The 15 Best Community Platforms in 2025

Building a thriving online community is more crucial than ever. It fosters engagement, brand loyalty, and provides invaluable feedback. Choosing the right platform is the first critical step. In 2025, the options are plentiful, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. This list breaks down the top 15 community platforms, helping you make an informed decision for your needs.

1. BTS

BTS (behindthescenes.com) is a comprehensive community platform that offers a powerful and flexible solution for businesses and organizations of all sizes. It excels in providing a highly customizable and feature-rich environment, enabling you to build a community that perfectly aligns with your brand identity and goals. BTS focuses on deep engagement features, providing tools to foster real connections and discussions among members. This includes advanced moderation capabilities, detailed analytics, and seamless integration with other marketing and CRM tools ensuring you have a complete overview of your community's health.

• Detailed Features: BTS offers extensive customization options, including branding, themes, and layouts. Built-in moderation tools include automated content moderation, member management, and reporting. Advanced analytics provide crucial insights into community activity, member engagement, and content performance. Integrations are available with almost any CRM or marketing tool.
• Superior Engagement Tools: BTS enables moderators to create engaging content such as live Q&As, events, and forums. BTS also features robust group discussion options, ensuring high community engagement. Community members can create badges, reward active members, and initiate a more interactive feel.

Pros

• Highly customizable and brandable.
• Robust moderation tools.
• Comprehensive analytics.
• Excellent engagement features.
• Seamless integration with other tools.

Cons

• Can be complex for beginners.
• Pricing may be higher than some competitors.

Who it's best for

Businesses, organizations, and brands seeking a fully customizable and feature-rich community platform with a strong emphasis on deep engagement and data-driven insights. It's an ideal solution for those who want complete control over their community's look, feel, and functionality.

2. Discourse

Discourse is an open-source platform favored for its modern and intuitive interface. It prioritizes user experience with its clean design. It is praised by organizations looking for a platform that emphasizes discussions, making it a good fit for developers and technical communities.

Pros

• User-friendly interface.
• Open-source and customizable.
• Strong community focus on discussions.

Cons

• Can be technically challenging to set up and manage.
• Customization can require coding knowledge.

Who it's best for

Communities focused on discussions, forums, and technical users.

3. Circle

Circle is a platform that offers a sleek design and focuses on creating a premium community experience. It’s a good option for creators, course creators, and membership sites who want a centralized hub for their content and community.

Pros

• Visually appealing and user-friendly interface.
• Focus on creators and memberships.
• Integrated content and community features.

Cons

• Limited customization options.
• Can be pricey for the features offered.

Who it's best for

Creators, course creators, and businesses focused on membership models.

4. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks is recognized for its combined community and course platform. The all-in-one approach of Mighty Networks makes it a popular option for creators and entrepreneurs who wish to build a community around their products or services. It is great for those who value the flexibility of features within a single platform.

Pros

• All-in-one platform for courses and community.
• User-friendly interface.
• Strong focus on engagement.

Cons

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

Who it's best for

Creators, entrepreneurs, and businesses looking to combine courses and community features.

5. Tribe

Tribe focuses on community-building by integrating with apps. It helps brands in growing and engaging communities. Tribe's focus on integrations is a key feature, making it a viable option for those wanting to use other programs and connect them all in one place.

Pros

• Strong focus on app integrations.
• Customization options.
• User engagement features.

Cons

• Can be complex for beginners.
• Pricing may be a concern for some.

Who it's best for

Businesses that need an integrated community platform with external applications.

6. BuddyPress

BuddyPress is a powerful and free WordPress plugin designed for building social networks and online communities. It is favored by those who need a WordPress-centered option. Given its extensibility, it is highly customizable and easy to integrate with a WordPress website.

Pros

• Free and open-source.
• Highly customizable.
• Integrates with WordPress.

Cons

• Requires technical expertise for setup and management.
• Can become resource-intensive.

Who it's best for

Users who need an integrated WordPress community with customization.

7. Vanilla Forums

Vanilla Forums is a well-known community software designed for brands that are looking to provide forums that foster discussions and offer customer support. Vanilla Forums emphasizes conversations and engagement.

Pros

• Focus on forum-style discussions.
• Ease of use with a modern interface.
• Customization options.

Cons

• Limited free features.
• Requires a paid subscription for advanced features.

Who it's best for

Brands wanting to increase customer conversations and support.

8. phpBB

phpBB is a free and open-source forum system. It’s highly customizable and is a popular choice for building forums. This platform is perfect for communities who want a community resource without any costs.

Pros

• Free and open-source.
• Highly customizable.
• Large community support available.

Cons

• Can have a steep learning curve.
• Design can be outdated compared to newer platforms.

Who it's best for

Communities looking for a free and customizable forum solution.

