Are you looking for a better way to connect with your audience?
Circle is a popular community platform, but it might not fit everyone perfectly.
Maybe it’s the cost, the features, or the feeling that something’s missing.
You want a thriving community, and the right platform is key.
That’s why we’ve explored the top 9 Circle alternatives for 2025.
We’ll help you find the best community platform to build strong connections and achieve your goals.
Let’s dive in!
What is the Best Circle Alternative?
Finding the perfect community platform can feel overwhelming.
You need something that fits your needs and budget. Don’t worry—we’ve done the research.
Below are our top 9 picks for Circle alternatives in 2025.
We’ve got options for everyone, so let’s find your ideal platform!
1. Skool
Skool is an incredible platform. It helps you build a thriving community.
It’s focused on courses and engagement.
Think of it as a place to learn and connect.
Our Take
It excels at building engaged communities and offers excellent value for its price. However, it loses a few points due to its slightly limited course customization and fewer marketing integrations than other platforms. If community is your top priority, Skool is worth checking out.
Key Benefits
- Integrated Community: Courses and discussions are seamlessly connected.
- Gamification: Built-in features to reward engagement.
- Easy Course Creation: Simple tools to build and deliver your courses.
- Direct Messaging: Connect with members one-on-one.
Pricing
- 1-month plan: $99/month
Pros
Cons
2. Thinkific
Thinkific is a popular platform. It’s great for creating and selling online courses.
It also has community features.
Thinkific helps you build a learning community.
Our Take
It excels at helping you create and sell online courses. It’s easy to use and has great features. It loses a few points for its limited community options and the fact that pricing can increase as your business grows. If your primary focus is creating and selling courses, Thinkific is a great choice.
Key Benefits
- Thinkific excels at helping you build and sell online courses.
- Course Creation: Easy-to-use course builder with advanced features.
- Sales & Marketing: Tools to promote your courses and generate leads.
- Student Management: Track student progress and engagement.
- Integrations: Connect with other marketing & sales tools.
Pricing
- Basic: $36/month – Unlimited Courses, 1 Community, 5 Digital Downloads.
- Start: $74/month – Unlimited Courses, 1 Community, Unlimited Digital Downloads.
- Grow: $149/month – Unlimited Courses, 3 Communities, Live Lessons, Membership.
Pros
Cons
3. Swarm
Swarm is a community platform. It emphasizes member engagement.
It offers tools for connection and interaction.
Swarm helps you build active communities.
Our Take
It’s great for building basic membership sites and fostering community. However, it loses points for its quickly scaling pricing and limited course features.
Key Benefits
Swarm focuses on ease of use and community building.
It aims to simplify the process of creating & managing a membership site.
- Intuitive Interface: Easy to navigate and set up your community.
- Flexible Memberships: Offer different tiers and access levels.
- Course Creation Tools: Build and sell your online courses.
- Community Engagement: Features to foster discussions and interaction.
Pricing
- Novice: $39 monthly – 1 space, 25 Members, Video, Voice, Text, Paid memberships.
- Pro: $79 monthly – 5 Spaces, 50 Members per space, Live Streams (45 mins).
- Expert: $149/month – Unlimited Spaces, 150 Members per space, Full White Label.
Pros
Cons
4. GoHighLevel
GoHighLevel is an all-in-one platform. It’s designed for agencies and marketers.
It includes CRM, marketing automation, and community features.
GoHighLevel helps you manage everything in one place.
Our Take
It’s a powerful platform for agencies and marketers but can be overwhelming for beginners. It loses points for its complexity and steep learning curve.
Key Benefits
GoHighLevel aims to provide all the tools you need to run your online business in one place.
- Marketing Automation: Automate your marketing campaigns.
- Sales Funnels: Build and manage sales funnels.
- Course Creation: Create and sell online courses.
- Community Features: Build and manage your community.
Pricing
- Starter: $97 monthly – All the tools to capture more leads, Nurture & close leads into customers.
- Unlimited: $297 monthly – Everything in the starter plan.
Pros
Cons
5. Teachable
Teachable is a popular platform. It’s focused on creating and selling courses.
It also offers basic community features.
Teachable helps you share your knowledge.
Our Take
It’s a fantastic platform for creating and selling online courses. However, it loses points for its limited community features and pricing, which can increase as you grow.
Key Benefits
Teachable excels at helping you build and sell online courses.
- Course Creation: Easy-to-use course builder.
- Sales & Marketing: Tools to promote your courses.
- Payment Processing: Seamless integration with payment gateways.
- Student Management: Track student progress and engagement.
Pricing
- Basic: $39 monthly – 5% transaction fee, 5 published products of each type (course, coaching, downloads).
- Pro: $119 monthly – 0% transaction fees, Unlimited membership tiers, Affiliate marketing.
- Pro+: $199/month – 0% transaction fees, 200 Courses, 200 Coaching products.
Pros
Cons
6. Mighty Networks
Mighty Networks is a community platform.
It allows you to create a branded space. It combines courses, groups, and discussions.
Mighty Networks helps you build a strong community.
Our Take
It’s an excellent platform for building online communities, especially with its mobile app. It loses points for its basic course features and pricing, which can add up.
