What is Community Software
Community software refers to software tools and platforms designed to facilitate online communities, such as discussion forums, social networks, or online marketplaces. The software enables users to communicate with each other, share information, and collaborate on various projects. Some examples of community software include Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and online forums like Discourse.
List of 12 Best Community Platforms Software of 2025
12 Best Community Platforms Software for SMBEs
1. eXo Platform
2. Vanilla Forums
3. Khoros
4. Hivebrite
5. Tribe
6. Yocale
7. inSided
8. Forumbee
9. InVision
10. Thinkific
11. Eleyo
12. Mobilize
Overview of 12 Best Community Platforms Software Free & Paid
eXo Platform is an open-source enterprise social collaboration platform that enables teams to work together more effectively, with features such as document sharing, task management, and real-time collaboration.
Vanilla Forums is a cloud-based platform for building and managing online communities, offering features such as discussion forums, user profiles, and moderation tools.
Khoros Communities is a cloud-based platform that provides a range of tools for creating and managing online communities, including discussion forums, knowledge bases, and social media integration.
Hivebrite is a cloud-based platform for building and managing online communities, offering features such as user profiles, discussion forums, and event management.
Tribe is a cloud-based platform for building and managing online communities, with features such as discussion forums, user profiles, and member directory.
Yocale is a platform designed for small businesses and service providers to manage appointments, client information, and marketing.
inSided is a platform for creating and managing online communities focused on niche interests, with features such as discussion forums, user profiles, and monetization options.
Forumbee is a cloud-based platform for creating and managing online communities, with features such as discussion forums, knowledge bases, and moderation tools.
Invision Community is a platform for building and managing online communities, with features such as discussion forums, user profiles, and social media integration.
Thinkific is a platform for creating and selling online courses, with features such as course creation tools, student management, and payment processing.
Eleyo is a cloud-based platform for managing programs and registrations for schools, after-school programs, and community education.
Mobilize is a platform for creating and managing online communities, with features such as discussion forums, event management, and member communication tools.
6 Benefits of Community Software
Here is a breakdown of the average cost of community software by category:
- Free and open-source: There are a number of free and open-source community software platforms available, such as Discourse, Vanilla Forums, and HumHub. These platforms can be a good option for small communities or communities with limited budgets. However, it’s important to note that free and open-source platforms typically require more technical expertise to set up and maintain.
- SaaS: SaaS (software as a service) community software platforms are a popular choice for businesses and organizations of all sizes. SaaS platforms are typically easy to set up and use, and they offer a variety of features and pricing plans to choose from. Some popular SaaS community software platforms include Mighty Networks, Circle, and Tribe.
- On-premises: On-premises community software platforms are installed on the customer’s own servers. On-premises platforms offer more customization and control than SaaS platforms, but they are also more expensive and require more technical expertise to set up and maintain. Some popular on-premises community software platforms include Jive, SocialEngine, and Drupal.
When choosing a community software platform, it’s important to consider your specific needs and budget. If you’re not sure which platform is right for you, you can contact a community software consultant for assistance.
Here are some additional factors to consider when budgeting for community software:
- Features: Community software platforms offer a variety of features, such as user profiles, discussion forums, file sharing, and event management. The features that you need will depend on the size and type of community you are building.
- Support: Community software platforms typically offer different levels of support. If you need a lot of help setting up or using your community platform, you’ll want to choose a platform that offers a high level of support.
- Customization: Some community software platforms allow you to customize the look and feel of your community. If you want to be able to customize your community, you’ll need to choose a platform that offers this feature.
6 Features of Community Software
- User profiles and activity feeds: Users can create profiles and share information about themselves, as well as view the activity of other users.
- Discussion forums: Users can create and participate in discussions on various topics.
- Messaging and chat: Community software may include messaging and chat features to enable real-time communication between users.
- Content sharing: Users can share content such as images, videos, and documents.
- Moderation tools: Administrators can moderate content and manage user behavior, such as banning or suspending users who violate community guidelines.
- Analytics and reporting: Community software often includes analytics and reporting features to track user engagement, content performance, and other metrics.
What is the Average Cost of Community Software?
The cost of community software can vary widely depending on several factors such as the type of software, features, functionality, and the size of the community.
There are both open-source and commercial options available for community software, with open-source software generally being free to use, while commercial software requires payment. However, even with open-source software, there may be additional costs associated with hosting, maintenance, and customization.
Some community software platforms may charge a monthly or annual fee, while others may charge based on the number of users or the level of usage.
Overall, it is difficult to provide an average cost for community software as there are many different options available, and the cost can vary significantly depending on the specific needs of a community. However, some popular community software platforms like Discourse, Vanilla Forums, and Flarum offer pricing plans starting from a few hundred dollars per year up to several thousand dollars per year.
7 Tips: How to choose the Best Community Platforms Software
Choosing the best community software can be a challenging task, as there are many options available, and the needs of each community can vary widely. Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating community software options:
Features: Look for software that offers the features your community needs, such as discussion forums, messaging, content sharing, user profiles, and moderation tools. Consider which features are essential and which are nice to have.
Customization: Determine whether the software is customizable to fit your community’s branding and unique needs. Some software options may provide more flexibility in terms of design and functionality.
User Experience: Consider how easy it is for users to navigate and interact with the software. Look for software that has a clean, intuitive interface and provides a positive user experience.
Scalability: Evaluate whether the software can accommodate the growth of your community. Determine if the software can handle large volumes of users, data, and traffic.
Security: Look for software that provides robust security features to protect your community and user data. Evaluate the software’s security measures and data protection policies.
Support: Determine what type of support the software provider offers, such as documentation, training, and technical support. Consider whether the support provided aligns with your community’s needs.
Cost: Evaluate the cost of the software and determine whether it aligns with your community’s budget. Consider any additional costs, such as hosting and customization.
By considering these factors and doing thorough research, you can choose the best community software for your community’s needs. It is also important to consider the software provider’s reputation and user reviews to ensure that you are choosing a reliable and trusted platform.
Conclusion
In conclusion, community software is a powerful tool for facilitating online communities and enabling users to communicate, collaborate, and share information. The benefits of community software include increased engagement, improved communication, enhanced customer support, and valuable insights. When choosing community software, it is important to consider factors such as features, customization, user experience, scalability, security, support, and cost. By carefully evaluating different software options and considering the unique needs of your community, you can choose the best community software to support your goals and objectives.
What are Some FAQs of Community Software
Community software is a type of software that enables users to communicate, collaborate, and share information within an online community.
The benefits of community software include increased engagement, improved communication, enhanced customer support, and valuable insights.
Features to look for in community software include discussion forums, messaging, content sharing, user profiles, and moderation tools.
The cost of community software varies depending on the provider and the features included. Some providers offer free or low-cost options, while others charge a subscription or one-time fee.
Community software can be secure if the provider has implemented robust security features, such as data encryption and access controls. It is important to evaluate the security measures of any software before implementing it.
Some community software providers offer customization options, allowing you to brand the software to your organization’s specifications. It is important to evaluate the customization options of any software before implementing it.
The support available for community software varies by provider. Some providers offer documentation, training, and technical support, while others may only provide basic documentation.
The best community software options depend on your organization’s needs and budget. Some popular options include eXo Platform, Vanilla Forums, Khoros Communities, Hivebrite, and Invision Community.
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