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Top Community & Forum Platforms for Startups of 2025 - 7 Products Analyzed

Albert Richer
Curated by :
Albert Richer
Updated Nov 22, 2025

For more options, view the complete software list in our Community & Forum Platforms section.

Community & Forum Platforms for Startups
Albert Richer

Choosing the Right Community & Forum Platform for Your Startup: What the Data Says When it comes to building a thriving online community, startups need to sift through a sea of platforms, and market research suggests that not all options are created equal. Customer reviews often highlight that features like mobile accessibility and user-friendly interfaces are essential for engaging your audience effectively. Choosing the Right Community & Forum Platform for Your Startup: What the Data Says When it comes to building a thriving online community, startups need to sift through a sea of platforms, and market research suggests that not all options are created equal.

Similar Categories
1
Expert Score
10.0 / 10
603
54
1
Startup Grind
10.0

Startup Grind

Startup Grind
View Website
Free access to community, premium memberships available

Why We Love It

Startup Grind stands out in the industry because it's not just software; it's a vibrant, global community of entrepreneurs. It provides start-ups with the education, connections, and opportunities they need to grow. The platform hosts events and webinars, offers educational resources, and provides a space for entrepreneurs to connect and share ideas. This tailored support system is indispensable for start-ups looking for growth and sustainability in a competitive market.

Pros

  • Global networking opportunities
  • Targeted educational resources
  • Start-up specific events and webinars
  • Opportunity listings

Cons

  • Premium features require payment
  • Not a software tool, but a platform
  • May not cater to all niche industries

Free access to community, premium memberships available

Startup Grind is a global community designed specifically for entrepreneurs. It fosters education, connections, and opportunities, meeting the unique needs of start-ups and scale-ups in need of networking and growth support.

Pros

  • Global networking opportunities
  • Targeted educational resources
  • Start-up specific events and webinars
  • Opportunity listings

Cons

  • Premium features require payment
  • Not a software tool, but a platform
  • May not cater to all niche industries

Why We Love It

Startup Grind stands out in the industry because it's not just software; it's a vibrant, global community of entrepreneurs. It provides start-ups with the education, connections, and opportunities they need to grow. The platform hosts events and webinars, offers educational resources, and provides a space for entrepreneurs to connect and share ideas. This tailored support system is indispensable for start-ups looking for growth and sustainability in a competitive market.

Pros

  • Global networking opportunities
  • Targeted educational resources
  • Start-up specific events and webinars
  • Opportunity listings

Cons

  • Premium features require payment
  • Not a software tool, but a platform
  • May not cater to all niche industries

Why We Love It

Startup Grind stands out in the industry because it's not just software; it's a vibrant, global community of entrepreneurs. It provides start-ups with the education, connections, and opportunities they need to grow. The platform hosts events and webinars, offers educational resources, and provides a space for entrepreneurs to connect and share ideas. This tailored support system is indispensable for start-ups looking for growth and sustainability in a competitive market.

Free access to community, premium memberships available

Startup Grind is a global community designed specifically for entrepreneurs. It fosters education, connections, and opportunities, meeting the unique needs of start-ups and scale-ups in need of networking and growth support.

2
Expert Score
9.9 / 10
458
33
ENGAGEMENT BOOST
COMMUNITY BUILDER
2
Featurebase Community Platform
9.9

Featurebase Community Platform

Featurebase Community Platform
View Website
Affordable pricing with free trial available
ENGAGEMENT BOOST
COMMUNITY BUILDER

Why We Love It

Featurebase is a perfect fit for startups looking to build and grow a vibrant, engaged community. Its ease of use and affordability make it accessible for startups, while its focus on community engagement helps startups build a loyal user base. The ability to customize forums also allows startups to create a platform that reflects their brand identity, making it a valuable tool for brand building and customer interaction.

Pros

  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Customizable community forums
  • Affordable for startups
  • Promotes user engagement
  • Effective in building brand loyalty

Cons

  • Limited advanced features
  • May not scale well for large enterprises

Affordable pricing with free trial available

Featurebase is a modern and economical community platform designed to cater to the specific needs of fast-growing startups. It is specifically designed to create engaging and customizable community forums, giving users a platform to express themselves, thereby fostering a strong, engaged community around your brand.

