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Best Social Networking Software in 2026

For a group that needs a place to connect and participate, social networking software varies in its community features and access options. Compared on moderation tools, community analytics, and private communities, the entries show different capabilities for supporting member activity. NodeBB, HumHub, and BuddyBoss Platform are among the options to compare. Deployment model and mobile apps may affect how people reach the community, while single sign-on and members included offer further access and scale details. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside those features to understand the listed cost options.

  1. 1

    ProfileGrid

    Free plan Open source APISelf-hostedWeb

    ProfileGrid offers a free plan and paid plans differentiated by site allowance and support duration.

    8.4 Free plan · paid from $79 Visit site
  2. 2

    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.

    7.4 Free plan Visit site
  3. 3

    Elgg

    Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

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

    7.3 Free plan Visit site
  4. 4

    Geneva

    Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb

    Choose Geneva for free group conversations, community features, and local event planning across web and mobile.

    7.3 Free plan Visit site
  5. 5

    HumHub

    by HumHub
    Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+2

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

    7.3 Free plan · paid from €144/mo Visit site
  6. 6

    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.

    7.1 Free plan · paid from $20/mo · 14-day trial Visit site
  7. 7

    Oxwall

    by Oxwall
    Free plan AndroidiPhoneSelf-hosted+1

    Choose Oxwall if you want a self-hosted, customizable community platform with social features and monetization options.

    7.1 Free plan Visit site
  8. 8

    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.

    7.0 Free plan · paid from $100/mo · 14-day trial Visit site
  9. 9

    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.

    7.0 Free plan · paid from $149/yr Visit site
  10. 10

    BuddyBoss Platform

    Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb

    BuddyBoss Platform covers private communities, moderation, and mobile apps, with a free plan and a paid option for one site. Platform Pro is listed at $99 a year.

    6.8 Free plan · paid from $99/yr Visit site
  11. 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. 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. 13

    Heartbeat

    Free trial AndroidiPhone

    Choose Heartbeat if you need a community platform with mobile apps, events, moderation, and capacity that can grow across three plans.

    6.0 From $49/mo · 14-day trial Visit site
  14. 14

    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
  15. 15

    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
  16. 16

    Almabase

    Paid Web

    Consider Almabase if your organization wants engagement programs, events, and online giving connected to its CRM.

    5.7 Pricing on request Visit site
  17. 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. 18

    Hivebrite

    by Hivebrite
    Paid WebiPhoneAndroid

    Consider Hivebrite if you need web and mobile community access with event hosting, private spaces, custom domains, and moderation.

    5.6 Visit site
  19. 19

    Khoros Communities

    by Khoros Communities
    Paid AndroidAPIiPhone+1

    Choose Khoros Communities if your brand needs a configurable space for customer self-service, peer support, and varied forms of engagement.

    5.6 Pricing on request Visit site
  20. 20

    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
  21. 21

    Skool

    by Skool
    Paid WebiPhoneAndroid

    Skool combines community hosting with courses, video, live calls, events, private spaces, and moderation.

    5.2 From $9/mo Visit site
  22. 22

    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
  23. 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.

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

    Momentive Community

    Paid Web

    Momentive Community combines member discussions, directories, meetups, and resource sharing with administrative controls and AMS connections.

    4.8 Pricing on request 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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