Introducing G2.ai, the future of software buying.Try now

Best Online Community Management Software

Alanna Iwuh
A
Researched and written by Alanna Iwuh

Online community management software creates a digital space to engage, host, and manage an online community. In an online community, members can discuss their thoughts and ideas around shared interests.

Businesses use online community management platforms to create a centralized digital space for productive discussions with their employees or customers and to gain feedback on ideas, products, or services. As a result, companies can address support issues, measure satisfaction, track activity, build stronger relationships with community members, and ultimately gain strategic insights to improve community engagement.

Online community management platforms are used across several industries and departments to support specific business goals for employees and customers. Whether it’s customer support, marketing, or product development, there are many cross-organization benefits from online communities. These tools often integrate with CMS tools to share, store, and manage digital content and help desk software to provide community members with FAQ, Q and A tools, and minor troubleshooting solutions.

Community management software is typically a website-compatible community platform that is easily hosted on a desktop but can also offer a branded mobile app version that is easier for mobile users to engage and stay connected.

To qualify for inclusion in the Online Community Management category, a product must:

Provide a digital platform or forum to host community discussion and peer-to-peer communication
Track community member activity with dashboards and analytics that measure engagement, satisfaction, or trending content and discussions
Provide a library of resources to share information and documentation internally and a content management center
Provide a member directory and CRM features to manage members in one place

Best Online Community Management Software At A Glance

Leader:
Highest Performer:
Easiest to Use:
Best Free Software:
Top Trending:
Show LessShow More
Easiest to Use:
Best Free Software:
Top Trending:

G2 takes pride in showing unbiased reviews on user satisfaction in our ratings and reports. We do not allow paid placements in any of our ratings, rankings, or reports. Learn about our scoring methodologies.

No filters applied
166 Listings in Online Community Management Available
(198)4.7 out of 5
Optimized for quick response
1st Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
Save to My Lists
Entry Level Price:$99.00
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Circle is the world’s leading all-in-one branded community platform. Circle enables you to bring together your community, events, and courses — all under your own brand. CIrcle customers range fro

    Users
    • CEO
    • Founder
    Industries
    • Health, Wellness and Fitness
    • Professional Training & Coaching
    Market Segment
    • 90% Small-Business
    • 9% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • Circle Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Ease of Use
    64
    Features
    57
    User Interaction
    40
    Customer Support
    39
    Intuitive Design
    33
    Cons
    Missing Features
    23
    Expensive
    19
    Limited Features
    15
    Limited Customization
    14
    Poor Customer Support
    12
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Circle features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.0
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    8.0
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    7.9
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    9.0
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Seller
    Circle.so
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2019
    HQ Location
    New York, US
    Twitter
    @circleapp
    14,192 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    266 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Circle is the world’s leading all-in-one branded community platform. Circle enables you to bring together your community, events, and courses — all under your own brand. CIrcle customers range fro

Users
  • CEO
  • Founder
Industries
  • Health, Wellness and Fitness
  • Professional Training & Coaching
Market Segment
  • 90% Small-Business
  • 9% Mid-Market
Circle Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Ease of Use
64
Features
57
User Interaction
40
Customer Support
39
Intuitive Design
33
Cons
Missing Features
23
Expensive
19
Limited Features
15
Limited Customization
14
Poor Customer Support
12
Circle features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.0
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
8.0
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
7.9
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
9.0
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Seller
Circle.so
Company Website
Year Founded
2019
HQ Location
New York, US
Twitter
@circleapp
14,192 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
266 employees on LinkedIn®
(509)4.6 out of 5
7th Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
Save to My Lists
Entry Level Price:Starting at $33.00
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    The most popular all-in-one community platform for creators and entrepreneurs. Nearly $500M in creator earnings on Mighty. With Mighty, you can bring your courses, memberships, and offers together

    Users
    • Founder
    • Owner
    Industries
    • Health, Wellness and Fitness
    • Professional Training & Coaching
    Market Segment
    • 94% Small-Business
    • 6% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • Mighty Networks Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Ease of Use
    77
    Customer Support
    65
    Features
    47
    User Interaction
    40
    Customization
    37
    Cons
    Missing Features
    34
    Expensive
    21
    Difficult Learning Process
    20
    Difficult Setup
    20
    Poor Interface Design
    20
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Mighty Networks features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.1
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    7.9
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    8.1
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    9.0
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2017
    HQ Location
    Palo Alto, California
    Twitter
    @MightyNetworks
    40,074 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    143 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

The most popular all-in-one community platform for creators and entrepreneurs. Nearly $500M in creator earnings on Mighty. With Mighty, you can bring your courses, memberships, and offers together

