How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Circle at $89 per month is the modern standard for branded creator communities.
- Mighty Networks at $95 per month combines community with courses and events.
- Skool costs $9 to $99 per month with gamification built in.
- BuddyPress is completely free for building a social network on WordPress.
- Discourse and BuddyBoss serve organizations that need forums and WordPress-native communities.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Circle | brands and creators wanting white-label communities | $89 per month | Free trial |
 Mighty Networks | creators combining community with courses | $95 per month | Free trial |
 Skool | coaches and creators wanting simplicity | $9 per month | Free trial |
 BuddyPress | free social networks on WordPress | Free | Yes |
 Discourse | open-source discussion communities | See website | Yes |
 BuddyBoss | professional WordPress community sites | See website | No |
 Bettermode | highly customizable brand communities | See website | No |
 Groupsite | private professional group collaboration | $99 per month | No |
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The best social networking software
#1
Circle
Best for: brands and creators wanting white-label communities
Visit circle.so
Starting price$89 per month
Free planFree trial
Circle is the modern standard for creator-led communities, and it is one of the few platforms that is fully white-labeled: remove Circle's branding, use your domain, and host it on your own site. Plans start around $89 per month for the Professional tier with a 14-day free trial, scaling to Business at $199 and custom Enterprise.
The engagement toolkit is deep: live streams with multiple co-hosts, automated video transcriptions, gamified rewards, private groups, and superb course creation with cohort-based delivery and drip lessons. The built-in marketing tools, website builder, and email marketing reduce the need for separate software.
Costs rise as you grow, and lower tiers limit members. For brands and businesses that want their community to look and feel like their own product, Circle is the benchmark.
What we like- Fully white-labeled branding
- Courses, events, and live streaming
- Strong engagement tools
Watch out for- Costs grow with tiers
- Member limits on lower plans
Starting price$95 per month
Free planFree trial
Mighty Networks treats community as the product, with courses built around it. Pricing starts at $95 per month for the Launch plan, with Scale at $215, Growth at $425, and custom Mighty Pro for branded apps. Every plan includes unlimited members and spaces, and a 14-day free trial is available.
The space architecture is the differentiator: modular spaces that combine chat, discussion feeds, member directories, events, and course materials in one customizable unit. Engagement features like icebreaker questions, streaks, and the People Explorer help members find each other by interest.
The $95 entry is steep for beginners, and the platform has a learning curve. For creators who want member-to-member connection as the core of a paid community business, Mighty Networks is purpose-built.
What we like- Unlimited members and spaces on every plan
- Modular spaces
- Native mobile apps
- Strong engagement
Watch out for- $95 entry
- Learning curve
- Support can be slow
Starting price$9 per month
Free planFree trial
Skool combines community, courses, and events in one deliberately simple platform. Pricing is straightforward: $9 per month for the Hobby plan or $99 per month for Pro, each with a 14-day free trial. Every group gets a community feed, a classroom with unlimited courses, a calendar, and a leaderboard.
The gamification drives engagement: points, levels, and leaderboards keep members active without manual effort. The simplicity is the strategy: one group, one price, no tiers to configure.
Each subscription covers one group only, so multiple communities multiply the cost. The Hobby plan's 10% transaction fee becomes expensive once revenue passes $900 monthly, and marketing tools are basic. For coaches running a single thriving community, Skool's focus is its strength.
What we like- $9 Hobby plan
- Simple flat pricing
- Gamification built in
- Unlimited members per group
Watch out for- One group per subscription
- Basic marketing tools
- 10% fee on Hobby plan
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
BuddyPress is the original WordPress social networking plugin, maintained by Automattic and completely free with no paid tiers. Member profiles, activity streams, groups, private messaging, and forum integration via bbPress all come at no cost.
For nonprofits, schools, and anyone who cannot spend on tooling, BuddyPress is the honest answer. The WordPress ecosystem means thousands of add-ons for every need, and upgrading to BuddyBoss later carries your work forward.
The tradeoff is polish: BuddyPress needs real theme work to look professional, and it has no built-in courses or monetization. For a purely social community on a zero budget, nothing else competes.
What we like- Completely free
- Member profiles, groups, activity streams, messaging
- Huge plugin ecosystem
Watch out for- Needs theme work to look professional
- No built-in courses or monetization
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Discourse is the open-source forum platform behind some of the internet's largest discussion communities. The software is free to self-host, with managed hosting available for teams that want it handled. It is built for civilized, high-scale discussion with trust levels, moderation tools, and excellent mobile support.
The discussion quality is the draw: features designed over a decade to keep conversations productive at scale. For developer communities, support forums, and enthusiast groups, Discourse outperforms general social platforms.
It is forum software, not a full social network: no activity feeds, no courses, no native monetization. For organizations whose community centers on discussion, it is the best tool available, and the open-source version is free.
What we like- Free open-source self-hosting
- Excellent discussion software
- Scalable
- Trusted by large communities
Watch out for- Forum-focused, not a full social network
- Self-hosting needs technical skill
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
BuddyBoss takes BuddyPress and makes it professional: a polished theme, mobile app option, and deep integrations with LearnDash and other LMS plugins for course communities. It is the most powerful community solution for WordPress users who have outgrown plain BuddyPress.
