Written by Online Community Platforms are web-based platforms that enable users to create and participate in virtual communities around common interests, goals, or causes. These platforms offer a range of tools and features to facilitate communication and collaboration among members of the community, such as discussion forums, chat rooms, blogs, wikis, file-sharing, and social networking features.
Online community platforms can be used for a variety of purposes, including social networking, online learning, customer support, knowledge sharing, and advocacy. They are popular among businesses, non-profits, educational institutions, and other organizations seeking to build and engage with online communities of users or customers.
Best Online Community Platforms of 2023
Here are six of the best online community platforms:
1. BuddyPress
BuddyPress is a free and open-source community plugin for WordPress. It provides a range of features that enable users to create a social network within their WordPress site.
BuddyPress provides features such as user profiles, activity streams, private messaging, groups, and discussion forums. It also allows for customization and branding options to match the look and feel of a user’s WordPress site.
BuddyPress’s robust set of features provides users with a complete social network experience, enabling them to build relationships and connect with their communities. The plugin also provides a range of plugins and add-ons that can be used to extend its functionality and integrate it with other WordPress plugins.
BuddyPress is a great option for users looking to create a community within their existing WordPress site. Its open-source nature and active community provide users with a range of resources and support to help them get the most out of the plugin.
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2. Discourse
Discourse is an open-source discussion platform designed to facilitate online communication and community building. It provides a modern, fast, and user-friendly interface for discussions and allows users to participate in real-time conversations. Discourse has a variety of features such as mobile responsiveness, infinite scrolling, social media sharing, tagging, and real-time notifications. It also includes a powerful moderation system, allowing users to flag inappropriate content, and moderators to review and delete such content. Additionally, Discourse provides an API that enables developers to integrate the platform into their websites and mobile applications. Discourse is popular among online communities and has been used by organizations such as The New York Times, Docker, and Udacity.
3. Higher Logic Vanilla
Higher Logic and Vanilla are two different online community platforms. Higher Logic is an online community platform designed for associations and non-profit organizations. It offers a range of features, including discussion forums, blogs, document sharing, and event management tools. It also includes a variety of engagement tools, such as gamification, reputation management, and personalized recommendations. Higher Logic provides a mobile-responsive design and allows for custom branding.
Vanilla, on the other hand, is cloud-based forum software that offers a range of features such as gamification, social media integration, and analytics. It is designed to help businesses and organizations build their own online communities where customers, partners, and employees can connect and collaborate. Vanilla allows for customization of its interface and branding to match the look and feel of an organization’s website or brand. Both Higher Logic and Vanilla offer different features, target audiences, and pricing models. Organizations should assess their specific needs and requirements before choosing an online community platform that best suits their needs.
4. Circle
Circle is an online community platform that provides creators, entrepreneurs, and businesses with a modern and customizable platform to build and engage their audiences. It provides a platform to create a community with features such as group chat, video calls, and discussion forums.
Circle’s integration with popular tools such as Slack, Zapier, and Shopify makes it easier for users to manage their community and automate processes. It also provides features such as analytics, polls, and surveys to gain insights and gather feedback from the community. Circle is mobile-friendly, and it is designed to offer a clean and modern interface that allows users to create a more personalized and unique brand experience.
Circle is a flexible platform that can be used for a range of purposes, including online courses, coaching, and e-commerce. It provides a seamless user experience and enables users to build and grow their communities around their brands, products, and services.
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5. Hivebrite
Hivebrite is an all-in-one community engagement and management platform designed for alumni associations, schools, and other educational institutions. Hivebrite provides a range of features such as online community building, event management, fundraising, and membership management.
Hivebrite provides customizable branding options and provides features such as group chat, discussion forums, and personalized feeds that enable users to engage and connect with their communities. Hivebrite also offers a mobile-responsive platform, which allows users to manage and engage with their communities on the go. Hivebrite provides a range of tools such as analytics, polls, and surveys that allow users to understand their community better, gather feedback and insights and create engagement.
It also integrates with popular tools such as Salesforce, Zapier, and Mailchimp to help users manage their operations more efficiently. Hivebrite’s platform is designed to support alumni associations, schools, and other educational institutions in their community-building and engagement efforts. The platform provides a robust set of features to help organizations build and engage with their communities and maintain long-term relationships with their members.
6. Mighty Networks
Mighty Networks is an all-in-one community platform that allows creators, coaches, and entrepreneurs to create their own branded digital communities. It provides a mobile-first platform that enables users to build their own online communities with features such as online courses, membership plans, group chats, and events. Mighty Networks also allows for customization of its design and branding to match the look and feel of a user’s brand.
Mighty Networks offers engagement tools such as gamification, personalized recommendations, and content discovery features. It also provides analytics and insights on user behavior, helping users understand how their communities are performing and allowing them to make data-driven decisions to improve engagement.
Mighty Networks aims to provide a holistic solution to creators and entrepreneurs looking to build and grow their own communities. Its platform enables users to build deeper relationships with their audiences and helps create an engaged and supportive community around their brand.
Conclusion On Best Online Community Platforms
There are several excellent online community platforms available to creators, entrepreneurs, and businesses. Discourse, with its modern and responsive design, is a great option for community forums. Higher Logic Vanilla, with its easy-to-use platform and scalable features, is a solid choice for enterprise-level organizations. the best online community platform will depend on the specific needs and goals of the user. Each of these platforms offers unique features and benefits that can help users build and engage their communities effectively.
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