Online Community Management Software: The Best Platforms

What if your most loyal customers, top advocates, and high-intent prospects all gathered in one place — not just following your brand, but shaping it?

That’s the promise of online communities. And it’s not just hype: 60% of people feel more loyal to a brand because of their access to a community. In SaaS businesses, that kind of loyalty lift is gold.

The trends shift away from rented social media audiences toward intentional community building. These aren’t just forums or Slack groups — they’re structured environments that support onboarding, feedback, education, and loyalty.

In this guide, we’ll explore what online community management platforms do, why they matter, what features to look for, and which tools are leading the way in 2025.

What is online community management software?

When we say a tool for online community management, we refer to an online community software that helps you build, organize, and nurture your community in a structured and scalable way, far beyond the limits of social media groups or traditional discussion forums.

Unlike a basic Facebook group or Reddit thread, this software gives you complete control over how members engage, how content is shared, and how you manage experiences across the entire community lifecycle. It’s designed to help brands create deeper connections, encourage meaningful participation, and generate long-term value within a fully owned and thriving online community.

Moreover, by keeping a branded online community private, community managers have the opportunity to gain deeper insights into community analytics than any social media platform would provide.

Whether you're running a customer success hub, peer-support network, or member-only learning space, community management tools bring everything under one roof: discussions, events, resources, analytics, moderation, and more.

Why businesses are investing in community platforms

Community strategy became a key part of how killer brands grow, retain, and support their audiences, aka community members. As traditional marketing channels become less reliable, businesses are shifting toward their own community spaces where they can build lasting relationships and deliver more value.

Here’s why community platforms are becoming a strategic priority:

• Organic reach is fading. Social algorithms continue to limit how many people actually see your content. Owning customer communities means owning the reach — no more fighting to stay visible in a crowded feed.
• Owned data now matters more than ever. A community platform gives you first-party data and direct insights into the nature of customer engagement, what they care about, and where they’re active, all without relying on third-party cookies or external platforms.
• Loyalty and feedback drive growth. Communities foster two-way relationships. Members not only stay longer — they contribute ideas, offer support to others, and create a feedback loop that helps your product or service improve.
• SaaS and creators are leading the way. In both industries, we’re seeing strong community-led growth. Word of mouth, ambassador programs, and user-generated content often start in private spaces that encourage participation, not ads or email lists.
• Support and onboarding are more human. Private communities make it easier to welcome new users, answer questions quickly, and create a sense of belonging. That leads to better product adoption and higher retention.

In short: a strong community isn’t just about engagement — it’s a growth engine. Private community channels are useful for more than just helping you increase brand awareness, but also to inspire customer advocates and build meaningful relationships with your target audience.

What makes a good online community management tool?

The right platform doesn’t just give you a space to host people — it gives you structure, flexibility, and the tools to grow real engagement. Here are the key community features to look for:

Member segmentation and roles

Not all community members should have the same access or responsibilities. A good tool lets you segment users into groups — like paying members, newcomers, power users, or internal community leaders — and assign roles or permissions accordingly.

Let's say you are running a creator community and selling online courses within it. To create a successful online community, you'll include both free followers and paid subscribers. With proper segmentation, you can give premium members access to exclusive threads or early product drops, without creating a separate platform for them.

Engagement features

Community engagement is a term that is used frequently, but somehow we can't emphasize its power enough. A healthy community needs interaction.

Look for tools that support posts, threaded discussions, event calendars, direct messaging, reactions, polls, gamification, and badges. These community features make the space feel alive and rewarding.

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A B2B SaaS company might host online events such as monthly AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions with its product team. Gamified badges and event RSVPs not only boost attendance but encourage ongoing participation after the event ends, creating engaged community members who are excited to talk further.

Content and knowledge sharing

Communities also serve as hubs for information. Your platform should support structured content, like resource libraries, pinned posts, long-form content, and searchable archives.

So, an edtech brand can create a knowledge base where students revisit webinar recordings, download cheat sheets, or review FAQs — instead of asking the same questions in a group chat over and over again.

Analytics and member insights

Without analytics, you’re flying blind. Top tools offer real-time insights into engagement patterns, growth metrics, content performance, and member behavior — so you can adapt and grow strategically.

If you notice that onboarding threads have low engagement, but live Q&As are popular, analytics help you shift your community plan to better match how your members prefer to engage. Most successful communities skyrocket once they learn which customer engagement metrics to track, how to interpret them, and what to do next.

Integrations and extensibility

Your community shouldn’t live in a silo. Look for platforms that integrate with your CRM, email marketing tools, payment processors, learning management systems, or even your core product.

A coaching platform might connect its community to Stripe (for paid tiers), ConvertKit (for onboarding emails), and Zoom (for virtual events) — all within the same dashboard.

