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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

Best for Small Businesses:
Best for Mid-Market:
Best for Enterprise:
Highest User Satisfaction:
Best Free Software:
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Best for Enterprise:
Highest User Satisfaction:
Best Free Software:

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.

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162 Listings in Online Community Management Available
(386)4.6 out of 5
8th 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. $370M in creator earnings in 2023 ✨ With Mighty, you can bring your courses, memberships, and offers together in a pow

    Users
    • Founder
    • Owner
    Industries
    • Professional Training & Coaching
    • Health, Wellness and Fitness
    Market Segment
    • 92% Small-Business
    • 7% 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
    50
    Customer Support
    27
    Features
    25
    Customization
    22
    Easy Setup
    18
    Cons
    Missing Features
    20
    Expensive
    12
    Integration Issues
    9
    Lack of Customization
    7
    Limited Customization
    7
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Mighty Networks features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    7.8
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    7.9
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    8.1
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.7
    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
    32,548 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    132 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. $370M in creator earnings in 2023 ✨ With Mighty, you can bring your courses, memberships, and offers together in a pow

Users
  • Founder
  • Owner
Industries
  • Professional Training & Coaching
  • Health, Wellness and Fitness
Market Segment
  • 92% Small-Business
  • 7% 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
50
Customer Support
27
Features
25
Customization
22
Easy Setup
18
Cons
Missing Features
20
Expensive
12
Integration Issues
9
Lack of Customization
7
Limited Customization
7
Mighty Networks features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
7.8
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
7.9
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
8.1
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.7
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
32,548 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
132 employees on LinkedIn®
(81)4.8 out of 5
Optimized for quick response
1st Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
Save to My Lists
Entry Level Price:$39.00
  • 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
    • Founder
    • CEO
    Industries
    • Marketing and Advertising
    • E-Learning
    Market Segment
    • 90% Small-Business
    • 10% 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
    27
    Features
    22
    Customer Support
    16
    Experience
    15
    User Interaction
    12
    Cons
    Missing Features
    10
    Expensive
    8
    Lack of Integrations
    4
    Limited Customization
    3
    Difficult Setup
    2
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Circle features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.0
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    8.1
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    8.2
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.7
    9.4
    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
    14,126 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    252 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
  • Founder
  • CEO
Industries
  • Marketing and Advertising
  • E-Learning
Market Segment
  • 90% Small-Business
  • 10% 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
27
Features
22
Customer Support
16
Experience
15
User Interaction
12
Cons
Missing Features
10
Expensive
8
Lack of Integrations
4
Limited Customization
3
Difficult Setup
2
Circle features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.0
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
8.1
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
8.2
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.7
9.4
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
14,126 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
252 employees on LinkedIn®

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(225)4.4 out of 5
Optimized for quick response
14th Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
View top Consulting Services for Gainsight Customer Communities
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 powerful, centralized community destination that brings your customers, resources, and products together. The all-in-one community empowers you to scale how you eng

    Users
    • Community Manager
    Industries
    • Computer Software
    • Information Technology and Services
    Market Segment
    • 63% Mid-Market
    • 23% 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
    24
    Customer Support
    21
    Features
    14
    Integrations
    14
    Easy Setup
    11
    Cons
    Missing Features
    14
    Limited Customization
    6
    Event Management
    5
    Inadequate Analytics
    5
    Poor Interface Design
    4
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Gainsight Customer Communities features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.3
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    8.1
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    8.1
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.7
    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
    13,419 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    1,115 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Gainsight Customer Communities is a powerful, centralized community destination that brings your customers, resources, and products together. The all-in-one community empowers you to scale how you eng