Users
  • Founder
  • Owner
Industries
  • Health, Wellness and Fitness
  • Professional Training & Coaching
Market Segment
  • 94% Small-Business
  • 6% Mid-Market
Mighty Networks Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Ease of Use
77
Customer Support
65
Features
47
User Interaction
40
Customization
37
Cons
Missing Features
34
Expensive
21
Difficult Learning Process
20
Difficult Setup
20
Poor Interface Design
20
Mighty Networks features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.1
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
7.9
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
8.1
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
9.0
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Company Website
Year Founded
2017
HQ Location
Palo Alto, California
Twitter
@MightyNetworks
40,074 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
143 employees on LinkedIn®

This is how G2 Deals can help you:

  • Easily shop for curated – and trusted – software
  • Own your own software buying journey
  • Discover exclusive deals on software
(249)4.4 out of 5
Optimized for quick response
9th Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Gainsight Customer Communities is a modern community destination that brings customers, teams, and resources together in one centralized, branded location, empowering self-service, scaling customer en

    Users
    • Community Manager
    Industries
    • Computer Software
    • Information Technology and Services
    Market Segment
    • 59% Mid-Market
    • 24% Enterprise
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • Gainsight Customer Communities Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Ease of Use
    30
    Customer Support
    23
    Features
    17
    Integrations
    14
    User Interaction
    14
    Cons
    Missing Features
    14
    Limited Customization
    9
    Poor Interface Design
    7
    Event Management
    5
    Inadequate Analytics
    4
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Gainsight Customer Communities features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.2
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    8.2
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    8.1
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    9.0
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2009
    HQ Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Twitter
    @GainsightHQ
    13,282 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    1,065 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Gainsight Customer Communities is a modern community destination that brings customers, teams, and resources together in one centralized, branded location, empowering self-service, scaling customer en

Users
  • Community Manager
Industries
  • Computer Software
  • Information Technology and Services
Market Segment
  • 59% Mid-Market
  • 24% Enterprise
Gainsight Customer Communities Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Ease of Use
30
Customer Support
23
Features
17
Integrations
14
User Interaction
14
Cons
Missing Features
14
Limited Customization
9
Poor Interface Design
7
Event Management
5
Inadequate Analytics
4
Gainsight Customer Communities features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.2
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
8.2
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
8.1
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
9.0
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Company Website
Year Founded
2009
HQ Location
San Francisco, CA
Twitter
@GainsightHQ
13,282 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
1,065 employees on LinkedIn®
(1,049)4.6 out of 5
14th Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Webex Events and Webinars are two powerful workflows in the Webex Suite, designed to help customers host in-person, virtual, and hybrid interactive experiences. Webex Events (formerly Socio) is a

    Users
    • Executive Director
    • Graphics Designer
    Industries
    • Non-Profit Organization Management
    • Information Technology and Services
    Market Segment
    • 45% Small-Business
    • 31% Mid-Market
    User Sentiment
    How are these determined?Information
    These insights, currently in beta, are compiled from user reviews and grouped to display a high-level overview of the software.
    • Webex Events is a platform that facilitates hosting of webinars and events, offering features such as attendee registration, real-time interaction through Q&A and polls, high-quality audio/video streaming, recording and analytics, and customizable branding options.
    • Reviewers frequently mention the platform's user-friendly interface, high-quality audio and video, seamless integration into regular event schedules, and outstanding customer support that typically responds within 30 minutes.
    • Reviewers mentioned issues such as the platform not being fully optimized for mobile use, difficulties in scheduling meetings, lack of a holistic view of an event agenda during creation, and occasional glitches disrupting the flow of webinars.
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • Webex Events & Webinars Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Ease of Use
    99
    Webinars
    61
    Event Management
    52
    Customer Support
    49
    Features
    46
    Cons
    Missing Features
    24
    Limited Customization
    22
    Limited Features
    18
    Event Management
    15
    Audio Issues
    11
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Webex Events & Webinars features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.5
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    9.0
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    9.0
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    9.4
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Seller
    Cisco
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    1984
    HQ Location
    San Jose, CA
    Twitter
    @Cisco
    728,702 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    95,057 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Webex Events and Webinars are two powerful workflows in the Webex Suite, designed to help customers host in-person, virtual, and hybrid interactive experiences. Webex Events (formerly Socio) is a

