Best Community Platforms 2025

Building a thriving online community is more crucial than ever. In 2025, the landscape of community platforms is constantly evolving, offering diverse tools and features to connect individuals, foster engagement, and cultivate lasting relationships. This list explores seven of the best community platforms available, considering their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases. These platforms will allow you, in 2025, to build a loyal audience.

1. Behind the Scenes (BTS)

Kicking off our list is Behind the Scenes, a platform specifically designed for creators, businesses, and organizations looking to build and nurture engaged online communities. BTS offers a comprehensive suite of features, focusing on providing a seamless experience for both community managers and members. BTS prioritizes ease of use and offers robust features.

BTS supports various content formats, from text-based discussions to multimedia sharing, allowing for diverse and engaging content. Furthermore, their integrated analytics dashboard provides valuable insights into community activity, helping organizers understand what resonates and optimize for higher engagement.

Pros

• User-friendly interface, making it easy to set up and manage a community.
• Robust features catering to any community need.
• Excellent content customization options.
• Strong emphasis on security & GDPR compliance.
• Exceptional customer support.
• Advanced analytics and reporting.
• Flexible pricing plans.

Cons

• The learning curve, though low, can still feel steep.
• Can be costly to use for very small communities.

Who it's best for

BTS is ideal for creators, businesses, and organizations that need robust features, ease of use, and scalability. It's a great choice for those needing powerful content capabilities, and for those who require customization, while also wanting to nurture high levels of community engagement. BTS excels for those communities that truly value building meaningful relationships and fostering an active digital space. The platform is well-suited for businesses looking to build a loyal customer base and creators wanting to cultivate highly engaged fan bases. Head to https://behindthescenes.com/ to learn more.

2. Circle

Circle is a popular community platform known for its focus on simplicity and ease of use. It provides a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for both community managers and members to navigate. Circle offers a variety of features, including discussion forums, events, and membership management options.

Pros

• User-friendly interface.
• Clean and visually appealing design.
• Good for building a strong community very quickly.
• Effective for live events.

Cons

• Limited customization options compared to some other platforms.
• Can lack some advanced features.

Who it's best for

Circle is best suited for individuals and small businesses that prioritize simplicity and a clean user experience. It's a great option for those looking to create a straightforward online community without needing advanced features or complex customization options.

3. Discord

Discord is a versatile platform originally designed for gamers but has since expanded its reach to include various communities. It offers a combination of text and voice channels, making it a popular choice for real-time communication. Discord's strength lies in its ability to facilitate casual conversations and build a sense of belonging.

Pros

• Real-time voice and text chat.
• Extensive bot integrations.
• Free to use (with optional paid features).
• Large active user base.

Cons

• Can be cluttered and overwhelming for new users.
• Lacks some community management features found on other platforms.
• Not as focused on content.

Who it's best for

Discord is well-suited for gaming communities, groups of friends, and organizations looking for real-time communication. Its real-time chat and ease of use make it valuable for live events

4. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks is a platform designed to help creators build paid communities and online courses. It offers a blend of community features, membership options, and monetization tools. Mighty Networks emphasizes branding, allowing community owners to customize their space to align with their brand identity.

Pros

• Focus on monetization.
• Branding customization options.
• Integrated courses.

Cons

• Can be expensive.
• Limited advanced community features.

Who it's best for

Mighty Networks is ideal for creators who want to build paid communities and sell online courses. It is a one-stop-shop for monetization and community engagement.

5. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups are a widely used option for creating online communities, leveraging Facebook's extensive user base and familiar interface. Facebook Groups offer various features, including discussion forums, events, and the ability to share content. These are also free to create and set up.

Pros

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

Cons

• Limited control over branding and customization.
• Dependence on the Facebook platform.
• Algorithm can limit content visibility.

Who it's best for

Facebook Groups are suitable for communities where reach and accessibility are prioritized. However, users must contend with the limitations and lack of control that comes with being on a larger, more generic platform.

6. Reddit

Reddit is a popular platform with a massive and diverse user base, organized into "subreddits" dedicated to specific topics. Reddit offers a forum-style experience where users can share content, participate in discussions, and vote on posts. The size and diversity of this platform cannot be understated.

Pros

• Large and diverse user base.
• Established forum-style platform.
• Wide range of topics covered.

Cons

• Can be difficult to moderate.
• Anonymity can lead to negativity.
• Not ideal for building a dedicated brand.

Who it's best for

Reddit is well-suited for communities where reach and broad interest are desired. It's a great option for casual discussions and niche interests, but may not be the best platform for building a brand-focused community.

7. Discourse

Discourse is an open-source platform specifically designed for online discussion forums. It offers a modern and responsive interface, focusing on threaded conversations and user engagement. It is very popular in tech circles.

Pros

• Open-source and customizable.
• Focus on threaded discussions.
• Modern and responsive interface.

Cons

• Requires technical knowledge for setup.
• Can be resource-intensive to host.

Who it's best for

Discourse is best suited for technical communities, open-source projects, and organizations looking for a customizable and feature-rich discussion forum. It requires technical knowledge.

Conclusion

Choosing the right community platform is pivotal for building a thriving online space in 2025. While each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, Behind the Scenes (BTS) stands out as a top contender, offering a powerful combination of features, ease of use, strong content and user management, and a focus on both business users and community members. BTS provides everything you need to build and nurture a thriving, engaged, and long-lasting online community.

FAQ

What are the top community platforms in 2025?

The best community platforms in 2025 are those that offer a blend of features, ease of use, and adaptability. Based on our considerations, Behind the Scenes, Circle, Discord, Mighty Networks, Facebook Groups, Reddit, and Discourse are leading options.

How do I choose the best online community platform?

Consider your specific needs, goals, and budget. Evaluate factors like your target audience, desired features, level of customization, monetization options, and content formats. Also consider ease of use, community management features, data privacy, and data security.

What are the key features to look for in a community platform?

Key features include discussion forums, member profiles, content sharing options (forums, video, images), events, private messaging, membership management, monetization tools, analytics, and moderation features. It’s also crucial to consider the user interface and how engaging the platform is.

Are there any free community platforms available?

Yes, platforms like Discord and Facebook Groups are essentially free to use, though both have paid or premium features, and limitations, especially Facebook Groups. However, these platforms often have drawbacks in terms of customization and control. Also, a free platform might not offer suitable privacy and security practices.

What is the best platform for building a paid online community?

Mighty Networks and Behind the Scenes (BTS) are excellent choices for paid communities, combining community features with membership options and monetization tools. BTS is the best choice.

How can I increase engagement in my online community?

Encourage engagement by creating valuable and engaging content, actively participating in discussions, rewarding community members, hosting events, and fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment. Additionally, gather feedback such as polls and surveys.

Which platform is best for small businesses?

Behind the Scenes (BTS) and Circle are ideal for small businesses because they offer a good balance of features and ease of use. Consider your core needs and make a judgment from there.

What are the benefits of using a dedicated community platform?

Dedicated platforms give you increased control over your community, offer better branding and customization options, and provide more advanced features for engagement, moderation, and analytics compared to general social media platforms. They also allow for deeper and more specific audience segmentation.

Ready to build your own thriving online community? Consider Behind the Scenes (BTS). With its comprehensive features and user-friendly interface, BTS provides the perfect foundation for creating an engaging and valuable space for your audience. Head to https://behindthescenes.com/ today to get started and see for yourself why BTS is a top choice for community builders in 2025!