Tired of toggling between 10 different tabs just to keep your community running?
You're not alone. The average community manager spends 12+ hours weekly just on basic admin tasks.
That's why we've cut through the noise to bring you the 7 best community management software platforms that actually deliver on their promises.
No fluff, no empty features - just real solutions that make running your community feel less like a headache and more like the streamlined operation it should be.
Whether you're nurturing a thriving business network, running a nonprofit, or just getting started with building an online community, this guide will help you find software that offers exactly what you need - without the stuff you don't.
What is Community Management Software? (Hint: It's More Than Just a Fancy Chat Room)
Think of community management software as your digital command center - it's not just another platform to add to your tech stack. It's software that allows you to turn chaos into clarity, transforming scattered conversations into meaningful connections.
The Building Blocks of Modern Community Management
At its core, community management software that helps organizations thrive consists of three essential elements:
- Engagement Hub: Where every community member can interact, share insights, and build relationships naturally - no awkward forced interactions
- Control Center: The backend dashboard with all the management tools you need to monitor, moderate, and measure community health
- Growth Engine: Tools to grow your community organically through features like online courses, resource sharing, and automated onboarding
Why Traditional Community Tools Fall Short
Most platforms only handle certain aspects of community management, leaving you to patch together multiple solutions. But modern community management platforms let you:
- Customize your community space to match your brand and culture
- Automate repetitive tasks that eat up your time
- Track engagement metrics that actually matter
- Scale your community without scaling your workload
Today's community management solutions bring everything under one roof, making it easier to build, nurture, and grow your community while keeping your sanity intact.
Who Benefits from Community Management Software?
Community management software has been helpful for better engagement, communication, and administration within online communities. Here are the types of organizations that benefit from using this software:
Businesses
Your customers want more than just products - they want connections. Whether you're running a B2B network or customer community, community engagement tools help you turn casual buyers into loyal advocates. Plus, tracking member interactions reveals invaluable insights about what your market really wants.
Nonprofit Organizations
Managing volunteers and donors shouldn't eat up all your time. Modern community management software streamlines your event planning, fundraising, and outreach efforts.
Educational Institutions
From alumni networks to research groups, educational communities thrive when membership management is seamless. Using an association template (like the ones we offer in LoftOS) makes it easy to launch and manage academic communities without technical headaches.
Membership Organizations
Every type of community has unique needs, whether you're running a professional association or an industry group. The key is finding the right tool that grows with you - one that handles everything from member onboarding to engagement tracking in one place.
4 Ways How The Pros Choose Community Management Tools (Without Losing Sleep Over It)
When evaluating community management software, experienced community builders know to look beyond flashy features.
Here are 4 questions of what actually matters when choosing your community platform:
"Can I See What's Actually Working?" (Analytics That Matter)
Skip the basic metrics. Modern online community management software should show you what drives real engagement. Look for tools that track:
- Member journey touchpoints
- Content performance
- Engagement patterns
- Conversion analytics
"Will My Members Actually Use This?" (User Experience)
The best online communities have one thing in common: they're incredibly easy to navigate.
Your platform should offer:
- Intuitive navigation
- Mobile-first design
- Quick load times
- Accessible features for all users, Remember: Every extra click is a chance for members to drop off
"Can It Grow With Us?" (Scalability & Customization)
When you create a community, you need a platform that scales. Look for:
- Flexible membership tiers
- Custom branding options
- Multiple ways to monetize
- Integration capabilities with your existing tech stack
"Will This Keep Members Coming Back?" (Engagement Features)
Your platform should provide various tools to engage members naturally. Essential features include:
- Discussion forums
- Resource libraries
- Event management
- Direct messaging The key is finding tools that make engaging with your community feel natural, not forced.
6 Key Features to Consider in a Community Management Software
The right online community platforms don't just look pretty - they pack fe atures that make managing a community feel effortless. Here's what experienced community managers use to build thriving spaces:
1. A Platform That Doesn't Need a PhD to Use
Gone are the days when you needed technical expertise to run a community engagement platform. Modern community software should feel as intuitive as your favorite social network. The best platforms let you focus on building relationships, not wrestling with settings.
2. Paint It Your Way
Your dedicated community deserves its unique identity. Top-tier management systems offer complete branding control - from custom colors to personalized URLs. Think of it as giving your community a home that truly reflects its personality.