Key Benefits
- Community Focus: Tools for fostering discussions and engagement.
- Course Creation: Build and sell online courses.
- Membership Features: Offer different membership tiers.
- Mobile Apps: Engage your community on the go.
Pricing
Mighty Networks has a few different pricing tiers:
- The Community Plan starts at $41/month: This gives you the basics.
- The Courses Plan starts at $99 per month: This unlocks more features like online courses and live streaming.
- The Business Plan starts at $179 per month: This unlocks more features SSo & Auto generated Polls.
- The Path-to-Pro starts at $360 per month: This is for larger communities with more advanced needs.
Pros
Cons
7. Bettermode
Bettermode is a modern community platform.
It offers a clean interface. It focuses on user experience.
Bettermode helps you build engaging communities.
Our Take
It’s a strong platform for those who prioritize customization and community engagement. It loses points for its complexity and limited course-building capabilities.
Key Benefits
Bettermode focuses on providing a customizable and engaging community experience.
- Customization: Tailor the look and feel of your community.
- Engagement Tools: Features for fostering discussions and interaction.
- Integration Options: Connect with other platforms.
- Analytics: Track community activity and growth.
Pricing
Bettermode offers a free plan and three paid plans:
- Starter: Free – Bettermode.io Domain, Bettermode Badge, 100 Members.
- Pro: $49/month – Unlimited Members, Custom Domain, Priority support, Advanced Analytics.
- Enterprise: Custom Pricing
Pros
Cons
8. Disco
Disco is a community platform. It focuses on events and connections.
It helps you build a community around shared interests.
Disco helps you bring people together.
Our Take
It’s a strong platform for those focused on live events and interactive courses. It loses points for its higher price, and its event-centric approach might not be ideal for all creators.
Key Benefits
Disco aims to make online events and courses more interactive and engaging.
- Live Events: Tools for hosting webinars and workshops.
- Course Platform: Create and sell online courses.
- Community Features: Discussions, groups, and member profiles.
- Engagement Tools: Polls, Q&As, and gamification.
Pricing
- Organization: $359 monthly – 1 community, 1,000 members, 10 admins.
- Enterprise: Custom Pricing.
Pros
Cons
9. Kajabi
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform. It’s designed for creators.
It includes courses, marketing, and community features.
Kajabi helps you build and grow your business.
Our Take
It’s great for online businesses. The price and basic community features are drawbacks. But it’s a strong contender.
Key Benefits
Kajabi simplifies online business management.
They offer a 14-day free trial. Key features include:
- Course creation and hosting.
- Marketing and sales tools.
- Community features.
- Website and landing page builder.
- Payment processing.
Pricing
Kajabi offers different pricing tiers.
These are based on features and usage.
- Kickstarter: $71/mo – 1 Website, 1 Product + 1 Community, 250 Contacts.
- Basic: $119/mo – 1 Website, 3 Product, 10,000 Contacts.
- Growth: $159/mo – 1 Website, 15 Product, 25,000 Contacts.
- Pro: $319/mo – 3 Website, 100 Product, 100,000 Contacts.
Pros
Cons
Buyer’s Guide
Our goal was to find the best Circle alternatives for 2025. Here’s how we did it:
We started with a broad search, using keywords like circle.so, circle. So alternative, and alternative to circle.
We explored online communities and platforms focused on membership.
We looked at features like community engagement, community management, and notifications.
We also considered platforms that offered a course platform or paid membership options.
We researched terms like alternative to circle.so, competitor, and circle.
We also looked at the best alternatives, how to attract community members, and what makes a good circle community.
Our search included terms like best circle.so alternatives in 2025, online community platform, similar to circle, and free to use.
When evaluating each platform, we focused on these key factors:
- Pricing: How much did a product cost?
- Features: What were the best features of a product?
- Negatives: What was missing from a product?
- Support or refund: Do they offer a community, support, or refund policy?
Wrapping Up
Choosing the right community platform is a big decision.
We’ve covered a lot of ground here, exploring the top 9 Circle alternatives.
Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses. Think about your specific needs.
What kind of community do you want to build? What features are most important to you?
We’ve researched so you can find the perfect fit.
We hope this guide helps you make the best choice for your community.
We’re confident you can find a platform to help your community thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good alternative to Circle?
Several platforms offer great alternatives to Circle. Thinkific is excellent for course creators, Mighty Networks suits branded communities and Skool is another strong focus that uses engagement and community. The best choice fully depends on your specific needs.
Is Circle a good community platform?
Circle is a popular platform with a good mix of features and is well-regarded for its community tools. However, it might not be the best fit for everyone. Consider your needs and explore alternatives.
What is the best free community platform?
Many platforms offer free plans with limited features. Swarm and Bettermode both offer free options. However, free plans often have restrictions, and you may need a paid plan for full functionality.
How much does Circle cost?
Circle offers different pricing plans. It’s best to check their website for the most up-to-date pricing information. They often have monthly or annual subscriptions. Consider your budget and needs.
What features should I look for in a community platform?
Key features include engagement tools, course hosting (if needed), member management, and integrations. Think about your community goals. Do you need events, discussions, or other specific features? Choose a platform that easily aligns with your vision.
