Published on May 15, 2025 5 min read

Top Online Community Software to Build and Manage Active Groups in 2025

In today's digital age, vibrant online communities are more important than ever. The right tools can be the difference between success and failure. Whether you're managing a private membership group, an educational cohort, or a professional network, online community platforms are essential for communication and engagement. The best group management software supports scalable growth, provides interaction tools, and offers insights to keep members active. This guide introduces some of the best platforms for creators, coaches, educators, and brand builders, highlighting their strengths in user experience, community-building tools, and automation. Let's explore the top community-building tools of 2025.

Top Online Community Platforms With Flexible Design

Circle – All-in-One Solution for Modern Communities

Circle is a versatile online community platform with a clean visual design and extensive customization options for creators and educators. It combines discussions, live video, courses, and private spaces into one interface. Circle's group management software is bolstered by strong integrations and role-based permissions. Its drag-and-drop layout allows non-designers to create engaging pages without technical expertise. Communities appreciate the public/private mix, offering both reach and exclusivity. Circle is ideal for businesses or solo creators seeking a scalable and branded experience, with flexibility and tools that retain members and encourage ongoing engagement.

Swarm – Smart Organization and Group Mapping

Swarm stands out as a community-building tool focused on the dynamic interactions within groups. Its standout feature is a dynamic map interface that helps admins understand member interactions in real-time, making it perfect for large or diverse communities. Swarm also excels in member tagging, segmenting, and discussion-based engagement tools. It's particularly effective for decentralized teams and interest-based subgroups, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing. As a group management application, Swarm integrates analytics with visual tools, allowing moderators to identify activity trends and guide the group toward meaningful collaboration.

Platforms Designed for Cohort-Based Learning and Coaching

Disco – Powerful Tools for Learning Communities

Disco is tailored for cohort-based learning, featuring event scheduling and course integration. It seamlessly syncs with Zoom and calendars, offering rich member profiles and customizable modules. Disco's community-building tools, including discussion boards, feedback forms, and interactive agendas, enhance engagement. It's popular among accelerators, boot camps, and leadership communities with structured learning cycles. Disco enables creators to build rich, interactive educational spaces with ease of setup and a user-friendly interface. For those combining education with community features, Disco is an outstanding choice, providing detailed tracking and member pathways tailored to individual needs.

Skool – Fun Meets Function for Group Management

Skool offers an easy-to-use group management software with a gamified learning hub, complete with leaderboards, community threads, and course modules. It's simple to implement and promotes high engagement through its intuitive design. Skool includes tracking tools to monitor participation and completion rates, making it perfect for coaches and educators seeking insights into member success. As a community-building tool, it removes friction and encourages sharing through its intuitive design, supporting users in creating loyal, motivated, and interactive communities.

Feature-Rich Platforms for Independent Creators

Mighty Networks – End-to-End Experience for Brands

Mighty Networks is a comprehensive online community space where members can manage courses, memberships, and events. It's designed for creators who want control over branding, pricing, and member access, offering advanced customization, email tools, and mobile apps. Its unique feature is the ability to create multiple spaces within a single community with customized permissions. Members can post, chat, and even live stream from within the platform. Mighty Networks assists leaders in managing growth with built-in analytics, making it an excellent tool for producers looking to scale up while keeping everything streamlined and accessible.

Swarm – Repeat Entry for Its Creator Community Focus

Swarm deserves another mention for its strong focus on creator-led spaces. It offers monetization tools, flexible payment options, and built-in chat to scale engagement. Many independent creators use Swarm to create micro-communities around common interests, such as writing challenges, wellness programs, or skill-building groups. As a video-friendly community-building tool, Swarm integrates with content platforms and emphasizes member feedback. Its visual data dashboards make it easy for creators to analyze engagement without deciphering raw data. Swarm's combination of community dynamics and revenue tools makes it a formidable platform for creative entrepreneurs in 2025.

Circle – Clean Design and Seamless Member Experience

Circle is renowned for its intuitive interface and distraction-free environment, ideal for creators focusing on user experience. It supports rich content formats, including video, images, and long-form text, enabling creators to develop structured courses and discussion areas. Circle's standout feature is its flexibility in organizing spaces—creators can establish public, private, or secret groups within a single hub. It integrates with tools like Zapier, Stripe, and Slack, offering automation and monetization with minimal friction. Circle is perfect for coaches, teachers, and brand leaders seeking to streamline interaction and build a cohesive community.

Conclusion

The best platform for creating an online community in 2025 depends on your objectives, whether teaching, coaching, or content creation. While platforms like Circle and Mighty Networks offer broad customization, Swarm and Disco focus on distinct community dynamics. For educators, Skool combines fun with organization. The best group management software helps you nurture genuine connections and scale efficiently. Even small teams can build flourishing ecosystems with the right community-building tools. Assess your needs, test features, and choose a platform that aligns with your mission. The community you build depends on the software you trust to support it.