Users
  • Executive Director
  • Graphics Designer
Industries
  • Non-Profit Organization Management
  • Information Technology and Services
Market Segment
  • 45% Small-Business
  • 31% Mid-Market
User Sentiment
How are these determined?Information
These insights, currently in beta, are compiled from user reviews and grouped to display a high-level overview of the software.
  • Webex Events is a platform that facilitates hosting of webinars and events, offering features such as attendee registration, real-time interaction through Q&A and polls, high-quality audio/video streaming, recording and analytics, and customizable branding options.
  • Reviewers frequently mention the platform's user-friendly interface, high-quality audio and video, seamless integration into regular event schedules, and outstanding customer support that typically responds within 30 minutes.
  • Reviewers mentioned issues such as the platform not being fully optimized for mobile use, difficulties in scheduling meetings, lack of a holistic view of an event agenda during creation, and occasional glitches disrupting the flow of webinars.
Webex Events & Webinars Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Ease of Use
99
Webinars
61
Event Management
52
Customer Support
49
Features
46
Cons
Missing Features
24
Limited Customization
22
Limited Features
18
Event Management
15
Audio Issues
11
Webex Events & Webinars features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.5
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
9.0
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
9.0
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
9.4
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Seller
Cisco
Company Website
Year Founded
1984
HQ Location
San Jose, CA
Twitter
@Cisco
728,702 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
95,057 employees on LinkedIn®
(108)4.8 out of 5
3rd Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Bevy.com is a complete AI-driven community platform unifying events, discussions and data. Bevy incorporates a variety of tools to plan, promote, and execute virtual and in-person events and is a flex

    Users
    • Founder
    • Chapter Director
    Industries
    • Events Services
    • Computer Software
    Market Segment
    • 67% Small-Business
    • 19% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • Bevy Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Ease of Use
    27
    Event Management
    20
    Community Engagement
    14
    Features
    10
    Helpful
    9
    Cons
    Missing Features
    6
    Limited Features
    4
    Email Limitations
    3
    Limited Customization
    3
    Participant Management
    2
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Bevy features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.3
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    5.8
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    7.8
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    9.4
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Year Founded
    2017
    HQ Location
    Palo Alto, California
    Twitter
    @bevyhq
    3,686 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    67 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Bevy.com is a complete AI-driven community platform unifying events, discussions and data. Bevy incorporates a variety of tools to plan, promote, and execute virtual and in-person events and is a flex

Users
  • Founder
  • Chapter Director
Industries
  • Events Services
  • Computer Software
Market Segment
  • 67% Small-Business
  • 19% Mid-Market
Bevy Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Ease of Use
27
Event Management
20
Community Engagement
14
Features
10
Helpful
9
Cons
Missing Features
6
Limited Features
4
Email Limitations
3
Limited Customization
3
Participant Management
2
Bevy features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.3
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
5.8
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
7.8
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
9.4
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Year Founded
2017
HQ Location
Palo Alto, California
Twitter
@bevyhq
3,686 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
67 employees on LinkedIn®
(39)5.0 out of 5
6th Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
Save to My Lists
Entry Level Price:Free
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Café is your Workplace Engagement Hub that boosts belonging across teams by encouraging in-person meetings. With Café, you give employees better visibility over “Who’s where” and “Who’s who” and empow

    Users
    No information available
    Industries
    • Computer Software
    • Information Technology and Services
    Market Segment
    • 54% Small-Business
    • 46% Mid-Market
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Café features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    9.8
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    9.9
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    9.4
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    9.9
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Seller
    Café
    Year Founded
    2020
    HQ Location
    New York, NY
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    10,148 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Café is your Workplace Engagement Hub that boosts belonging across teams by encouraging in-person meetings. With Café, you give employees better visibility over “Who’s where” and “Who’s who” and empow

Users
No information available
Industries
  • Computer Software
  • Information Technology and Services
Market Segment
  • 54% Small-Business
  • 46% Mid-Market
Café features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.8
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
9.9
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
9.4
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
9.9
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Seller
Café
Year Founded
2020
HQ Location
New York, NY
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
10,148 employees on LinkedIn®
(116)4.6 out of 5
8th Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Glue Up is an all-in-one CRM platform designed to help associations, Chambers of Commerce and other member-based organizations build and grow their communities through events, memberships, and various