Pros

  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Customizable community forums
  • Affordable for startups
  • Promotes user engagement
  • Effective in building brand loyalty

Cons

  • Limited advanced features
  • May not scale well for large enterprises
ENGAGEMENT BOOST
COMMUNITY BUILDER

Why We Love It

Featurebase is a perfect fit for startups looking to build and grow a vibrant, engaged community. Its ease of use and affordability make it accessible for startups, while its focus on community engagement helps startups build a loyal user base. The ability to customize forums also allows startups to create a platform that reflects their brand identity, making it a valuable tool for brand building and customer interaction.

Pros

  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Customizable community forums
  • Affordable for startups
  • Promotes user engagement
  • Effective in building brand loyalty

Cons

  • Limited advanced features
  • May not scale well for large enterprises

Why We Love It

Featurebase is a perfect fit for startups looking to build and grow a vibrant, engaged community. Its ease of use and affordability make it accessible for startups, while its focus on community engagement helps startups build a loyal user base. The ability to customize forums also allows startups to create a platform that reflects their brand identity, making it a valuable tool for brand building and customer interaction.

Affordable pricing with free trial available

Featurebase is a modern and economical community platform designed to cater to the specific needs of fast-growing startups. It is specifically designed to create engaging and customizable community forums, giving users a platform to express themselves, thereby fostering a strong, engaged community around your brand.

3
Expert Score
9.8 / 10
648
129
GROWTH CATALYST
SCALABLE SOLUTION
3
Bettermode: Customer Community Platform
9.8

Bettermode: Customer Community Platform

Bettermode: Customer Community Platform
View Website
Free plan available, pricing for advanced features upon request
GROWTH CATALYST
SCALABLE SOLUTION

Why We Love It

Bettermode is specifically designed for startups. It provides a dynamic space to create a thriving customer community, which is crucial for startups to thrive in today's competitive landscape. The platform is all-inclusive, encompassing all the tools needed to connect, engage, and grow a customer base, thereby reducing the need for multiple applications and integrations. It is an empowering tool for startups looking to build a strong brand presence.

Pros

  • Tailored for startups
  • Highly customizable
  • Promotes customer engagement
  • Supports brand growth

Cons

  • No clear pricing structure
  • May require some technical knowledge

Free plan available, pricing for advanced features upon request

Bettermode offers startups an all-in-one customer community platform. Its features foster engagement, encourage connection, and assist in growth of customer communities. It is designed to empower your brand, making it an ideal solution for startups seeking to build and nurture their customer communities.

Pros

  • Tailored for startups
  • Highly customizable
  • Promotes customer engagement
  • Supports brand growth

Cons

  • No clear pricing structure
  • May require some technical knowledge
GROWTH CATALYST
SCALABLE SOLUTION

Why We Love It

Bettermode is specifically designed for startups. It provides a dynamic space to create a thriving customer community, which is crucial for startups to thrive in today's competitive landscape. The platform is all-inclusive, encompassing all the tools needed to connect, engage, and grow a customer base, thereby reducing the need for multiple applications and integrations. It is an empowering tool for startups looking to build a strong brand presence.

Pros

  • Tailored for startups
  • Highly customizable
  • Promotes customer engagement
  • Supports brand growth

Cons

  • No clear pricing structure
  • May require some technical knowledge

Why We Love It

Bettermode is specifically designed for startups. It provides a dynamic space to create a thriving customer community, which is crucial for startups to thrive in today's competitive landscape. The platform is all-inclusive, encompassing all the tools needed to connect, engage, and grow a customer base, thereby reducing the need for multiple applications and integrations. It is an empowering tool for startups looking to build a strong brand presence.

Free plan available, pricing for advanced features upon request

Bettermode offers startups an all-in-one customer community platform. Its features foster engagement, encourage connection, and assist in growth of customer communities. It is designed to empower your brand, making it an ideal solution for startups seeking to build and nurture their customer communities.