The WordPress foundation means you own everything: your data, your domain, your design. The LMS integrations serve course creators who want community alongside their curriculum, and existing BuddyPress add-ons typically carry over.
Pricing is not published on the overview page, and WordPress sites need ongoing maintenance. For serious WordPress-based communities, BuddyBoss is the upgrade path.
What we like- Built on BuddyPress
- Professional design out of the box
- LMS integrations
- Mobile app option
Watch out for- Pricing not published here
- WordPress maintenance required
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Bettermode is the most customizable community platform for brand and customer engagement, letting companies design community spaces that match their brand exactly. The modern interface and flexible spaces serve customer communities, user groups, and brand ambassador programs.
The customization depth suits companies with design resources that want the community to feel like a native part of their product. For customer engagement and support communities, the flexibility pays off.
Pricing requires a conversation, and the customization takes real effort to execute well. For brands that want a community platform shaped entirely around their identity, Bettermode offers the most control.
What we like- Most customizable white-label platform
- Modern interface
- Good for customer engagement
Watch out for- Pricing not published here
- Customization takes effort
Starting price$99 per month
Free planNo
Groupsite, founded in 2005, offers private group collaboration with social networking features: activity feeds, blogs, event management, file sharing, and member profiles in closed professional groups. Pricing starts at $99 per month.
The professional focus serves associations, corporate teams, and member organizations that need private collaboration rather than public community building. The long track record means stability and proven group workflows.
The platform shows its age next to Circle and Mighty Networks, with a less modern interface and fewer engagement innovations. For established organizations that want reliable private group software, Groupsite remains a solid option.
What we like- $99 monthly
- Private group workspaces
- Collaboration plus social networking features
Watch out for- Older platform
- Less modern than Circle or Mighty Networks
How we chose
We compared social networking software on community features, white-labeling and branding control, monetization options, mobile apps, course and event capabilities, pricing transparency, and fit for different community types. We reviewed 2026 platform comparisons, vendor documentation, and user reviews. We did not run live communities; assessments reflect current documentation and reviewer consensus as of October 2026.
Paid creator communities fit Circle, Mighty Networks, or Skool: all support memberships, courses, and engagement mechanics, differing in price and philosophy. Circle suits brands wanting white-label control; Mighty Networks suits engagement-first creators; Skool suits coaches wanting simplicity.
Customer and brand communities fit Bettermode or Groupsite: customizable spaces for support, feedback, and advocacy. Discussion-centric communities fit Discourse, free and open source.
WordPress-based communities start free with BuddyPress and graduate to BuddyBoss. Nonprofits and schools with no budget should start with BuddyPress or Discourse and spend their money on content, not software.
Own your audience: why rented reach is a trap
Every creator who built on a Facebook group or an Instagram following has learned the same lesson: the algorithm decides who sees your work, and the platform keeps your data. Your 50,000 followers are worth whatever the next algorithm change allows.
Owned communities reverse this. Your members, your email list, your content, your revenue, on your domain with your branding. The platforms above exist because the math changed: a thousand paying members at $20 monthly beats a hundred thousand followers that an algorithm may or may not show your posts to.
The migration cost is real, which is why starting owned early matters. Build the email list and the community alongside the social following, not after the algorithm turns against you.
Frequently asked questions
What is social networking software?
Social networking software lets you build your own online community: member profiles, activity feeds, groups, discussions, events, and messaging under your brand. Unlike Facebook or Instagram, you own the members, data, and revenue.
How much does it cost to build a social network?
BuddyPress and Discourse are free. Skool starts at $9 per month. Circle starts around $89 per month, Mighty Networks at $95, and Groupsite at $99. BuddyBoss and Bettermode use custom pricing. Budget content and moderation alongside software.
Circle vs Mighty Networks: which is better?
Choose Circle for white-label branding, cleaner interface, and built-in marketing tools. Choose Mighty Networks for deeper engagement features, unlimited members on every plan, and modular spaces. Both offer free trials; test with your actual community workflow.
Skool vs Circle: which should I choose?
Choose Skool for simplicity: one group, flat pricing from $9 monthly, gamification built in. Choose Circle for flexibility: white-labeling, multiple spaces, courses, and marketing tools at higher tiers. Coaches often prefer Skool; brands usually need Circle.
Can I build a social network for free?
Yes. BuddyPress is completely free on WordPress, and Discourse is free to self-host. Both need hosting and setup effort. Free tiers of hosted platforms are limited; the free path trades money for your time.
Do I need a mobile app for my community?
Members increasingly expect one. Circle, Mighty Networks, and Skool include iOS and Android apps. BuddyBoss offers a mobile app option. Branded custom apps cost extra on the higher tiers of Mighty Networks and Circle.
Sources we checked (5)
- https://circle.so/blog/best-membership-platforms
- https://softwarefinder.com/collaboration-productivity-software/mighty-networks
- https://www.fahimai.com/skool-vs-circle
- https://woocommercify.com/blog/best-wordpress-community-plugin/
- https://mspcost.com/c/paid-community-platforms/guide/pdf
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.