    Users
    • Executive Director
    Industries
    • Non-Profit Organization Management
    • Events Services
    Market Segment
    • 86% Small-Business
    • 12% Mid-Market
    User Sentiment
    How are these determined?Information
    These insights, currently in beta, are compiled from user reviews and grouped to display a high-level overview of the software.
    • Glue Up is a platform that manages memberships and events, tracks bookings, and facilitates communication with attendees.
    • Reviewers frequently mention the user-friendly system, the solution to almost all requirements, continuous improvements, development of new features, and excellent customer support.
    • Reviewers noted that the initial setup process can be time-consuming, there are limitations on formats, and there is no direct support in Australia.
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • Glue Up Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Ease of Use
    16
    Customer Support
    13
    Event Management
    12
    Helpful
    11
    Features
    10
    Cons
    Event Management
    4
    Limited Customization
    4
    Missing Features
    4
    Data Duplication
    3
    Billing Issues
    2
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Glue Up features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.3
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    8.7
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    8.1
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    9.2
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Seller
    Glue Up
    Year Founded
    2013
    HQ Location
    Tysons, VA
    Twitter
    @Glue_Up
    867 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    52 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Glue Up is an all-in-one CRM platform designed to help associations, Chambers of Commerce and other member-based organizations build and grow their communities through events, memberships, and various

Users
  • Executive Director
Industries
  • Non-Profit Organization Management
  • Events Services
Market Segment
  • 86% Small-Business
  • 12% Mid-Market
User Sentiment
How are these determined?Information
These insights, currently in beta, are compiled from user reviews and grouped to display a high-level overview of the software.
  • Glue Up is a platform that manages memberships and events, tracks bookings, and facilitates communication with attendees.
  • Reviewers frequently mention the user-friendly system, the solution to almost all requirements, continuous improvements, development of new features, and excellent customer support.
  • Reviewers noted that the initial setup process can be time-consuming, there are limitations on formats, and there is no direct support in Australia.
Glue Up Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Ease of Use
16
Customer Support
13
Event Management
12
Helpful
11
Features
10
Cons
Event Management
4
Limited Customization
4
Missing Features
4
Data Duplication
3
Billing Issues
2
Glue Up features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.3
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
8.7
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
8.1
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
9.2
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Seller
Glue Up
Year Founded
2013
HQ Location
Tysons, VA
Twitter
@Glue_Up
867 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
52 employees on LinkedIn®
(111)4.6 out of 5
Optimized for quick response
15th Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
Save to My Lists
Entry Level Price:Free
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Bettermode is an all-in-one customer community platform designed to help businesses enhance customer experience, foster engagement, and cultivate meaningful relationships with their audience. This pla

    Users
    • CEO
    • Founder
    Industries
    • Computer Software
    • Information Technology and Services
    Market Segment
    • 64% Small-Business
    • 25% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • Bettermode Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Ease of Use
    19
    Customer Support
    15
    Easy Setup
    15
    Features
    15
    Customization
    11
    Cons
    Missing Features
    9
    Limited Features
    6
    Access Limitations
    4
    Expensive
    4
    Lack of Mobile Accessibility
    3
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Bettermode features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.5
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    8.6
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    9.0
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    9.4
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2018
    HQ Location
    Toronto, Ontario
    Twitter
    @BettermodeHQ
    6,222 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    31 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Bettermode is an all-in-one customer community platform designed to help businesses enhance customer experience, foster engagement, and cultivate meaningful relationships with their audience. This pla

Users
  • CEO
  • Founder
Industries
  • Computer Software
  • Information Technology and Services
Market Segment
  • 64% Small-Business
  • 25% Mid-Market
Bettermode Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Ease of Use
19
Customer Support
15
Easy Setup
15
Features
15
Customization
11
Cons
Missing Features
9
Limited Features
6
Access Limitations
4
Expensive
4
Lack of Mobile Accessibility
3
Bettermode features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.5
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
8.6
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
9.0
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
9.4
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Company Website
Year Founded
2018
HQ Location
Toronto, Ontario
Twitter
@BettermodeHQ
6,222 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
31 employees on LinkedIn®
(35)4.6 out of 5
11th Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
Save to My Lists
Entry Level Price:Contact Us
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Commune is the advocacy community platform that helps B2C companies grow revenue by increasing UGC on social media and improving LTV through building a successful community of brand advocates. First

    Users
    No information available
    Industries
    • Information Technology and Services
    Market Segment
    • 54% Mid-Market
    • 23% Small-Business
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • Commune Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Ease of Use
    8
    Customer Support
    4
    Communication
    3
    Experience
    2
    Features
    2
    Cons
    Bugs
    2
    Poor Admin Interface
    2
    Booking Issues
    1
    Expensive
    1
    Formatting Limitations
    1
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Commune features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    9.2
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    9.1
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    9.4
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    9.8
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Seller
    Commune
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2018
    HQ Location
    San Mateo, California
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    168 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Commune is the advocacy community platform that helps B2C companies grow revenue by increasing UGC on social media and improving LTV through building a successful community of brand advocates. First