4
Expert Score
9.7 / 10
384
169
STARTUP SYNERGY
CUSTOM FIT
4
Y Combinator
9.7

Y Combinator

Y Combinator
View Website
Funding provided in exchange for equity
STARTUP SYNERGY
CUSTOM FIT

Why We Love It

Y Combinator is more than just a software - it's a community. The platform provides startups the opportunity to receive funding, mentorship, and access to a network of successful entrepreneurs and investors. It's unique because it's tailored specifically for startups, addressing their unique needs in funding, growth, and scaling. The opportunity to be part of the YC community can drive a startup's success, making it a beloved option among industry professionals.

Pros

  • Access to a powerful network
  • Startup-specific services
  • Investment opportunities
  • Extensive mentorship
  • Credibility boost

Cons

  • Equity requirement
  • Competitive application process
  • Relocation may be necessary

Funding provided in exchange for equity

Y Combinator provides a unique platform specifically designed for startups. It is a startup accelerator that offers funding, advice, and a powerful network of peers and alumni. This is critical for startups seeking to grow and scale, as they can leverage this community to gain insights, mentorship, and potential partnerships.

Pros

  • Access to a powerful network
  • Startup-specific services
  • Investment opportunities
  • Extensive mentorship
  • Credibility boost

Cons

  • Equity requirement
  • Competitive application process
  • Relocation may be necessary
STARTUP SYNERGY
CUSTOM FIT

Why We Love It

Y Combinator is more than just a software - it's a community. The platform provides startups the opportunity to receive funding, mentorship, and access to a network of successful entrepreneurs and investors. It's unique because it's tailored specifically for startups, addressing their unique needs in funding, growth, and scaling. The opportunity to be part of the YC community can drive a startup's success, making it a beloved option among industry professionals.

Pros

  • Access to a powerful network
  • Startup-specific services
  • Investment opportunities
  • Extensive mentorship
  • Credibility boost

Cons

  • Equity requirement
  • Competitive application process
  • Relocation may be necessary

Why We Love It

Y Combinator is more than just a software - it's a community. The platform provides startups the opportunity to receive funding, mentorship, and access to a network of successful entrepreneurs and investors. It's unique because it's tailored specifically for startups, addressing their unique needs in funding, growth, and scaling. The opportunity to be part of the YC community can drive a startup's success, making it a beloved option among industry professionals.

Funding provided in exchange for equity

Y Combinator provides a unique platform specifically designed for startups. It is a startup accelerator that offers funding, advice, and a powerful network of peers and alumni. This is critical for startups seeking to grow and scale, as they can leverage this community to gain insights, mentorship, and potential partnerships.

5
Expert Score
9.6 / 10
692
168
EDUCATIONAL EDGE
REAL-TIME READY
5
Community
9.6

Community

Community
View Website
Custom pricing model available
EDUCATIONAL EDGE
REAL-TIME READY

Why We Love It

Community stands out in the industry because it empowers startups to deepen their relationships with their audience. Instead of blasting marketing messages, it allows for personalized, two-way SMS conversations, turning audience into community. It's perfect for startups, who often deal with resource constraints and need to foster strong connections with their audience quickly. Plus, it provides robust analytics to measure engagement and refine strategies.

Pros

  • Real-time customer engagement
  • Personalized communication
  • Scalable audience reach
  • Robust analytics
  • Easy integration

Cons

  • No free plan available
  • May require learning curve

Custom pricing model available

Community is a unique SaaS solution that enables startups to build and nurture personalized SMS conversations with their audiences at scale. It goes beyond conventional marketing techniques, addressing the indispensable need of startups for direct, two-way communication that fosters stronger audience engagement.

Pros

  • Real-time customer engagement
  • Personalized communication
  • Scalable audience reach
  • Robust analytics
  • Easy integration

Cons

  • No free plan available
  • May require learning curve
EDUCATIONAL EDGE
REAL-TIME READY

Why We Love It

Community stands out in the industry because it empowers startups to deepen their relationships with their audience. Instead of blasting marketing messages, it allows for personalized, two-way SMS conversations, turning audience into community. It's perfect for startups, who often deal with resource constraints and need to foster strong connections with their audience quickly. Plus, it provides robust analytics to measure engagement and refine strategies.