Keeping everything on the same platform, as an all-in-one platform, is expensive. Instead of an all-in-one solution, seek out other tools that integrate easily with your community portal.

Branding and UX customization

Your community should feel like a natural extension of your brand, not like a third-party add-on. Custom domains, logos, color palettes, navigation options, and even tone of voice in system messages all matter.

A wellness brand that runs a mindful eating community can design a calm, minimalist interface that matches the look and feel of its main website, reinforcing brand identity and trust.

Great community platform thinks beyond a user-friendly interface. It reflects the values and essence of the story you are telling community members.

Common use cases for community platforms

Online community software is used across a wide range of industries — from SaaS to education to member organizations. Here’s how different teams are putting it to work:

1. SaaS companies building customer success hubs and beta feedback loops

SaaS teams use community engagement platforms to help customers onboard faster, troubleshoot issues through peer support, and give feedback on new features. It’s especially valuable for beta programs — users can test early versions, report bugs, and suggest improvements in a dedicated, trackable space.

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Furthermore, they can incorporate a knowledge base within the community platform, create online courses to help new users, and use community gamification strategies to help them connect and engage.

By involving the self-service knowledge base, they cut down on customer support costs, while group discussions foster a sense of community and turn an online community platform into a developer portal spontaneously.

2. Course creators and educators offering student spaces, peer support, and content

Online educators create structured learning environments where students can connect with peers, ask questions, and revisit materials. A centralized space for discussion and knowledge sharing makes the course more interactive and boosts learner satisfaction.

Private online community platforms are much more powerful than private groups on many community platforms, such as Facebook, for example. By leveraging a tech stack like Bettermode or Mighty Networks, your online courses are hosted within the same space as your community members.

This allows for a complete user experience and empowering ambiance, while enabling you to directly interact and gain insights into community behavior. And just like that, you have everything you need to create thriving communities.

3. Membership-based businesses managing exclusive or tiered groups

Creators and businesses running memberships need a way to organize access. Community platforms let you create tiered groups, offer premium content, and maintain clear boundaries between free and paid spaces — all while keeping everyone in the same ecosystem.

Moreover, it allows for rewarding members who are most active and hold the potential to become your advocates.

4. Associations or networks hosting professional groups, forums, and events

From local chapters to global initiatives, associations rely on community platforms to organize members, host virtual events, and facilitate knowledge sharing. It’s a scalable way to maintain engagement and relevance throughout the year, not just during annual meetups.

Whether you need a simple forum software or an event management platform, community spaces are the very soul that keeps the conversation going.

5. Brands running ambassador programs or loyalty communities

Consumer brands build loyalty by connecting directly with their biggest fans. With community tools, they can run ambassador programs, spotlight user-generated content, offer sneak peeks, and reward active members — all while turning customers into advocates.

Online community management software: Key platforms to know

There’s no shortage of community tools on the market, but the best ones balance flexibility, user experience, and long-term scalability. Below are some standout platforms, starting with Bettermode — a leading choice for both B2B and B2C teams.

Bettermode

Bettermode is an all-in-one, modular customer engagement management software built for brands that want full control over their community experience, without sacrificing ease of use.

Unlike tools that limit you to rigid templates or third-party design systems, Bettermode gives you a drag-and-drop builder, block-based layouts, and complete visual customization. You can start from a blank page or use flexible templates for things like knowledge bases, discussion feeds, product updates, resource libraries, or job boards.

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It’s especially powerful for businesses that want to move fast without compromising on design or structure. Whether you're:

• Building a customer success portal with product documentation and peer support
• Launching a partner or client portal to centralize resources and streamline onboarding
• Creating a community hub for discussions, updates, and events
• Managing a team wiki, student network, or freelance marketplace

Bettermode adapts to your needs.

Core features include:

• Granular permissions and member roles for public, private, or tiered access
• Built-in CMS (no Airtable or Sheets required) for clean, scalable content management
• Native engagement tools like posts, discussions, reactions, events, and badges
• Integrations with tools like Intercom, Slack, HubSpot, Zapier, and custom webhooks
• Free plan available, making it accessible for teams just starting out

The secret to engagement, retention, and scale?
Top brands already know it.

Book a Demo

Glue Up

Tailored for associations and event-driven organizations, Glue Up combines CRM, email campaigns, and community features in one platform. It’s particularly useful for teams managing memberships, recurring events, and networking opportunities.

It offers a user-friendly interface, comprehensive analytics, and the ability to manage access for a variety of community members.

Khoros

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An enterprise-grade platform that supports large-scale communities with features for customer support, product ideation, and peer-to-peer help. It’s used by major brands for knowledge sharing and ticket deflection in support-heavy environments.