Users
No information available
Industries
  • Information Technology and Services
Market Segment
  • 54% Mid-Market
  • 23% Small-Business
Commune Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Ease of Use
8
Customer Support
4
Communication
3
Experience
2
Features
2
Cons
Bugs
2
Poor Admin Interface
2
Booking Issues
1
Expensive
1
Formatting Limitations
1
Commune features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.2
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
9.1
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
9.4
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
9.8
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Seller
Commune
Company Website
Year Founded
2018
HQ Location
San Mateo, California
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
168 employees on LinkedIn®
(148)4.4 out of 5
Optimized for quick response
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Hivebrite’s industry-leading platform empowers organizations of all sizes and sectors to launch, manage, and grow fully branded private communities to support their goals. The intuitive platform is

    Users
    No information available
    Industries
    • Non-Profit Organization Management
    • Higher Education
    Market Segment
    • 61% Small-Business
    • 25% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • Hivebrite Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Customer Support
    24
    Customizability
    13
    Ease of Use
    13
    Experience
    12
    Features
    12
    Cons
    Limited Customization
    8
    Bugs
    6
    Missing Features
    5
    Integration Issues
    4
    Access Issues
    3
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Hivebrite features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    7.7
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    8.0
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    7.6
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    9.0
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Seller
    Hivebrite
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2015
    HQ Location
    Paris, France
    Twitter
    @hivebrite
    1,107 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    165 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Hivebrite’s industry-leading platform empowers organizations of all sizes and sectors to launch, manage, and grow fully branded private communities to support their goals. The intuitive platform is

Users
No information available
Industries
  • Non-Profit Organization Management
  • Higher Education
Market Segment
  • 61% Small-Business
  • 25% Mid-Market
Hivebrite Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Customer Support
24
Customizability
13
Ease of Use
13
Experience
12
Features
12
Cons
Limited Customization
8
Bugs
6
Missing Features
5
Integration Issues
4
Access Issues
3
Hivebrite features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
7.7
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
8.0
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
7.6
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
9.0
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Seller
Hivebrite
Company Website
Year Founded
2015
HQ Location
Paris, France
Twitter
@hivebrite
1,107 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
165 employees on LinkedIn®
(108)4.6 out of 5
Optimized for quick response
12th Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Viafoura is a digital experience company that helps brands activate their audiences through a suite of engagement and personalization solutions, maximizing conversions of unknown to known users. We

    Users
    • Community Moderator
    • Product Manager
    Industries
    • Online Media
    • Newspapers
    Market Segment
    • 62% Mid-Market
    • 24% Enterprise
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • Viafoura Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Customer Support
    18
    Ease of Use
    14
    Features
    14
    User Interaction
    9
    Feedback Management
    8
    Cons
    Technical Glitches
    4
    Content Management
    3
    Poor Interface Design
    3
    Poor Navigation
    3
    Inadequate Analytics
    2
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Viafoura features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.7
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    8.2
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    8.8
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    9.4
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Seller
    Viafoura
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2012
    HQ Location
    Toronto, Ontario
    Twitter
    @viafoura
    1,822 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    57 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Viafoura is a digital experience company that helps brands activate their audiences through a suite of engagement and personalization solutions, maximizing conversions of unknown to known users. We

Users
  • Community Moderator
  • Product Manager
Industries
  • Online Media
  • Newspapers
Market Segment
  • 62% Mid-Market
  • 24% Enterprise
Viafoura Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Customer Support
18
Ease of Use
14
Features
14
User Interaction
9
Feedback Management
8
Cons
Technical Glitches
4
Content Management
3
Poor Interface Design
3
Poor Navigation
3
Inadequate Analytics
2
Viafoura features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.7
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
8.2
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
8.8
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
9.4
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Seller
Viafoura
Company Website
Year Founded
2012
HQ Location
Toronto, Ontario
Twitter
@viafoura
1,822 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
57 employees on LinkedIn®
(420)4.4 out of 5
Optimized for quick response
Save to My Lists
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Higher Logic Thrive is a comprehensive online community and marketing software solution suite designed to drive engagement. With nearly 20 years of experience, Higher Logic has established itself as

