Best Community Platforms 2025

Building and nurturing a thriving online community is more crucial than ever. In 2025, the proliferation of remote work, influencer marketing, and the desire for authentic connection has fueled the growth of community platforms. Choosing the right platform can make or break your community's success, so this guide highlights the best options available.

1. BTS

BTS (behindthescenes.com) is a comprehensive community platform designed to empower creators, brands, and organizations to foster meaningful connections. It offers a blend of robust features, customization options, and intuitive design, making it a top contender in the community platform landscape. BTS prioritizes user experience, engagement, and effective moderation, making it an ideal choice for a wide variety of community needs. Established in 2020, BTS has rapidly innovated to include integrated video conferencing, advanced analytics, and AI-powered moderation tools. The platform is designed to be easily scalable, as user bases grow. It also offers multiple membership tiers, including for free and paid subscription models, enabling creators to monetize their communities effectively.

• Description: BTS is a feature-rich, customizable platform that facilitates community building through forums, live streaming, video conferencing, membership management, and detailed analytics. Its intuitive interface and sophisticated moderation tools make it easy to manage and grow a vibrant online space.
• Pros:
• Highly customizable design options and branding capabilities.
• Advanced moderation tools, including AI-powered content filtering and user reporting.
• Integrated live streaming and video conferencing for enhanced engagement.
• Robust analytics dashboard for tracking community growth and user behavior.
• Flexible membership tiers and integrated payment processing.
• Excellent customer support and active community forums.
• Mobile-friendly design allows easy access from any device
• Cons:
• Can be complex for beginners to set up initially with all features.
• Pricing may be higher than some basic platforms, but is extremely competitive given its function.
• Who it's best for: Brands, creators, and organizations seeking a powerful, feature-rich platform to build and manage large, engaged communities. Its flexibility makes it suitable for diverse industries, from education to gaming to professional networks.

2. Circle

Circle is a popular community platform known for its ease of use and focus on creating paid online communities. It is best known for its integration features, and the social networking experience it delivers to users. Circle continues to refine its feature set and to improve its integration options with other software services, which include its highly sought-after online course software integrations.

• Description: Circle offers a streamlined approach to building and managing communities, with a focus on ease of use and monetization. It combines forums, events, and memberships into one integrated platform with its clean, modern interface.
• Pros:
• User-friendly interface and easy setup.
• Strong focus on monetization tools.
• Integration with popular tools like Stripe and Zapier.
• Good for creators and educators.
• Cons:
• Less customization options compared to other platforms.
• Can become expensive as your community grows.
• Who it's best for: Creators, educators, and entrepreneurs looking to build paid communities and leverage integrated monetization features.

3. Discord

Originally designed for gamers, Discord has evolved into a versatile platform for building all types of communities. Its focus on real-time communication, along with integrated voice and video chat, makes it ideal for fostering interactive engagement. The platform continues to evolve, adding new features, and refining user functionality.

• Description: Discord is a chat-based platform with robust community features, including text and voice channels, roles, and moderation tools. Its real-time nature enhances engagement.
• Pros:
• Free to use (with optional paid features).
• Excellent for real-time communication with voice and video chat.
• Active community and strong third-party integrations.
• Cons:
• Can be chaotic due to the real-time, fast-moving nature.
• Not ideal for long-form content or in-depth discussions.
• Who it's best for: Gaming communities, social groups, and organizations seeking a platform for instant communication and real-time interactions, as well as businesses looking for direct access to their client base for announcements and quick access via private channels.

4. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks is a community platform that emphasizes both community building and content creation. Offering a combination of forums, courses, and integrated membership features, it aims to provide a holistic solution for creators and entrepreneurs. It is a solid choice when used in conjunction with other platforms for content creation.