Pros

  • Real-time customer engagement
  • Personalized communication
  • Scalable audience reach
  • Robust analytics
  • Easy integration

Cons

  • No free plan available
  • May require learning curve

Why We Love It

Community stands out in the industry because it empowers startups to deepen their relationships with their audience. Instead of blasting marketing messages, it allows for personalized, two-way SMS conversations, turning audience into community. It's perfect for startups, who often deal with resource constraints and need to foster strong connections with their audience quickly. Plus, it provides robust analytics to measure engagement and refine strategies.

Custom pricing model available

Community is a unique SaaS solution that enables startups to build and nurture personalized SMS conversations with their audiences at scale. It goes beyond conventional marketing techniques, addressing the indispensable need of startups for direct, two-way communication that fosters stronger audience engagement.

6
Expert Score
9.5 / 10
742
71
BUDGET FRIENDLY
6
Flarum Community Framework
9.5

Flarum Community Framework

Flarum Community Framework
View Website
Free plan available
BUDGET FRIENDLY

Why We Love It

Flarum is a great solution for startups looking to build a community around their brand. It's free, which is a huge plus for startups on a budget. But beyond that, it offers scalability and customizability that allows the platform to grow with the community. It's modern, fast, and mobile-friendly, ensuring a great user experience for community members. Its extensibility means it can be tailored to fit specific needs, making it a versatile choice for startups.

Pros

  • Scalability
  • Customizability
  • Free to use
  • Mobile-friendly
  • Highly extensible

Cons

  • Lacks a built-in premium version
  • Requires technical knowledge for advanced customization

Free plan available

Flarum is a flexible, fast, and free community software that is perfectly suited for startups. It offers an extensible and scalable platform for both small and enterprise communities, addressing the need for a cost-effective, easy-to-use, and customizable forum platform in the startup industry.

Pros

  • Scalability
  • Customizability
  • Free to use
  • Mobile-friendly
  • Highly extensible

Cons

  • Lacks a built-in premium version
  • Requires technical knowledge for advanced customization
BUDGET FRIENDLY

Why We Love It

Flarum is a great solution for startups looking to build a community around their brand. It's free, which is a huge plus for startups on a budget. But beyond that, it offers scalability and customizability that allows the platform to grow with the community. It's modern, fast, and mobile-friendly, ensuring a great user experience for community members. Its extensibility means it can be tailored to fit specific needs, making it a versatile choice for startups.

Pros

  • Scalability
  • Customizability
  • Free to use
  • Mobile-friendly
  • Highly extensible

Cons

  • Lacks a built-in premium version
  • Requires technical knowledge for advanced customization

Why We Love It

Flarum is a great solution for startups looking to build a community around their brand. It's free, which is a huge plus for startups on a budget. But beyond that, it offers scalability and customizability that allows the platform to grow with the community. It's modern, fast, and mobile-friendly, ensuring a great user experience for community members. Its extensibility means it can be tailored to fit specific needs, making it a versatile choice for startups.

Free plan available

Flarum is a flexible, fast, and free community software that is perfectly suited for startups. It offers an extensible and scalable platform for both small and enterprise communities, addressing the need for a cost-effective, easy-to-use, and customizable forum platform in the startup industry.

7
Expert Score
7.2 / 10
403
83
BRAND BOOSTER
7
Circle Community Platform
7.2

Circle Community Platform

Circle Community Platform
View Website
Pricing starts at $39/month, with higher tier and custom enterprise pricing available.
BRAND BOOSTER

Why We Love It

Circle is a game-changer for startups, offering a one-stop platform for community building. Its AI-powered features allow for improved engagement and user experience. The ability to brand the platform to match your startup's identity is a huge plus, ensuring a consistent user experience. The integrated email marketing tool facilitates seamless communication with members, enhancing community engagement.

Pros

  • All-in-one platform
  • Easy community management
  • AI-powered features
  • Brand customization
  • Integrated email marketing

Cons

  • No free plan available
  • May be overkill for small communities
  • Limited third-party integrations

Pricing starts at $39/month, with higher tier and custom enterprise pricing available.

Circle is a comprehensive SaaS solution designed for startups looking to build, grow and engage with their community. It offers a suite of tools including discussions, courses, events, payments, email marketing, and AI agents, all perfectly tailored to meet the dynamic needs of a startup environment.