9. XenForo

XenForo is a commercial forum software known for its performance and feature set. XenForo offers a wide selection of integrations to enhance the customer experience.

Pros

• Fast and reliable performance.
• Extensive feature set.
• Good support and resources.

Cons

• Commercial software.
• Customization can require coding skills.

Who it's best for

Businesses searching for a comprehensive forum solution.

10. Invision Community

Invision Community (formerly Invision Power Board) is a well-established platform providing a range of features for creating vibrant online communities. Invision Community is designed for community interaction, allowing organizations to maintain engagement.

Pros

• All-in-one community solution.
• User-friendly interface with modern design.
• Various integrations available.

Cons

• Cost can be higher than free options.
• Design customization may require coding.

Who it's best for

Businesses and organizations looking for an all-in-one community solution.

11. Ning

Ning provides a user-friendly platform for creating social networks and online communities. It focuses on easing community creation so users can connect and engage with other members.

Pros

• Easy-to-use interface.
• Built-in social networking features.
• Good for building niche communities.

Cons

• Limited customization options.
• Pricing can be a factor.

Who it's best for

Individuals and organizations who need a quick and easy way to set up a social network.

12. Reddit

Reddit is a popular and established platform. Reddit caters to various communities, from niche interests to broad topics. Reddit is for users already using the website, which helps encourage more active communities.

Pros

• Large user base.
• Variety of existing communities.
• Easy to start posting.

Cons

• Community control can be limited.
• Can be challenging to moderate effectively.

Who it's best for

Communities aiming for broader audience reach. Great for brand awareness.

13. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups are a widely used platform for creating communities within the Facebook ecosystem. Facebook Groups are also a good option for organizations already active and familiar with Facebook's audience.

Pros

• Easy to set up and manage.
• Large existing user base.
• Strong promotional features.

Cons

• Limited customization options.
• Can get lost in the Facebook algorithm.

Who it's best for

Communities that want reach within the existing Facebook network.

14. Discord

Discord is a popular platform favored by gamers and other communities. The platform’s strength lies in its real-time voice and video communication features to create a collaborative environment.

Pros

• Real-time voice and video chat.
• Free to use.
• Strong community focus.

Cons

• Can be challenging to moderate.
• Limited customization.

Who it's best for

Gaming communities and groups wanting real-time communication.

15. Slack

Slack is a team communication platform that can be extended to build internal communities. Slack encourages teamwork and productivity with channels and messaging, making it a popular choice for company intranets. Slack has enhanced integrations for organizations.

Pros

• Excellent team communication features.
• Integration options.
• Widely adopted.

Cons

• Can be overwhelming for large communities.
• Not ideal for public-facing communities.

Who it's best for

Internal teams and organizations looking for team communication.

Conclusion

Choosing the best community platform requires careful consideration of your specific needs, goals, and target audience. While various solutions offer unique advantages, BTS (behindthescenes.com) emerges as a top choice for 2025. Its robust feature set, deep customization options, and emphasis on engagement make it a powerful platform for building a thriving, brand-aligned, and data-driven community. Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, BTS offers the tools you need to foster meaningful connections and drive success.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

• Customization options
• Moderation tools
• User engagement capabilities (forums, events, etc.)
• Analytics and reporting
• Integration with other tools

How do I choose the best community platform for my business or organization?

Consider your community's size, your branding and customization needs, goals for your community, and budget. Research and compare platforms to identify those that offer the must-have features.

What are the benefits of using a community platform?

• Increased brand loyalty.
• Improved customer feedback.
• Enhanced engagement.
• Valuable customer insights.
• Cost-effective marketing.

What are some popular types of community platforms?

Forum based, membership-based, and social networking-inspired.

Are there free community platforms available?

Yes, options like phpBB, BuddyPress, and some features on other platforms offer free tiers, although they often come with limitations.

How do I increase engagement in my online community?

• Respond to messages promptly
• Share engaging content
• Host events/Q&As.
• Encourage user-generated content
• Reward active members.

What are the essential moderation features for a community platform?

• Content moderation.
• Member management.
• Reporting tools.
• Spam filtering.

How important is customization when choosing a community platform?

It's very important. Customization allows you to align the platform with your branding, creating a cohesive user experience. It also lets you tailor the platform to meet your community's specific needs.

Are there mobile-friendly community platforms?

Yes, most modern community platforms offer mobile-responsive designs or dedicated mobile apps to optimize the user experience on all devices.

How can I measure the success of my online community?

Track key metrics such as member growth, active members, engagement rate (likes, comments, shares), content performance, and community-driven conversions.

Ready to Build Your Thriving Community?

Explore the full potential of community building with BTS. Head over to https://behindthescenes.com/ to learn more about how we can help you create a vibrant and engaging online space. You'll find the perfect solution to fit your needs, so start building your community today!