Users
  • Community Manager
Industries
  • Computer Software
  • Information Technology and Services
Market Segment
  • 63% Mid-Market
  • 23% 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
24
Customer Support
21
Features
14
Integrations
14
Easy Setup
11
Cons
Missing Features
14
Limited Customization
6
Event Management
5
Inadequate Analytics
5
Poor Interface Design
4
Gainsight Customer Communities features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.3
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
8.1
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
8.1
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.7
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
13,419 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
1,115 employees on LinkedIn®
(1,014)4.6 out of 5
11th 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
    • 46% Small-Business
    • 32% 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 Webinars is a platform that allows users to connect with a larger audience beyond geographical limitations, offering features like polls, Q&A sessions, chat, emoji reactions, and screen sharing.
    • Users frequently mention the platform's ease of use, high-quality video and sound, interactive features, and the ability to host both in-person and virtual events, enhancing engagement with participants and maximizing return on marketing efforts.
    • Users experienced issues with the platform's frequency of use, such as audio or video issues, poor connection, platform glitches, and a complex integration process with CRM and marketing automation systems, which can disrupt the flow of the webinar and pose difficulties for non tech-savvy users.
  • 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
    241
    Webinars
    134
    Event Management
    97
    Attendee Management
    87
    Customer Support
    87
    Cons
    Missing Features
    53
    Limited Customization
    35
    Event Management
    33
    Limited Features
    29
    Poor Connectivity
    24
  • 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: 8.7
    9.5
    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
    733,873 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    97,323 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
  • 46% Small-Business
  • 32% 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 Webinars is a platform that allows users to connect with a larger audience beyond geographical limitations, offering features like polls, Q&A sessions, chat, emoji reactions, and screen sharing.
  • Users frequently mention the platform's ease of use, high-quality video and sound, interactive features, and the ability to host both in-person and virtual events, enhancing engagement with participants and maximizing return on marketing efforts.
  • Users experienced issues with the platform's frequency of use, such as audio or video issues, poor connection, platform glitches, and a complex integration process with CRM and marketing automation systems, which can disrupt the flow of the webinar and pose difficulties for non tech-savvy users.
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
241
Webinars
134
Event Management
97
Attendee Management
87
Customer Support
87
Cons
Missing Features
53
Limited Customization
35
Event Management
33
Limited Features
29
Poor Connectivity
24
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: 8.7
9.5
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
733,873 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
97,323 employees on LinkedIn®
(145)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
    • 62% Small-Business
    • 24% 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
    28
    Ease of Use
    17
    Features
    14
    Customizability
    12
    Experience
    11
    Cons
    Limited Customization
    8
    Missing Features
    6
    Bugs
    5
    Integration Issues
    4
    Expensive
    3
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Hivebrite features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    7.6
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    7.9
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    7.6
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.7
    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
    1,117 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    171 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
  • 62% Small-Business
  • 24% 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
28
Ease of Use
17
Features
14
Customizability
12
Experience
11
Cons
Limited Customization
8
Missing Features
6
Bugs
5
Integration Issues
4
Expensive
3
Hivebrite features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
7.6
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
7.9
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
7.6
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.7
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
1,117 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
171 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: 8.7
    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
    9,154 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: 8.7
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
9,154 employees on LinkedIn®
(35)4.6 out of 5
9th Easiest To Use in Online Community Management software
Save to My Lists
Entry Level Price:$89.00
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Commune is an advocacy community platform that turns customers into advocates, and employees into enthusiasts. It's typically used by marketers to reduce CAC by increasing UGCs or by HR to improve tur

    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
    27
    Customer Support
    20
    Features
    11
    Intuitive
    10
    Management Ease
    7
    Cons
    Missing Features
    5
    Poor Interface Design
    5
    Limited Customization
    4
    Poor Admin Interface
    4
    Inadequate Analytics
    3
  • 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: 8.7
    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
    150 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Commune is an advocacy community platform that turns customers into advocates, and employees into enthusiasts. It's typically used by marketers to reduce CAC by increasing UGCs or by HR to improve tur