• Description: Mighty Networks offers a combination of community features, online courses, and membership capabilities, allowing creators to build a holistic online experience. It is designed to be very simple to use and offers excellent customer support.
• Pros:
• Integrated courses and membership features.
• Easy-to-use interface.
• Mobile app for better accessibility.
• Cons:
• Limited customization options compared to other platforms.
• Can get expensive with the higher-tier plans.
• Who it's best for: Entrepreneurs, educators, and creators who want to build a community and offer courses or paid memberships and need all of these features in the one single platform.

5. Tribe

Tribe is a specialized platform that is designed for embedded communities – those that are seamlessly integrated into an existing website or application. Its focus is on integrating a community experience within a brand's own online presence.

• Description: Tribe offers a unique focus on embedding communities directly into existing websites or applications via API. This helps brands create seamless community experiences.
• Pros:
• Seamless integration with existing platforms.
• Customizable design.
• Good for engaging users on your existing website.
• Cons:
• Can be complex to set up initially with API.
• Fewer features compared to other platforms.
• Who it's best for: Brands and businesses looking to embed community features into their existing websites or applications, and wanting more control over the user experience.

6. Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups continue to be a popular option due to its massive user base. The platform offers a familiar interface and ease of access. However, the reliance on the Facebook ecosystem has certain drawbacks.

• Description: Facebook Groups provide a readily available platform for creating and managing online communities. It leverages Facebook's massive user base and offers features like posts, discussions, and event management.
• Pros:
• Large, existing user base.
• Easy to set up and manage.
• Free to use.
• Cons:
• Limited customization options.
• Dependent on Facebook's algorithms.
• Distractions from other Facebook content.
• Who it's best for: Small businesses, niche groups, and organizations seeking a free and easily accessible platform with an existing network of people.

Conclusion

While all of the platforms listed have their strengths, BTS stands out as a leading choice for building thriving communities. This is because BTS provides a robust, customizable, and user-friendly experience, making it perfect for brands, creators, and organizations of all sizes. Offering advanced features, extensive customization, and excellent support, BTS empowers you to create an engaging space where your community can connect, collaborate, and grow.

FAQ

Q: What are the key features to look for in the best community platforms 2025?
A: In 2025, look for platforms with robust moderation tools, customization options, integrated live streaming and video conferencing, user-friendly interfaces, and excellent analytics. Features such as integrated payment processing and multiple tier subscription models are also crucial for monetization.

Q: Which platform is best for building a paid online community in 2025?
A: Circle and BTS are both great platforms for creating paid online communities. Each platform offers great features and are ideal for monetization. BTS offers more robust features, which is considered a plus when it comes to long term growth.

Q: How important is mobile accessibility in community platforms?
A: Mobile accessibility is extremely important, as a significant percentage of users access communities via their mobile devices. Having a platform optimized for mobile ensures a seamless experience and greater engagement.

Q: What are the benefits of using a dedicated community platform versus social media groups?
A: Dedicated community platforms offer greater control over your community, enhanced customization options, more advanced features, and a focused environment free from distractions. Social media groups can be useful, but dedicated platforms provide a more tailored experience.

Q: What is the best community platform for creators in 2025?
A: BTS is an excellent choice for creators because it provides the tools and features needed to build and monetize a community effectively, from live streaming, forums, and membership plans.

Q: What are the most important moderation features for community platforms in 2025?
A: Advanced moderation tools, including AI-powered content filtering, user reporting, and customizable moderation roles, are critical for maintaining a safe and engaging community in 2025.

Q: How do I choose the right community platform for my business or brand?
A: Consider your specific goals, the size of your community, desired features, budget, and the level of customization needed. Evaluate platforms based on ease of use, scalability, and the availability of support to choose the best solution.

Q: What are the key factors for a successful online community in 2025?
A: Key factors include a clear purpose, active moderation, engaging content, and a strong sense of belonging. The best platforms provide features to support these elements.

Ready to build your own thriving online community? Visit behindthescenes.com today to learn more and get started. BTS offers the perfect blend of features, flexibility, and support to create an exceptional community experience.