Free and open first

Best Community Building Platforms in 2026

27 apps
Research read 7 Oct 2026
How the order is worked out

1

BuddyPress
by BuddyPress
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

BuddyPress provides a set of configurable social features for self-hosted WordPress sites, including groups, profiles, messaging, and activity streams.

7.5 Free plan Visit site
2

Elgg

Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

Elgg provides a customizable foundation for social and collaborative web applications, with access controls and a large plugin repository.

7.4 Free plan Visit site
3

HumHub
by HumHub
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+2

HumHub offers a broad set of collaboration features with a choice between self-hosting and managed SaaS.

7.4 Free plan · paid from €144/mo Visit site
4

Flarum
by Flarum
Free plan APIExtensionSelf-hosted+1

Flarum provides community and moderation tools with extensive customization options at no software price.

7.2 Free plan Visit site
5

NodeBB
by NodeBB
Free plan APILinuxMac+3

NodeBB covers community discussions, moderation, integrations, and extensions, with a free self-hosted option and paid hosting from $20/mo.

7.2 Free plan · paid from $20/mo · 14-day trial Visit site
6

Discourse
by Discourse
Free plan Self-hosted

Discourse offers self-hosting and managed plans, with a free option and paid hosting from $100/mo. Compare staff seats, storage, and page-view allowances with the needs of your community.

7.1 Free plan · paid from $100/mo · 14-day trial Visit site
7

Open Social

Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+2

Open Social offers a free community-management core as well as a broader SaaS suite with hosting and professional services.

7.1 Pricing on request Visit site
8

PeepSo
by PeepSo
Free plan AndroidiPhoneSelf-hosted+1

Choose PeepSo if you need community features such as groups, member profiles, and an activity stream, with a free plan to start.

7.1 Free plan · paid from $149/yr Visit site
9

phpBB

Free plan Self-hostedWeb

phpBB offers forum-building tools with extension and style customization at no software cost.

6.8 Free plan Visit site
10

AlumnForce
by AlumnForce
Free trial AndroidAPIiPhone+1

AlumnForce brings member engagement, career services, events, and mentoring into one platform. Its annual subscription prices exclude setup and onboarding, and the total depends on database size.

6.6 From €350/mo (annual) Visit site
11

Circle

Free trial AndroidAPIiPhone+3

Circle combines community management with courses, events, and related business tools, with web, mobile, and desktop access.

6.5 From $89/mo · 14-day trial Visit site
12

PeopleGrove Engagement Hub
by PeopleGrove Engagement Hub
Free plan Web

PeopleGrove Engagement Hub combines mentorship, alumni networking, events, and reporting for institutional use.

6.3 Pricing on request Visit site
13

Disciple
by Disciple
Paid WebiPhoneAndroid

Choose Disciple if you need a community platform with web and mobile access, private spaces, event hosting and moderation tools.

5.8 From $599/mo (annual) · 30-day trial Visit site
14

Higher Logic Thrive
by Higher Logic Thrive
Paid AndroidAPIiPhone+1

Pick Higher Logic Thrive if your association or professional organization wants community, marketing, and event tools tied to member engagement.

5.8 Pricing on request Visit site
15

Glue Up
by Glue Up
Paid WebiPhoneAndroid

Glue Up combines membership administration, event operations and CRM in one service, with integrations and website connection options.

5.7 From $3,000/yr Visit site
16

Journey by Forj
by Journey by Forj
Paid AndroidAPIiPhone+1

Journey by Forj brings member interaction, learning management, recognition, and analytics together for associations.

5.7 Pricing on request Visit site
17

Bettermode
by Bettermode
Paid Web

Bettermode provides community features across plans with different member and collaborator allowances. Review the listed billing terms and note that mobile apps are not available.

5.6 From $399/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Visit site
18

Gainsight Customer Communities
by Gainsight Customer Communities
Paid APIWeb

Gainsight Customer Communities combines customer discussion, knowledge sharing, events, and feedback features with listed AI capabilities and integrations.

5.6 Pricing on request Visit site
19

Mighty Networks
by Mighty Networks
Paid AndroidiPhoneWeb

Mighty Networks combines community spaces with events and learning activities across web and mobile.

5.5 From $79/mo · 14-day trial Visit site
20

Influitive
by Influitive
Paid APIWeb

Choose Influitive if your company needs structured advocacy programs, with options for rewards, referral workflows, and integrations.

5.4 Pricing on request Visit site
21

Salesforce Experience Cloud

Paid AndroidAPIiPhone+1

Choose Salesforce Experience Cloud if you need branded portals or communities connected to Salesforce data, with several ways to build and optional Agentforce automation.

5.4 From $75/user/mo (annual) Visit site
22

Verint Community

Paid AndroidAPIiPhone+2

Verint Community offers broad community, self-service, customization, analytics, and hosting choices.

5.3 Pricing on request Visit site
23

NING
by NING
Paid Web

NING combines community features with four plans that vary by member capacity and storage. Check the plan limits and annual-billing prices against the size of the community you intend to run.

5.2 From $12.50/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Visit site
24

SocialEngine
by SocialEngine
Paid WebiPhoneAndroid

SocialEngine offers community features across web and mobile, with both cloud and self-hosted options listed. Compare the plan allowances and billing terms with the scale and setup you need.

5.2 From $29/mo · 14-day trial Visit site
25

XenForo

Paid APISelf-hostedWeb

XenForo provides forum software with broad content, moderation, security, and extension features.

5.2 Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

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