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
27
Customer Support
20
Features
11
Intuitive
10
Management Ease
7
Cons
Missing Features
5
Poor Interface Design
5
Limited Customization
4
Poor Admin Interface
4
Inadequate Analytics
3
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: 8.7
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
150 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
    21
    Community Engagement
    15
    Features
    11
    Helpful
    9
    Cons
    Missing Features
    6
    Email Limitations
    4
    Limited Features
    4
    Limited Customization
    3
    Chat Functionality
    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: 8.7
    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
    3,701 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    68 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
21
Community Engagement
15
Features
11
Helpful
9
Cons
Missing Features
6
Email Limitations
4
Limited Features
4
Limited Customization
3
Chat Functionality
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: 8.7
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
3,701 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
68 employees on LinkedIn®
(419)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
    Ease of Use
    7
    Customer Support
    6
    Features
    5
    Customer Engagement
    4
    Engagement Efficiency
    3
    Cons
    Integration Issues
    4
    Learning Curve
    3
    Poor Customer Support
    3
    Limited Customization
    2
    API Issues
    1
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Higher Logic Thrive features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    7.5
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    7.2
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    8.1
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.7
    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
    3,652 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    308 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
Ease of Use
7
Customer Support
6
Features
5
Customer Engagement
4
Engagement Efficiency
3
Cons
Integration Issues
4
Learning Curve
3
Poor Customer Support
3
Limited Customization
2
API Issues
1
Higher Logic Thrive features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
7.5
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
7.2
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
8.1
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.7
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
3,652 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
308 employees on LinkedIn®
(100)4.5 out of 5
Optimized for quick response
13th 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
    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
    24
    Ease of Use
    17
    Features
    17
    User Interaction
    15
    Attendee Engagement
    10
    Cons
    Poor Interface Design
    5
    Technical Glitches
    5
    Inadequate Analytics
    4
    Content Management
    3
    Poor Navigation
    3
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Viafoura features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    9.0
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    8.3
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    8.9
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.7
    9.3
    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
    1,831 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
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
24
Ease of Use
17
Features
17
User Interaction
15
Attendee Engagement
10
Cons
Poor Interface Design
5
Technical Glitches
5
Inadequate Analytics
4
Content Management
3
Poor Navigation
3
Viafoura features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
9.0
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
8.3
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
8.9
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.7
9.3
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
1,831 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
57 employees on LinkedIn®
(110)4.6 out of 5
Optimized for quick response
7th 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
    • 85% Small-Business
    • 13% 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 software solution that manages business operations and productivity, with features for event and membership management, email marketing, fundraising, community management, and analytics.
    • Reviewers frequently mention the intuitive interface, user-friendly platform, and the ability to streamline processes and manage events effectively, along with the availability of a supportive team.
    • Users mentioned limitations on formats, lack of direct support in certain regions, charges for basic requirements, and difficulties in navigation for those unfamiliar with similar software solutions.
  • 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
    12
    All-in-one Platform
    11
    Cons
    Learning Curve
    6
    Difficult Learning Process
    4
    Event Management
    4
    Learning Difficulty
    4
    Limited Customization
    4
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Glue Up features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.7
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    8.9
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    8.3
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.7
    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
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2013
    HQ Location
    Tysons, VA
    Twitter
    @Glue_Up
    853 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    51 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
  • 85% Small-Business
  • 13% 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 software solution that manages business operations and productivity, with features for event and membership management, email marketing, fundraising, community management, and analytics.
  • Reviewers frequently mention the intuitive interface, user-friendly platform, and the ability to streamline processes and manage events effectively, along with the availability of a supportive team.
  • Users mentioned limitations on formats, lack of direct support in certain regions, charges for basic requirements, and difficulties in navigation for those unfamiliar with similar software solutions.
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
12
All-in-one Platform
11
Cons
Learning Curve
6
Difficult Learning Process
4
Event Management
4
Learning Difficulty
4
Limited Customization
4
Glue Up features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.7
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
8.9
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
8.3
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.7
9.2
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Seller
Glue Up
Company Website
Year Founded
2013
HQ Location
Tysons, VA
Twitter
@Glue_Up
853 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
51 employees on LinkedIn®
(107)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
    17
    Features
    16
    Easy Setup
    13
    Customer Support
    12
    Customization
    11
    Cons
    Missing Features
    8
    Limited Features
    4
    Expensive
    3
    Mobile Compatibility
    3
    Poor Customer Support
    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: 8.7
    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
    6,264 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    28 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
17
Features
16
Easy Setup
13
Customer Support
12
Customization
11
Cons
Missing Features
8
Limited Features
4
Expensive
3
Mobile Compatibility
3
Poor Customer Support
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: 8.7
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
6,264 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
28 employees on LinkedIn®
(423)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 hybrid events. We combine powerful video technology with robust marketing and interactive experience capabilities to creat