3. Tools That Actually Tell You What's Working
Smart community managers need more than basic metrics. Look for analysis tools that reveal the story behind the numbers. Understanding how members interact helps you refine your community strategy and drive meaningful engagement.
4. Plays Nice With Others
The best community management platforms, like, LoftOS, should integrate seamlessly with your existing tools. Your community management features should enhance your workflow, not complicate it. Look for software that connects with your CRM, marketing tools, and analytics platforms without fussy workarounds.
5. Money Matters Made Simple
The path to monetization shouldn't feel like solving a puzzle. Whether you're charging for memberships, courses, or exclusive content, your platform should make it straightforward to build your community while building your revenue.
6. Keep the Bad Guys Out
Creating a great community means protecting it too. Look for robust moderation tools that help you maintain a healthy environment without spending all day policing conversations. Automated filters and customizable rules help you focus on growth, not governance.
How to Choose the Right Community Management Software (Without the Analysis Paralysis)
When you set out to build a thriving community, choosing the right platform can feel like ordering coffee at that new café in town - too many options, too much jargon. Let's break down what actually matters when evaluating tools for community management.
Know Your Non-Negotiables First
Before diving into community features such as forums and events, get crystal clear on your must-haves. Are you looking for robust community analytics tools? Do you need specific community channels for different member groups? Map out your non-negotiables before getting dazzled by fancy features.
Test Drive Like You Mean It
The best online community platforms offer proper testing periods, such as a free 14-day trial. Don't just click around - simulate your actual workflow. For example, with LoftOS you can choose any of our templates and try it for free. So go ahead, with any community management software, upload content, test member interactions, try the moderation tools. Your engagement software should feel natural from day one, not six months of frustration later.
Check The Growth Runway
Your brand's online community will evolve. The software also allows for growth, right? Look for platforms that scale with you. The best content management systems let you add features and capacity without starting from scratch.
Look Under The Hood
Great community management software isn't just about what you see on the surface. Dig into:
- Data security measures
- Integration capabilities
- Support response times
- Update frequency
The Complete Package
If juggling multiple tools sounds like a headache, consider an all-in-one community management software like LoftOS. When you get the community right, everything from member onboarding to engagement tracking lives under one roof, making your life infinitely easier.
7 Best Community Management Software The Pros Use in 2024
Looking for something better than managing your community like a Facebook group?
These aren't just random tools - they're battle-tested platforms that seasoned community builders swear by. Each software allows unique approaches to engagement, but one stands out for its flexibility and power.
1. LoftOS: Launch Your Dream Community Without the Tech Nightmare
Unlike typical community management platforms that force you into rigid templates, LoftOS is the best and most customizable community engagement software. It lets you create anything from full-scale event ecosystems to sophisticated member networks - all without ever touching a line of code.
What makes LoftOS the go-to choice to provide community solutions:
- Launch in days, not months with no-code flexibility
- Host any type of event (virtual, hybrid, in-person) with built-in matchmaking
- Create custom databases that actually make sense for your needs
- Engage members through group chats, forums, ai tools and personalized spaces
- Build a brand community that perfectly matches your vision
Plus, LoftOS offers a free plan to get you started - perfect for testing the waters before scaling up.
Pricing Plans
Innoloft provides a range of thoughtfully designed pricing plans for its LoftOS platform, each crafted to deliver optimal value and support for communities of all sizes and scopes:
- LoftOS Free: Great for those just starting out or exploring the platform and allows you to test and learn without any financial commitment
- LoftOS Starter: At $375 per month, this plan is ideal for smaller communities that need basic support at an affordable price
- LoftOS Essential: For $825 per month, this plan offers all the necessary features plus personal support for growing communities
- LoftOS Premium: Priced at $1,750 per month, this plan provides a full range of features and improved support, perfect for large communities that need extensive tools and resources
- LoftOS Custom: This plan is customizable to fit specific needs beyond the Premium plan with tailored solutions
2. Hivebrite
Hivebrite focuses on online community engagement through branded experiences. Their platform helps organizations manage alumni networks and professional communities, with features for community content creation and distribution.
While it offers a mobile app and integrations with every social media platform, some users find themselves looking for more flexible alternatives that better match their community needs. Think of it as one of those tools that are reliable but sometimes overly complex.