Key features of Khoros include customizable branding, content moderation, gamification, and content syndication. The platform also provides integrations with major social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, WhatsApp, and WeChat, facilitating cross-channel engagement.

Mighty Networks

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Mighty Networks is a community builder designed for creators, educators, and entrepreneurs who want to build branded online communities, run courses, and host events — all in one place. It offers its own mobile apps experience, native live streaming, and tiered membership options, making it a solid solution for audience-driven businesses.

Use cases range from cohort-based learning spaces to wellness communities and niche professional networks. Its intuitive setup and monetization tools are especially appealing to those launching paid communities without needing a separate tech stack.

Tradewing

Tradewing is built for professional and trade associations that want to foster ongoing member engagement. Its community platform supports always-on discussion spaces, interest-based groups, and content sharing in a secure, branded environment.

It is good for associations that want to move beyond newsletters and annual events. Tradewing helps create a continuous space for connection, collaboration, and professional growth.

StoryPrompt

While not a traditional community management platform, StoryPrompt plays a valuable supporting role in community-driven strategies. It helps brands collect and showcase authentic video testimonials, stories, and feedback from members, which can be used to strengthen trust, highlight user experiences, and inspire peer participation within an existing community space. For teams focused on amplifying member voices and social proof, it’s a powerful companion tool.

How to choose the right community platform for your needs

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to community platforms. The right choice depends on your specific goals, resources, and how you want your members to engage. In general, no-code tools are a safe bet for beginners since they save a lot of time and money you'd spend on testing and validating your idea.

And here’s what to consider before committing:

1. Size and structure of your community

Are you just getting started with a few dozen members, or managing thousands across multiple tiers and regions? Smaller communities can thrive on lightweight tools, while larger ecosystems often need role-based access, segmentation, and scalable infrastructure.

If you're planning to grow fast, choose a platform that won’t require a migration in six months.

2. The type of engagement you want to foster

Is your focus on threaded discussions, resource sharing, or live events? Do you want asynchronous content like posts and updates, or real-time chat and video interactions?

For instance, a coaching program might prioritize Zoom integration and 1:1 messaging, while a SaaS support community needs searchable answers and structured forums.

3. Your internal resources for moderation or content creation

Who’s going to manage the space? If you have a dedicated community manager, you may want more advanced tools. If you’re a solo founder or small team, look for platforms that are intuitive, low-maintenance, and offer built-in automation or templating.

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Reality check: A complex setup with no one to run it is worse than a simple space that’s well cared for.

4. Whether you want a highly branded, owned space

If the community is a core part of your brand experience, choose a platform that allows full customization — colors, domains, layout, tone. White-labeling, custom blocks, and modular design are important here.

Brands investing in loyalty or ambassador programs will benefit most from this level of control.

5. Whether the tool should plug into your product or workflow stack

Community shouldn't be an island. If you're already using a CRM, email automation, or internal dashboards, check which platforms offer native integrations or webhooks. This is especially important if you want to personalize content, sync user data, or automate onboarding.

For example, a product-led SaaS might sync user data from HubSpot to personalize discussions based on plan type or activity level.

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One last tip: Before jumping into demos, map out what success looks like for your community — what kind of connection, support, or outcomes you want to create. Then match tools to those goals based on capability, scalability, and user experience. The more intentional your selection, the more effective (and sustainable) your community will be.

Final thoughts: Building better communities with the right software

The software you choose matters — but it’s only part of the equation. What truly makes a community thrive is the intention behind it, the structure you create, and the ongoing strategy that keeps people coming back.

Community platforms give you the tools to bring people together in a meaningful, focused way. They help you move away from noisy social feeds and fragmented conversations into a branded universe where your community members can connect, learn, contribute, and grow alongside your brand.

If you’re ready to build a space that’s fully yours, with the flexibility to support any use case and grow with your goals, get started with Bettermode today. It’s free.

FAQs

What is the best online community platform?

It depends on your needs. Bettermode is a top choice for fully branded, modular communities. Other options like Khoros, Glue Up, and Mighty Network are great for specific use cases like enterprise support or a creator-led online community.

What is community management software?

Community management software helps you build, organize, and engage a group of people around your brand in a structured, centralized online community platform, usually outside of traditional social platforms.

What is digital community management?

Digital community management is the process of nurturing an online audience through content, conversations, events, and support, often using a platform designed specifically for community engagement and connection.

How do I create an online community platform?

Start by defining your goals and audience. Then choose a platform that fits your needs. From there, you can customize the spaces, invite members, set up content or events, and begin building engagement from day one.

The secret to engagement, retention, and scale?
Top brands already know it.

Book a Demo