    Users
    • Marketing Manager
    • Marketing Coordinator
    Industries
    • Non-Profit Organization Management
    • Hospital & Health Care
    Market Segment
    • 55% Small-Business
    • 39% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • Higher Logic Thrive Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Features
    4
    Customer Engagement
    3
    Customer Support
    3
    Ease of Use
    2
    Engagement Efficiency
    2
    Cons
    Integration Issues
    3
    Learning Curve
    3
    API Issues
    1
    Difficult Learning Process
    1
    Inefficient
    1
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Higher Logic Thrive features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    7.6
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    7.2
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    8.1
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    9.0
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2007
    HQ Location
    Arlington, VA
    Twitter
    @HigherLogic
    3,612 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    322 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Higher Logic Thrive is a comprehensive online community and marketing software solution suite designed to drive engagement. With nearly 20 years of experience, Higher Logic has established itself as

Users
  • Marketing Manager
  • Marketing Coordinator
Industries
  • Non-Profit Organization Management
  • Hospital & Health Care
Market Segment
  • 55% Small-Business
  • 39% Mid-Market
Higher Logic Thrive Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Features
4
Customer Engagement
3
Customer Support
3
Ease of Use
2
Engagement Efficiency
2
Cons
Integration Issues
3
Learning Curve
3
API Issues
1
Difficult Learning Process
1
Inefficient
1
Higher Logic Thrive features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
7.6
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
7.2
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
8.1
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
9.0
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Company Website
Year Founded
2007
HQ Location
Arlington, VA
Twitter
@HigherLogic
3,612 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
322 employees on LinkedIn®
(427)4.7 out of 5
2nd Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
Save to My Lists
Entry Level Price:Contact Us
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    BigMarker is the world's most customizable platform for webinars, virtual, and in-person events. We combine cutting-edge video technology with advanced marketing and interactive tools to deliver one-o

    Users
    • CEO
    • Founder
    Industries
    • Marketing and Advertising
    • E-Learning
    Market Segment
    • 85% Small-Business
    • 11% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • BigMarker Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Ease of Use
    10
    Features
    10
    Customer Support
    8
    Engagement
    7
    Helpful
    7
    Cons
    Missing Features
    3
    Poor Navigation
    3
    Integration Issues
    2
    Limited Features
    2
    Navigation Issues
    2
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • BigMarker features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    9.8
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    10.0
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    9.8
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    9.6
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Seller
    BigMarker
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2011
    HQ Location
    Chicago, IL
    Twitter
    @bigmarker
    15,907 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    83 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

BigMarker is the world's most customizable platform for webinars, virtual, and in-person events. We combine cutting-edge video technology with advanced marketing and interactive tools to deliver one-o

Users
  • CEO
  • Founder
Industries
  • Marketing and Advertising
  • E-Learning
Market Segment
  • 85% Small-Business
  • 11% Mid-Market
BigMarker Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Ease of Use
10
Features
10
Customer Support
8
Engagement
7
Helpful
7
Cons
Missing Features
3
Poor Navigation
3
Integration Issues
2
Limited Features
2
Navigation Issues
2
BigMarker features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.8
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
10.0
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
9.8
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
9.6
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Seller
BigMarker
Company Website
Year Founded
2011
HQ Location
Chicago, IL
Twitter
@bigmarker
15,907 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
83 employees on LinkedIn®
(23)4.9 out of 5
5th Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
Save to My Lists
Entry Level Price:Starting at $40.00
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Heartbeat is the all-in-one platform for community businesses. We bring together all the tools needed to run a profitable, scalable, community business — discussions, chats, courses, documents, even

    Users
    No information available
    Industries
    • Professional Training & Coaching
    Market Segment
    • 87% Small-Business
    • 9% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • Heartbeat Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Features
    4
    Customer Support
    3
    Ease of Use
    2
    Software Updates
    2
    Communication
    1
    Cons
    Difficult Setup
    1
    Payment Issues
    1
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Heartbeat features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    9.4
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    9.2
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    9.9
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    9.8
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Year Founded
    2020
    HQ Location
    Sandy Springs, Georgia
    Twitter
    @HeartbeatChat
    415 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    9 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Heartbeat is the all-in-one platform for community businesses. We bring together all the tools needed to run a profitable, scalable, community business — discussions, chats, courses, documents, even

Users
No information available
Industries
  • Professional Training & Coaching
Market Segment
  • 87% Small-Business
  • 9% Mid-Market
Heartbeat Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Features
4
Customer Support
3
Ease of Use
2
Software Updates
2
Communication
1
Cons
Difficult Setup
1
Payment Issues
1
Heartbeat features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.4
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
9.2
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
9.9
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
9.8
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Year Founded
2020
HQ Location
Sandy Springs, Georgia
Twitter
@HeartbeatChat
415 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
9 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Verint® Community™, formerly known as Telligent, is an innovative online community and self-service solution available in the cloud or on-premises designed to help elevate customer, partner, and emplo

