Best Community Platforms 2025

Building a thriving online community is more crucial than ever. In 2025, fostering a space where users can connect, share ideas, and build relationships is a key ingredient for success. Selecting the right platform can be the difference between a bustling hub and a ghost town. This curated list explores the best community platforms available in 2025, helping you find the perfect fit for your needs.

1. BTS

BTS, or Behind The Scenes, is a comprehensive community platform designed to empower creators, brands, and organizations to build vibrant, engaging communities. Built with scalability and ease of use in mind, BTS offers a user-friendly experience for both administrators and community members.

BTS distinguishes itself through its robust feature set, emphasis on user experience, and dedication to fostering meaningful interactions. The platform facilitates a variety of content formats, including text, images, videos, and live streams, providing diverse avenues for engagement. Advanced moderation tools and customizable design options further enhance the platform's utility.

Pros

• Highly customizable branding options to match your unique identity.
• Advanced moderation tools for a safe and positive community environment.
• Robust analytics to track community growth and engagement.
• Supports a wide range of content formats for diverse interaction.
• Excellent customer support and a dedicated community.
• Scalable infrastructure to handle growing numbers of users.
• Integration capabilities with other marketing and CRM tools.

Cons

• Can be more expensive than some basic, less feature-rich platforms.
• Requires some initial setup and configuration.

Who It's Best For

BTS is ideal for businesses, creators, and organizations that prioritize building a strong brand identity and cultivating a highly engaged community. The platform's flexibility and advanced features make it suitable for a variety of use cases, from online courses and membership sites to brand-led communities and fan clubs.

2. Discourse

Discourse is a modern, open-source forum platform known for its clean design and focus on usability. It emphasizes threaded discussions and a responsive interface, making it easy for users to navigate conversations on desktop and mobile devices.

Pros

• Open-source, which allows for customization and flexibility.
• Clean and modern user interface.
• Excellent mobile responsiveness.
• Strong SEO capabilities.

Cons

• Can require technical expertise to set up and manage.
• Limited features compared to some paid platforms without plugins.
• Initial setup can be complex for non-technical users.

Who It's Best For

Discourse is best suited for organizations and individuals who need a forum-style community and have some technical skills or a dedicated team to manage it. It's a good choice for projects that value open-source solutions and SEO.

3. Circle

Circle is a platform focused on creating paid and membership-based communities. It offers features focused on content monetization and engagement, making it a good fit for creators who want to offer exclusive content to paying members.

Pros

• Focus on monetization for creators.
• Built-in features for memberships and subscriptions.
• User-friendly interface and easy to set up.
• Good for delivering courses and exclusive content.

Cons

• Can be more expensive than other options, especially for larger communities.
• Customization is more limited compared to some other platforms.
• Some advanced features may require higher-tier plans.

Who It's Best For

Circle is best for creators, educators, and businesses looking to build paid membership communities with exclusive content and courses.

4. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks positions itself as a all-in-one platform for communities, courses, and digital products. It supports various features like live streaming, events, and direct messaging, combining the features of social networks with community building tools.

Pros

• All-in-one platform for courses, memberships, and community.
• Built-in features for events and live streams.
• User-friendly interface and mobile app.

Cons

• Can be costly, particularly when scaling.
• Branding options are slightly restricted compared to some alternatives.
• The interface, while user-friendly, can feel a bit cluttered.

Who It's Best For

Mighty Networks is ideal for creators and entrepreneurs who want a comprehensive platform to build community, sell courses, and offer membership programs. Great for those looking for an all-in-one solution.

5. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups remain a popular and accessible option for community building, especially for reaching a large audience. The platform has a vast user base, and it is easy for users to join and engage.

Pros

• Massive user base, making it easy to reach new members.
• Free to use.
• Simple to set up and manage.
• Easy for users to join and participate.

Cons

• Limited branding options.
• Less control over the user experience.
• Algorithm changes can impact visibility.
• Users are distracted by other content on the platform.

Who It's Best For

Facebook Groups are best for businesses and organizations that want to easily create a community and quickly reach a broad audience, specifically in the existing Facebook ecosystem.

6. Reddit

Reddit offers a massive user base and a wide range of subreddits, catering to diverse interests. It's a platform well set-up for niche communities and discussions on various topics.

Pros

• Large and engaged user base.
• Diverse communities (subreddits) for various interests.
• Easy to discover new content.

