Community Platforms Pricing Comparison 2026
5 products · dataset dated April 21, 2026 · Prices may have changed
In our April 21, 2026 pricing snapshot, Skool had the lowest recorded USD starting rate at $7.5/mo. This excludes unavailable prices and other currencies; billing units and included services can differ. The snapshot includes 5 community platforms products: Circle, Discourse, Heartbeat, Mighty Networks, Skool. Current vendor prices may differ. 1 of 5 had listed free plans.
Community Platforms in 2026: What the Data Shows
Market Overview
Community tools differ in purpose as well as price. Circle, Mighty Networks, Skool and Heartbeat combine member spaces with courses or events. Discourse centers on forums and offers both hosted and self-hosted deployment.
Key Buying Criteria
Compare members, staff roles, storage, streaming hours and concurrent viewers. For paid memberships, add platform and payment fees using your actual transaction mix. Check whether a branded mobile app is included, optional or separately quoted.
Comparison notes
Choose a shortlist around how members participate: courses and calls, structured spaces and events, or searchable discussions. Match the required integrations and automation to the recorded tier, then confirm current limits.
What to Watch Out For
A lower transaction percentage does not automatically offset a higher subscription. Confirm fixed processing charges, refunds and currencies before calculating a break-even point. Trial access may cover a higher tier, and a refund guarantee is separate from a free trial.
| | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | |||||
| Starting Price | $89/mo | $20/mo | $40/mo | $79/mo | $7.5/mo |
| Renewal Price | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Free Plan | Not established | Recorded | Not established | Not established | Not established |
| Free Trial | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days |
| Pricing Model | tiered-plus-addons | tiered-with-self-host-option | tiered-member-capped | tiered-with-host-metric | two-tier-transaction-fee-differentiator |
| Plans | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| | | | | | |
| Features | |||||
| | | | | | |
How We Track Prices
This comparison uses a category snapshot dated 2026-04-21. Prices and terms may have changed. Check each vendor's current offer before buying.
Each amount uses its recorded currency; no currency conversion is applied. Prices in your region may differ due to local pricing and taxes. We show the lowest recorded paid tier unless otherwise noted. Billing units and plan limits differ; confirm current terms before buying. Some products offer introductory pricing that increases on renewal - we show both where applicable.
Affiliate links may earn us a commission. Product order is not a recommendation.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
See how community platforms products stack up against each other - plans, pricing, and features side by side.
Explore Alternatives
Explore Individual Product Pricing
Deep dive into each community platforms product - full plan breakdowns, renewal prices, features, and comparison notes.
More Ways to Explore Community Platforms
Quick Pricing Summary
| Product | From | Free Plan | Pricing check |
|---|---|---|---|
| $7.5/mo | Not established | 2026-04-21 | |
| $20/mo | Recorded; confirm terms | 2026-04-21 | |
| $40/mo | Not established | 2026-04-21 | |
| $79/mo | Not established | 2026-04-21 | |
| $89/mo | Not established | 2026-04-21 |
Community Platforms analysis on the StackScored blog
Building Your Business Stack?
Decision-makers comparing tools often need more than one category. Here are related comparisons:
Frequently Asked Questions
- How should I compare community platforms costs?
- Match the plan, billing unit, included usage and commitment length before comparing numbers. A starting price is not a quote for your team. Check required add-ons, taxes and any renewal rate with the vendor.
- Which community platforms products list a free plan?
- Discourse list free plans in this snapshot. Check current eligibility and feature or usage limits before signing up.
- Are these hands-on product reviews?
- These pages compare recorded pricing and features. They do not establish hands-on testing, customer satisfaction or which product is best for your business.
- How current are these prices?
- Use the dataset date shown on this page. Plans, limits and billing terms may have changed; confirm the total for your requirements on the linked vendor site.