    Users
    No information available
    Industries
    No information available
    Market Segment
    • 38% Enterprise
    • 31% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • Verint Community (formerly Telligent) Pros and Cons
    How are these determined?Information
    Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
    Pros
    Customization
    4
    Features
    4
    Customizability
    3
    Knowledge Base
    2
    Analytics
    1
    Cons
    Learning Curve
    3
    Editing Difficulties
    2
    Bugs
    1
    Complexity
    1
    Difficult Learning Process
    1
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Verint Community (formerly Telligent) features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    7.8
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    8.3
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    8.2
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.6
    8.9
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Seller
    Verint
    Year Founded
    1994
    HQ Location
    Melville, New York
    Twitter
    @Verint
    7,756 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    4,278 employees on LinkedIn®
    Ownership
    NASDAQ: VRNT
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Verint® Community™, formerly known as Telligent, is an innovative online community and self-service solution available in the cloud or on-premises designed to help elevate customer, partner, and emplo

Users
No information available
Industries
No information available
Market Segment
  • 38% Enterprise
  • 31% Mid-Market
Verint Community (formerly Telligent) Pros and Cons
How are these determined?Information
Pros and Cons are compiled from review feedback and grouped into themes to provide an easy-to-understand summary of user reviews.
Pros
Customization
4
Features
4
Customizability
3
Knowledge Base
2
Analytics
1
Cons
Learning Curve
3
Editing Difficulties
2
Bugs
1
Complexity
1
Difficult Learning Process
1
Verint Community (formerly Telligent) features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
7.8
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
8.3
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
8.2
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.6
8.9
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Seller
Verint
Year Founded
1994
HQ Location
Melville, New York
Twitter
@Verint
7,756 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
4,278 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership
NASDAQ: VRNT

Learn More About Online Community Management Software

What is Online Community Management Software?

The omnipresence of social media has forever changed the way we interact—with each other and with the world. For better and for worse, online communities are overflowing with activity from people of all ages. Brands are following the lead of major social networks, creating and moderating community platforms for their customers, in addition to the interactions on social profiles. These communities allow members to find, provide, and discuss information related to the products and services at hand, with access from mobile devices or personal computers.

Brands can communicate directly with their most important customers using this technology. This can mean assigning employees as community managers, offering exclusive content to members, and linking directly to support channels on discussion forums. Users can also connect with like-minded people and form genuine bonds from within these digital communities. A custom community platform can elevate your existing website or be deployed separately, and in some cases can integrate directly with your company’s social media pages or users’ social accounts. Whether serving as resources for complex product knowledge or friendly communities where customers can meet and chat on related topics, the tools in this category can add value for users and improve your brand’s reputation and bottom line.

Community engagement is a virtue among the world’s most successful companies. Thanks to modern social tools, you can foster an online meeting place that matches your aesthetic, voice, and values and turn it into a successful community in its own right. Everyone from your core members to brand-new customers can unite with help from these software platforms, allowing for around-the-clock engagement and access to information. Your in-house team can assume roles as online community managers and moderators, with the marketing or social media team contributing content and interacting where needed. Additionally, your customers themselves can become unofficial brand ambassadors by answering product questions and sharing personal experiences within your hosted communities. Over time, users can collectively contribute to a vibrant, self-sustaining social hub, with simultaneous discussion threads and a strong sense of community.

Picking up where social media platforms leave off, your company can create a beloved customer community that serves as an interactive extension of your brand. By registering as community members, users can solve problems, share solutions, and become friends, regardless of where they are in the world. In the short term, online community engagement can improve the customer experience with your products and reduce the demand for in-house support staff. Over the long term, these communities can become indispensable features of your brand, with users feeling more connected with your product and each other than ever before.

Key Benefits of Online Community Management Software

  • Designing and hosting a community platform where customers and others in your network can interact and contribute
  • Improving product awareness and mastery through active discussion and privileged content
  • Forming a direct line of communication between company administrators and loyal users of your product or service
  • Collecting valuable data by observing community platform interactions, fostering conversations on specific topics, or sending polls and other questionnaires to community members

Who Uses Online Community Management Software?

A thriving community platform can benefit your business from all angles, from the sales pipeline to product development. With that said, below are a few specific departments most likely to use this technology firsthand and be involved with your community management strategy.

Community managers — This may seem self-explanatory. The role of community manager is becoming more common and vital to business strategy in tandem with online customer communities. These roles may involve a degree of social media management, but they can extend to other avenues such as in-person group facilitation and direct oversight of exclusive online communities. Community managers are hired for their communication and moderation skills, as well as their ability to keep a company’s best interests in mind while providing a platform to users.