Pros:
- Detailed knowledge base for feature support
- Modern, intuitive design for both admins and users
- Simple, easy-to-navigate interface
- Excellent customer service and support
Cons:
- Limited built-in analytics and tracking features
- More reporting options are needed for sharing insights with stakeholders
- Pricing: Hivebrite offers flexible pricing based on your specific requirements. For detailed pricing information, you can contact their sales team.
Pricing: Hivebrite offers flexible pricing based on your specific requirements. For detailed pricing information, you can contact their sales team.
3. Softr
Softr is a no-code platform that lets you easily build full-stack applications using data from Airtable. It focuses on creating mobile-friendly and fast-loading web pages, which helps improve your site's Google search rankings.
Each page is designed to be search-optimized, based on relevant keywords for your industry, to help you attract more traffic.
The platform is also secure, using advanced data encryption methods to protect your information. Users can conveniently sign up and log in with just an email and password or even through a magic link that simplifies the login process.
Softr offers over 100 pre-built blocks that make it quick and easy to put together your app without needing to code.
Their dynamic search features include searching, filtering, and sorting data for a better user experience. Plus, the custom form builder allows you to create unique forms to collect information from your users.
Pricing Plans
- Softr offers different pricing plans, starting with a Free plan that lets users explore its no-code features.
- The Basic plan costs $49 per month and is suitable for simple projects.
- The Professional plan is available at $139 per month for more complex needs, such as building portals and internal tools.
- Their Business plan, at $269 per month, caters to companies needing to develop advanced systems on a larger scale.
- Softr also offers an Enterprise plan designed to meet the specific needs of larger organizations.
4. Hivebrite
Hivebrite is a community management platform that helps you create a visually consistent experience across your entire online presence. It offers advanced branding tools that ensure everything from your website to your emails matches your organization's style.
Whether you're creating blog posts, newsletters, or social media updates, Hivebrite helps you maintain a uniform style that's recognizable across various media.
Hivebrite boosts your platform's visibility and encourages your users to promote and advocate for your community. The platform also lets you customize the structure and tone of your community to reflect your organization's identity.
Pricing Plans
You'll need to book a demo with them to get specific pricing.
- The Connect Plan is for those starting to build their community.
- The Scale plan supports growing organizations with more complex needs, while the Enterprise plan suits large organizations with established communities and multiple group structures.
Pricing varies by industry, so it's necessary to contact Hivebrite directly to understand which plan best suits your organization's needs.
5. Bettermode
Bettermode offers a comprehensive set of features that make it a powerful tool for managing online communities with ease.
It uses "Spaces," which are flexible sections where you can categorize and manage content. Each Space can have its own rules for who can post to keep your community organized and tailored to specific topics or user groups.
Bettermode offers various ways for members to log in, including using their email and password or via social media platforms like Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Slack, and Discord. Social logins make it quicker and easier for members to access the community.
The platform allows you to create detailed member profiles that include a photo, name, and a list of their contributions. You can set up and customize your community visually without needing any coding knowledge.
Bettermode also lets you remove its branding and use your own, including custom domains, logos, and email addresses, for a professional appearance that matches your brand.
Pricing Plans
Bettermode provides a range of pricing tiers to accommodate different requirements.
- The Free plan, priced at $0, is ideal for hobbyists who are just beginning.
- The Lite plan, at $19, is tailored for small creators and freelancers who need additional flexibility.
- The Pro plan, available for $49, offers enhanced features for individuals looking to expand their digital products.
- Meanwhile, the Business plan, at $99, is suited for larger businesses that require a full suite of tools and support.
- There is also a custom Enterprise plan tailored for larger organizations.
6. Circle
Circle is a community management platform ideal for creators, educators, and businesses that want to integrate their content with a dynamic community experience.
Circle provides a single space where you can handle everything related to your community and courses. Members only need one login to access courses, live sessions, and chats.
The platform's cohort-based features support learning in groups and allow for the scheduled release of course content with drip lessons. This setup is great for organized learning paths and helps keep students engaged.
Circle allows for private messages and one-on-one connections within the community. This feature is essential for offering personalized support, mentoring, or coaching directly within the platform.
You can host live video sessions directly in your Circle community, whether they're small group meetings or large broadcasts with interactive Q&As. The system also lets you lock or unlock access to different parts of your community based on the type of membership or program you offer.
