and other key metrics. This data is crucial for understanding how your community is performing and where improvements can be made.

Pricing

• Basic Plan: $49/month, which includes essential features like forums, content sharing, and basic member management tools.

• Standard Plan: $99/month, offering additional features such as advanced analytics, enhanced customization, and priority support.

• Pro Plan: $199/month, designed for larger communities with more complex needs, including full white-label options, premium support, and advanced security features.

Pros

• Comprehensive community management: Crowdstack provides all the tools needed to manage a vibrant online community, from discussions to content sharing, making it a one-stop solution for community building.

• User-friendly interface: The platform is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate, reducing the learning curve for both admins and members.

Cons

• Cost: While Crowdstack offers a range of features, it can be more expensive than other platforms, especially as your community grows and requires more advanced features.

• Limited integrations: Compared to some other platforms, Crowdstack may have fewer integrations with third-party tools, which could be a drawback if you rely heavily on other software.

7. Hiverbrite

Who is it for? Professional networks, alumni associations, membership-based organizations, and corporate communities that need a highly customizable platform.

Hivebrite is a highly customizable all-in-one alumni community management platform that is particularly popular with alumni organizations and educational institutions. 

Key features

• Customizable branding: Hivebrite allows you to fully customize the appearance of your community, including custom domains, themes, and layouts, ensuring that your community reflects your organization’s brand identity.

• Member directory and networking: The platform includes a member directory that enables members to connect based on shared interests, professional backgrounds, or location. This is particularly valuable for professional networks and alumni associations where networking is a primary objective.

• Event management: Hivebrite provides tools to organize and manage events, both virtual and in-person. This includes features for event registration, ticketing, and communication, making it easy to keep members informed and engaged.

Pricing

Hivebrite offers custom pricing based on the specific needs and size of the community.

Pros

• Highly customizable: Hivebrite offers extensive customization options, allowing you to create a community platform that aligns perfectly with your brand and meets the specific needs of your members.

• Event and fundraising tools: Hivebrite’s integrated event management and fundraising features make it a versatile choice for organizations that need to host events and raise funds within their community.

Cons

• Custom pricing: The lack of transparent pricing can make it difficult for smaller organizations to determine whether Hivebrite fits within their budget. The platform is generally considered to be on the higher end of the pricing spectrum, which may be a barrier for some communities.

• Complexity: Due to its extensive feature set, Hivebrite may have a steeper learning curve, particularly for organizations or admins who are new to community management platforms.

8. Heartbeat

Who is it for? Small to medium-sized communities, creators, and educators who need a platform that integrates well with other tools like Slack, Zapier, and Google Calendar.

Heartbeat is an emerging community platform designed to provide essential tools for community building, including communication, event management, and member engagement.

It is particularly appealing to communities that prioritize simplicity and ease of use, without sacrificing key features.

Key features

• Customizable dashboard: Heartbeat provides a customizable dashboard that allows community managers to organize content, discussions, and events in a way that best suits their community’s needs.

• Member profiles and directories: Members can create detailed profiles, and the platform offers a directory that makes it easy for users to find and connect with others based on shared interests or professional backgrounds.

• Integrations: Heartbeat supports integrations with popular tools like Slack, Zapier, and Google Calendar. 

• Analytics and insights: Community managers can access detailed analytics on member activity, engagement, and content performance, helping them make informed decisions to improve the community experience.

Pricing

• Starter Plan: $29/month, which includes core features such as unlimited members, customizable dashboards, and basic integrations.

• Pro Plan: $99/month, adding advanced features like more integrations, enhanced analytics, and priority support.

• Business Plan: Custom pricing, designed for larger organizations that require additional support, white-label options, and enterprise-level integrations.

Pros

• User-friendly interface: Heartbeat’s clean and intuitive design makes it easy for both community managers and members to navigate the platform, reducing the learning curve.

• Affordable for small communities: The Starter Plan is competitively priced, making it accessible for smaller communities or those just starting out.

Cons

• Limited advanced features: While Heartbeat offers essential tools for community management, it may lack some of the more advanced features found in other platforms, such as the ability to create online courses.

• Integration depth: Although Heartbeat supports integrations with popular tools, it might not offer the same depth or range of integrations as more established platforms, which could be a limitation for communities that rely heavily on external tools.

9. Buddyboss

Who is it for? Entrepreneurs, educators, and organizations looking to build a deeply integrated online community within the WordPress ecosystem.

BuddyBoss is a community platform designed specifically for building social communities, online courses, and membership sites.

