In this article you’ll learn about the best platforms to host your online social community for long term growth, engagement and branding. Before we dive into comparing each provider, let’s take a look at the often-overlooked advantages of utilising a purpose-built community platform to bring your tribe together:
Customisation and Branding
These platforms provide greater opportunities for customisation and branding, allowing communities to create a unique and personalised space that aligns with their brand identity, unlike the standardised layouts of Facebook or Discord.
Focused Engagement
With dedicated platforms, there's often less distraction from external content, leading to deeper engagement within the community.
Monetisation Opportunities
Platforms like Mighty Networks and SocialGlow offer built-in monetisation features, such as membership fees or selling courses, which are not as straightforward on platforms like Facebook Groups.
Data Ownership and Privacy
Niche community platforms often provide better control over member data and privacy settings, a significant concern on broader platforms where data usage and privacy policies are frequently scrutinised.
Integrated Features:
These platforms often come with integrated features specifically designed for community building, like event management, courses, and detailed analytics, offering a more cohesive experience than general-purpose platforms.
Online Social Community Culture:
Building a community on a dedicated platform helps foster a unique culture and identity, which can be challenging to achieve on more generic platforms with diverse user bases.
Reduced Competition for Attention:
On platforms like Facebook, communities compete with a vast array of content for user attention, whereas on dedicated platforms, the focus remains solely on the community's content and interactions.
These advantages highlight why brands and organisations should be paying attention to niche community platforms to cultivate their online communities, seeking more control, customisation, and a focused environment for their members.
To help you decide which platform suits your needs best, let’s dive into a detailed comparison.
Mighty Networks Vs. SocialGlow
Pricing
SocialGlow Basic: $39.95/month (annual billing).
Mighty Networks Community: $33/month (annual billing).
SocialGlow Plus: $79.95/month.
Mighty Networks Business Tier: $99/month.
SocialGlow Premium: $239.95/month.
Mighty Pro: Tailored pricing for bespoke app development.
Features
Both platforms offer app access, unlimited creation of spaces/groups, chat functionalities, and content privacy.
Mighty Networks adds immediate payment capabilities and live streaming.
SocialGlow is set to include payment features in its basic package, already offers Zapier Integrations, member data, and gamification.
Mighty Pro is aimed at large-scale operations needing brand integration and independence.
SocialGlow Premium includes VIP Support, onboarding assistance, professional integration services, live stream capabilities, and custom branding options​​.
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Mighty Networks Vs. Circle
Mighty Networks Pricing
Community Plan: $39 per month, or $33 per month when paid yearly. This plan includes everything a beginner needs to build and establish an active and engaged community​​​​.
Business Plan: $119 per month, or $99 per month when paid yearly. This plan is comparable to Circle's most popular plan, in terms of features and price​​​​.
Mighty Pro: Custom pricing. This service is used for creating your own branded app and is tailored to the specific needs of the user​​.
Circle Pricing
Basic Plan: $39 per month. This plan supports 1,000 members, 2 admins, 1 moderator, spaces for one community, and includes a file upload limit of 100MB, total storage of 10GB, among other features​​.
Professional Plan: $79 per month. It expands upon the Basic plan with support for 10,000 members, 15 admins, 15 moderators, 100 spaces, a 500MB file upload limit, and 100GB total storage, plus additional advanced features​​.
Enterprise Plan: $199 per month. This top-tier plan includes support for 100,000 members, 100 admins, 100 moderators, 1,000 spaces, 3 communities, a 1GB file upload limit, 1TB total storage, and other premium features​​.
Core Features
Navigation: Circle offers simple navigation with a customisable left-hand menu. Mighty Networks’ navigation is improved but can be confusing.
Conversation: Circle supports post-style and chat spaces. Mighty Networks uses a feed system for articles, questions, polls, and thread-style posts.
Courses: Both platforms offer course creation tools, but only in their business plans.
Events and Video
Circle: Can host calls directly or via Zoom link, but cannot host public events in a private community without membership.
Mighty Networks: Integrates with Zoom, but has limitations on hours, speakers, and viewers.
Heartbeat: Excels in hosting events, allowing private/public events on the platform, voice/video rooms, Zoom integration, and live notifications.
Member Segmentation and Privacy
Circle: Offers open, private, and secret space options, suitable for communities needing both public and private conversations.
Heartbeat: Advanced member segmentation with groups and categories.
Mighty Networks: Allows member segmentation through tags, profile fields, and invite links​​.
Which Platform is the Best?
Mighty Networks is ideal for detailed course creation and a comprehensive suite of features, but can be complex in navigation.
SocialGlow stands out for its affordability, unique features like gamification, and comprehensive support, suitable for a broad range of businesses.
Circle excels in navigation simplicity and event management, perfect for communities emphasising public and private interactions.
To choose the right platform, consider your specific needs, such as the importance of course creation, event management, member segmentation, and budget constraints.