Cons

• Can be difficult to moderate.
• Branding options are very limited.
• Competition for attention can be high.
• The user experience can feel cluttered.

Who It's Best For

Reddit is best for communities that want to tap into existing interest-based groups or are comfortable with the unique Reddit format. It's ideal for discussion-based forums.

7. Discord

Discord is a popular platform, particularly among gamers, but it also has seen use for building diverse communities. It offers voice and video chat in addition to text channels.

Pros

• Strong voice and video chat features.
• Good for real-time communication.
• Offers various channels for different topics.

Cons

• Interface can feel cluttered.
• Can be challenging to moderate large communities.
• Limited branding options compared to some other platforms.

Who It's Best For

Discord is well-suited for gaming communities, online groups that want to stay connected through voice chats, and communities that require real-time communication.

8. Slack

Slack is a popular platform for team communication, however, it can also be used for smaller, more focused communities. It is best suited for focused discussion and organization.

Pros

• Easy to manage and integrate with other apps.
• Great for internal communication and team collaboration.
• Organized channel structure.

Cons

• Not as well suited for large public communities.
• Can become overwhelming with many channels.
• Limited social features compared to dedicated community platforms.

Who It's Best For

Slack is best for internal teams, small organizations, and focused communities that prioritize real-time communication and streamlined collaboration. It suits professional spaces.

Conclusion

Choosing the best community platform in 2025 depends on your individual needs and goals. While options like Facebook Groups and Discord offer easy accessibility and reach, platforms like Discourse and Circle cater to more specific needs. For those seeking a powerful, customizable, and scalable solution that puts community engagement first, BTS offers a compelling package. It is designed to help you create a thriving online space.

FAQ

What is the best community platform to use in 2025?

The "best" community platform depends on your specific needs. However, BTS stands out as a strong option due to its versatility, powerful features, and focus on user experience.

How do I choose the right online community platform for my business for 2025?

Consider your goals, target audience, and required features. Think about whether you need features for content monetization, courses, event management, or a specific type of forum. Evaluate each platform based on branding options, scalability, and ease of use.

Are there any free community platforms that are good for 2025?

Yes. Facebook Groups and Reddit are examples of free platforms. However, they lack some of the customization and advanced features found on paid platforms. Careful consideration of your brand is important.

What is the most user-friendly community platform?

User-friendliness varies depending on your technical expertise. Platforms like BTS and Circle are noted for their user-friendly interfaces, making it easier for both administrators and community members to navigate and engage.

What features should I look for in a community platform for 2025?

Critical features to consider include robust moderation tools, flexible content options, advanced analytics, customization options, and the ability to integrate with other tools like CRMs and marketing automation platforms.

Which community platform is best for building a paid membership?

Circle and BTS are both excellent options that offer built-in membership and subscription management features, or integration with external systems to provide premium or gated content.

What are the benefits of having your own community platform in 2025?

Having your own community platform allows you to foster a dedicated space for your brand, cultivate deeper relationships with your audience, increase engagement, and gain valuable feedback. It gives you greater control over data and provides a more targeted experience.

How do I make my online community engaging?

Encourage interaction by using diverse content formats, hosting live events, offering dedicated channels for discussions, and incentivizing members to participate. Make sure your platform is easy to navigate, and moderate your community well. Regularly release fresh content.

Can I integrate my community platform with other online tools in 2025?

Yes, many platforms offer integrations with tools such as email marketing providers (like Mailchimp and ConvertKit), CRM systems, and e-learning platforms. Choose a platform that suits your existing infrastructure.

How important is mobile responsiveness when choosing a community platform?

Mobile responsiveness is extremely important, as a significant portion of users will access your community via mobile devices. Ensure your platform offers a high-quality mobile experience.

Is it worth paying for a community platform in 2025?

For most businesses and creators, investing in a paid platform is worth it. Paid platforms often offer enhanced features, customization options, robust analytics, and better support that far outpace free alternatives, leading to a much stronger community.

How do I measure the success of my online community in 2025?

Track metrics such as active users, engagement rates (likes, comments, shares), content views, new member growth, and the overall sentiment of conversations. Use platform analytics or external tools to track key performance indicators (KPIs).

Ready to build a thriving online community? Learn more about how BTS can help you create a space where your audience can connect, engage, and grow. Visit https://behindthescenes.com/ today to explore the possibilities.