Once your brand’s unique social hub is up and running, designated community managers can ensure they remain on topic and provide the most useful information while welcoming a steady stream of new users. Depending on the product and the community strategy, community managers may be responsible for the initial creation of communities, or they will work alongside members of the product and development team to get things up and running.

Customer support — Your customer support team is the first point of contact for resolving most customer issues. If you open up an online space for your users, it is likely to become a hotbed for product feedback and conflict resolution. Your support team should be administrators of these communities at the very least, able to intervene with comments or direct messages to members when complaints or negative experiences arise. Community managers and moderators can filter discussions and send notifications to the support staff when they observe relevant discussions. In other situations, customer support members may prefer to be active and engaged members of the community, chiming in as an official voice of the company within certain threads or groups. Online communities can not only help resolve issues in a timely manner, but they can generate in-house awareness of customer issues and general feedback that otherwise may have flown under the radar.

Marketing — Social media specialists are a modern breed of marketers that came about in the last decade or so. If you have a designated social media team, their expertise surrounding social channels can make them natural contributors or moderators of your unique social community. Even without a designated social team, your marketing department could benefit from getting involved with your community platform. Active online communities are an ideal location to measure a brand’s reputation among users and transmit brand messaging to the most valued customers. Your marketing team can choose to leverage these platforms for a number of reasons, from testing out different ad strategies to shaping campaigns based on specific conversations or feedback. By closely following these discussions (and in some cases, directing the conversation), marketing experts can keep their fingers on the pulse of an organization and understand the target audience inside and out.

What are the Common Features of Online Community Management Software?

The products in this category offer diverse sets of tools for creating and moderating online forums and other social communities. Below are some of the common features you will encounter in these solutions and descriptions of their functionality.

Discussion forums — Another way to think of online communities is to picture them as large rooms where your customers can discuss your brand. Organized online forums are the centerpiece of online community management. With forum software, you can create a structured system for online conversation. If your customers are interested in joining the community, they can register new accounts to receive access to forums and post queries or comments. Conversations on these forums can be organized by subject matter, and members can sort themselves into different groups that focus on specific topics.

A moderated forum can quickly become a wealth of information with a personalized touch. As customers help one another with troubleshooting or discuss different use cases and personal experiences, conversation threads can become walkthroughs and guides of their own. This content can not only be useful for members but can provide invaluable data to community managers and companies as a whole. A hosted forum can provide businesses with an exclusive form of market research as they observe their real customers talk about the product, the industry, and their own relationships with the company.

Access to content — When discussing your product or service in the discussion forums, your customers may potentially resolve issues or improve their experience based on the input of others. With a number of products in this category, you can go the extra mile with members-only content repositories. You can offer exclusive guides, tutorials, blogs, podcasts, and videos to community members, sending them alerts when new content is available. This community can also be the ideal audience for the initial run of company news and product updates. Because of the lengths that users go through to register and contribute to an online community, they may be the most enthusiastic audience for new content or other updates.

Collecting feedback — You can leverage your brand’s community to solicit feedback on marketing campaigns, new features, or the product in general. Community managers or forum administrators can ask questions to specific forum groups or the community as a whole and quickly receive trustworthy input from your base. Depending on the product, you may be able to collect reviews and ratings of products that can be made visible on product pages or e-commerce sites.

Products in this category may also offer features of or integrate with audience response software or survey software and allow you to distribute polls or other questionnaires to select groups or the community as a whole. In this way, your online community can be a reliable market research panel and offer a diverse set of opinions that can benefit your organization. Any data that is collected through these platforms can be immediately communicated to the most relevant people in your organization or uploaded into an analytics software platform or other storage platform.

User-generated content — One of the many byproducts of social media is the resharing of customer posts as marketing materials. This process, known as user-generated content (UGC), is a way for brands to showcase their products during organic use cases, with the added value of relatability thanks to the personal touches of users. Online community management applications may offer features of or integrate with user-generated content software. These features may allow admins to group member media uploads or social mentions by keywords, hashtags, location, or other details and request permission from the respective members to reshare as UGC. Depending on your product or audience, your online communities may be swarming with quality content thanks to the unique contributions of your members.

Gamification — It never hurts to reward your users. Gamification features of certain tools in this category allow you to enhance forums with badges, points, or other bonuses for active discussion and popular responses. As users receive more accolades, you can choose to offer them increased permissions or privileges within the forums. Certain products may allow you to create contests and integrate them into your online discussion forums. These features can be an effective way to engage your audience and build excitement for your brand while inspiring a slew of new content on your forums.