Built on top of WordPress, it provides a comprehensive suite of tools that allow you to create fully customized and engaging community experiences.

It’s particularly popular among users who want the flexibility and extensibility of WordPress while enjoying advanced community features.

Key features

• Social networking: BuddyBoss is equipped with robust social networking features, including member profiles, activity feeds, private messaging, and groups. These tools help create an interactive and engaging environment where members can connect and collaborate.

• Online courses: BuddyBoss integrates seamlessly with LearnDash, one of the leading LMS (Learning Management System) plugins for WordPress. This learning platform allows you to create, manage, and sell online courses within your community, making it a great tool for educators and course creators.

• Customizable and extensible: As a WordPress-based platform, BuddyBoss offers extensive customization options. You can choose from a variety of themes, add plugins to extend functionality, and even tweak the underlying code if needed.

• Gamification and engagement tools: BuddyBoss includes built-in gamification features like badges, points, and rewards to encourage member participation and engagement.

Pricing

• BuddyBoss Platform: The core BuddyBoss platform is free, providing basic community features.

• BuddyBoss Theme: The BuddyBoss Theme, which includes enhanced customization options and premium features, starts at $228/year for a single site license.

• Mobile App: The mobile app solution is priced separately, starting at $179/month, depending on your needs and the level of customization required.

Pros

• Integration with WordPress: BuddyBoss is built on WordPress, allowing you to take full advantage of the extensive WordPress ecosystem, including thousands of plugins and themes that can extend the functionality of your community.

• Comprehensive community features: From social networking to online courses, BuddyBoss offers a wide range of tools to build and manage a vibrant, interactive community.

Cons

• Cost: While the BuddyBoss Platform is free, accessing the full suite of features, including the mobile app and premium theme, can become expensive, especially for smaller communities or those with limited budgets.

• Dependency on WordPress: As BuddyBoss is built on WordPress, you’re dependent on the WordPress ecosystem. This means managing updates, security, and hosting, which could be overwhelming for users who are not familiar with WordPress.

10. Bettermode

Who is it for? Companies that need a flexible, modular platform.

Bettermode (formerly known as Tribe) is a thriving community platform designed to help brands and organizations build and manage online communities.

It offers a wide range of features and is known for its flexibility and ability to integrate with various tools and systems.

Key features

• Customizable community spaces: Bettermode allows you to create fully branded community spaces with customizable layouts and designs. You can tailor the look and feel of your community to match your brand’s identity.

• Modular design: The platform offers a modular design, allowing you to add various functionalities as needed, such as discussion forums, Q&A sections, polls, events, and more. This makes it easy to adapt the community to your specific needs.

• Integrations and API: The platform integrates seamlessly with various third-party tools, including CRM systems, email marketing platforms, and more. Bettermode’s API also allows for further customization and integration with existing workflows.

• Moderation tools: Bettermode includes comprehensive moderation tools that enable community managers to control content, manage member behavior, and ensure that the community remains a safe and welcoming environment.

Pricing

• Basic Plan: Suitable for small communities, this plan offers essential features like customizable spaces, basic analytics, and standard support.

• Premium Plan: Includes advanced features such as enhanced customization, priority support, and more detailed analytics, making it ideal for growing communities.

• Enterprise Plan: Designed for large organizations with complex needs, this plan offers custom pricing and includes enterprise-level features such as API access, white labeling, and dedicated account management.

Pros

• Strong integration capabilities: Bettermode integrates well with other tools, making it easy to connect your community with your existing tech stack and streamline workflows.

• Comprehensive moderation tools: The platform offers advanced moderation features that help maintain a positive and safe environment for your community members.

Cons

• Cost: While Bettermode offers a range of pricing options, the more advanced features and customization capabilities can be expensive, particularly for smaller organizations.

• Dependency on integrations: While Bettermode integrates well with other tools, its reliance on third-party integrations for some features might be a drawback for users looking for an all-in-one solution.

Choose the Right Community Platform for Your Needs

There are plenty of Circle.so alternatives out there tailored to different community-building needs.

Whether you're looking for the social networking power of BuddyBoss, the professional vibe of Hivebrite, or the real-time interaction that Heartbeat offers, there's something for everyone.

But if you're an independent pro or a marketer at a small to medium-sized company, and you're looking for a simple, cost-effective way to organize your first virtual event without all the technical headaches, HeySummit is hands-down the best pick!

It's perfect for those who want an all-in-one platform to manage events and grow their community.

Why not give HeySummit a try and see for yourself? Sign up for a free trial today!