    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
    Experience
    18
    Ease of Use
    17
    Customer Support
    15
    Features
    13
    Event Management
    11
    Cons
    Connectivity Issues
    3
    Learning Curve
    3
    Limited Customization
    3
    Steep Learning Curve
    3
    Tech Issues
    3
  • 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: 8.7
    9.6
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • What G2 Users Think
    Expand/Collapse What G2 Users Think
  • User Sentiment
    How are these determined?Information
    These insights are written by G2's Market Research team, using actual user reviews for BigMarker, left between February 2022 and October 2022.
    • Reviewers had great experiences with the BigMarker customer support team.
    • Reviewers appreciated the email marketing integration and email automation.
    • Reviewers enjoyed that they could have multiple presenters and audiences at one time.
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Seller
    BigMarker
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2011
    HQ Location
    Chicago, IL
    Twitter
    @bigmarker
    16,080 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    86 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 hybrid events. We combine powerful video technology with robust marketing and interactive experience capabilities to creat

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
Experience
18
Ease of Use
17
Customer Support
15
Features
13
Event Management
11
Cons
Connectivity Issues
3
Learning Curve
3
Limited Customization
3
Steep Learning Curve
3
Tech Issues
3
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: 8.7
9.6
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
User Sentiment
How are these determined?Information
These insights are written by G2's Market Research team, using actual user reviews for BigMarker, left between February 2022 and October 2022.
  • Reviewers had great experiences with the BigMarker customer support team.
  • Reviewers appreciated the email marketing integration and email automation.
  • Reviewers enjoyed that they could have multiple presenters and audiences at one time.
Seller Details
Seller
BigMarker
Company Website
Year Founded
2011
HQ Location
Chicago, IL
Twitter
@bigmarker
16,080 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
86 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
    5
    Customer Support
    4
    Ease of Use
    2
    Integrations
    2
    Software Updates
    2
    Cons
    Difficult Setup
    1
    Missing Features
    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: 8.7
    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
    422 Twitter followers
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    7 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
5
Customer Support
4
Ease of Use
2
Integrations
2
Software Updates
2
Cons
Difficult Setup
1
Missing Features
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: 8.7
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
422 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
7 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Overview
    Expand/Collapse Overview
  • Product Description
    How are these determined?Information
    This description is provided by the seller.

    Khoros Communities is software to build an enterprise-class online community and scale engagement. Organizations can host a vibrant space where customers can find answers, develop expertise, share exp

    Users
    No information available
    Industries
    No information available
    Market Segment
    • 46% Enterprise
    • 29% Mid-Market
  • Pros and Cons
    Expand/Collapse Pros and Cons
  • Khoros 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
    10
    Helpful
    8
    Features
    6
    Simple
    6
    Intuitive
    5
    Cons
    Expensive
    4
    Bugs
    3
    Performance Issues
    3
    Slow Loading
    3
    Content Management
    2
  • User Satisfaction
    Expand/Collapse User Satisfaction
  • Khoros Communities features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
    8.2
    Qualitative Solutions
    Average: 8.5
    7.8
    All-in-one Dashboard
    Average: 8.5
    8.5
    Customer Engagement
    Average: 8.7
    8.4
    Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
    Average: 9.2
  • Seller Details
    Expand/Collapse Seller Details
  • Seller Details
    Seller
    Khoros
    Company Website
    Year Founded
    2019
    HQ Location
    Austin, Texas
    LinkedIn® Page
    www.linkedin.com
    1,200 employees on LinkedIn®
Product Description
How are these determined?Information
This description is provided by the seller.

Khoros Communities is software to build an enterprise-class online community and scale engagement. Organizations can host a vibrant space where customers can find answers, develop expertise, share exp

Users
No information available
Industries
No information available
Market Segment
  • 46% Enterprise
  • 29% Mid-Market
Khoros 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
10
Helpful
8
Features
6
Simple
6
Intuitive
5
Cons
Expensive
4
Bugs
3
Performance Issues
3
Slow Loading
3
Content Management
2
Khoros Communities features and usability ratings that predict user satisfaction
8.2
Qualitative Solutions
Average: 8.5
7.8
All-in-one Dashboard
Average: 8.5
8.5
Customer Engagement
Average: 8.7
8.4
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Average: 9.2
Seller Details
Seller
Khoros
Company Website
Year Founded
2019
HQ Location
Austin, Texas
LinkedIn® Page
www.linkedin.com
1,200 employees on LinkedIn®

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.