Pricing Plans
Circle offers three pricing plans, each with a 14-day trial to test their features.
- The Professional plan costs $89 per month and is suitable for managing growing communities.
- The Business plan, priced at $199 per month, provides advanced tools for larger communities.
- The Enterprise plan at $360 per month is best for very large or complex communities.
7. B2match
B2match is an event community management platform that boosts both online and in-person networking events. It offers a user-friendly interface that allows organizers to easily customize event elements, such as creating personalized badges for attendees, exhibitors, or staff.
Participants can set up detailed profiles on the platform to showcase their skills and what they can offer others, allowing everyone to find relevant connections. B2match supports one-on-one meetings, allowing participants to discuss their goals and form deeper professional relationships.
The platform integrates with external video conferencing tools for live streaming, making it simple to broadcast sessions or discussions directly through b2match. There's also a dedicated area for promoting sponsors, which allows exposure during the event.
Additionally, b2match includes a feature where participants can rate their meetings on a scale of one to five, offering valuable feedback to organizers and participants.
Pricing Plans
B2match offers three pricing plans to suit different event hosting needs.
- The Basic plan is €2300 per year and is suitable for organizations hosting one event annually with up to 100 participants.
- The Professional plan costs €4025 per year and is ideal for organizations planning multiple events. It supports up to 250 participants and has no limit on the number of events.
- For a more customized solution, the Custom Shop plan provides a personalized Whitelabel option, with pricing based on specific requirements and branding needs.
Why Leading Organizations Choose LoftOS Over Other Community Management Software
When Europe's top institutions need to build a community that scales, they don't settle for ordinary platforms. Here's why they rank LoftOS among the best community management tools:
How RWTH Aachen Built Germany's Most Dynamic Startup Ecosystem with One Platform
RWTH Aachen University's entrepreneurship program community manager's nightmare was real: brilliant ideas drowning in administrative chaos. Their solution? Collæb - a revolutionary digital ecosystem powered by LoftOS's comprehensive member management tools.
The transformation using our community management software was dramatic:
- 600+ active startups connected and thriving
- 89 new ventures launched in 2022 alone
- 60+ successful grant applications
- 8,000+ entrepreneurs, mentors, and partners actively collaborating
What used to be scattered across multiple platforms now lives in one dynamic space, making RWTH Innovation GmbH a benchmark for what's possible with tools like LoftOS.
From Regional Network to Innovation Powerhouse: The Innomatch Story
When Niedersachsen.next Startup needed to unite Lower Saxony's entire startup ecosystem, they chose LoftOS as their community management software. The results speak volumes:
- 5,000+ active users and growing
- Seamless connection between startups, investors, and corporates
- Centralized access to events, awards, and accelerators
- Zero-friction partnership matching
What started as a government initiative has evolved into Lower Saxony's innovation nerve center - all running smoothly on a single platform.
Why? Because while other platforms force you into their box, LoftOS adapts to yours.
Ready to Transform Your Community Management?
Stop wrestling with platforms that hold you back. While others are still figuring out their relationships with community members through disconnected tools, you could be launching your perfect ecosystem in days.
LoftOS isn't just another community management software - it's the platform that growing organizations trust when failure isn't an option. Our no code apps approach means you can:
- Launch faster (days, not months)
- Customize everything (without ever writing a single line of code)
- Scale confidently (just like RWTH and Innomatch)
Ready to begin your journey toward a more connected and engaged community? Start a free trial or book a demo today!
FAQs About Community Management Software
How important are mobile apps in community management software?
Mobile apps can be a useful feature for community management software as they allow members to stay connected on the go. Many platforms offer mobile-friendly web versions for easy access to community features like notifications, chats, and updates, even without a dedicated app.
Are social media platforms necessary when using community management software?
While community management software focuses on building deeper connections within a dedicated community space, a social media platform helps with broader outreach and visibility.
Community management software and social media management go hand in hand. Social media platforms can reach a wide audience and drive engagement, while community management software focuses on private space for deeper connections.
What happens if the software provider updates or changes features?
It's important to understand the provider's policy on updates and feature changes. Ask if they notify customers in advance and provide training or support to adapt to these changes. Knowing how updates are handled can help you prepare and adapt without disrupting your community's activities.