Pros

  • All-in-one platform
  • Easy community management
  • AI-powered features
  • Brand customization
  • Integrated email marketing

Cons

  • No free plan available
  • May be overkill for small communities
  • Limited third-party integrations
BRAND BOOSTER

Why We Love It

Circle is a game-changer for startups, offering a one-stop platform for community building. Its AI-powered features allow for improved engagement and user experience. The ability to brand the platform to match your startup's identity is a huge plus, ensuring a consistent user experience. The integrated email marketing tool facilitates seamless communication with members, enhancing community engagement.

Pros

  • All-in-one platform
  • Easy community management
  • AI-powered features
  • Brand customization
  • Integrated email marketing

Cons

  • No free plan available
  • May be overkill for small communities
  • Limited third-party integrations

Why We Love It

Circle is a game-changer for startups, offering a one-stop platform for community building. Its AI-powered features allow for improved engagement and user experience. The ability to brand the platform to match your startup's identity is a huge plus, ensuring a consistent user experience. The integrated email marketing tool facilitates seamless communication with members, enhancing community engagement.

Pricing starts at $39/month, with higher tier and custom enterprise pricing available.

Circle is a comprehensive SaaS solution designed for startups looking to build, grow and engage with their community. It offers a suite of tools including discussions, courses, events, payments, email marketing, and AI agents, all perfectly tailored to meet the dynamic needs of a startup environment.

Product Comparison

Product Has Mobile App Has Free Plan Has Free Trial Integrates With Zapier Has Public API Live Chat Support SOC 2 or ISO Certified Popular Integrations Supports SSO Starting Price
1Startup Grind
 No Yes N/A No No Email/Ticket only Not specified N/A No Free access
2Featurebase Community Platform
 Web-only No Yes - 14 days No No Email/Ticket only Not specified Limited integrations No Affordable pricing
3Bettermode: Customer Community Platform
 Yes Yes Contact for trial Yes Yes Yes Not specified Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk Yes Free plan available
4Y Combinator
 No No N/A No No Email/Ticket only Not specified N/A No Funding provided in exchange for equity
5Community
 No No Contact for trial No No Email/Ticket only Not specified Custom integrations only No Custom pricing
6Flarum Community Framework
 Web-only Yes N/A No Yes Email/Ticket only Not specified Custom integrations only No Free
7Circle Community Platform
 Yes No Yes - 14 days Yes Yes Yes Not specified Slack, Zapier, Mailchimp Yes $39/month
1

Startup Grind

Has Mobile App
No
Has Free Plan
Yes
Has Free Trial
N/A
Integrates With Zapier
No
Has Public API
No
Live Chat Support
Email/Ticket only
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
N/A
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
Free access
2

Featurebase Community Platform

Has Mobile App
Web-only
Has Free Plan
No
Has Free Trial
Yes - 14 days
Integrates With Zapier
No
Has Public API
No
Live Chat Support
Email/Ticket only
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
Limited integrations
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
Affordable pricing
3

Bettermode: Customer Community Platform

Has Mobile App
Yes
Has Free Plan
Yes
Has Free Trial
Contact for trial
Integrates With Zapier
Yes
Has Public API
Yes
Live Chat Support
Yes
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk
Supports SSO
Yes
Starting Price
Free plan available
4

Y Combinator

Has Mobile App
No
Has Free Plan
No
Has Free Trial
N/A
Integrates With Zapier
No
Has Public API
No
Live Chat Support
Email/Ticket only
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
N/A
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
Funding provided in exchange for equity
5

Community

Has Mobile App
No
Has Free Plan
No
Has Free Trial
Contact for trial
Integrates With Zapier
No
Has Public API
No
Live Chat Support
Email/Ticket only
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
Custom integrations only
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
Custom pricing
6

Flarum Community Framework

Has Mobile App
Web-only
Has Free Plan
Yes
Has Free Trial
N/A
Integrates With Zapier
No
Has Public API
Yes
Live Chat Support
Email/Ticket only
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
Custom integrations only
Supports SSO
No
Starting Price
Free
7

Circle Community Platform

Has Mobile App
Yes
Has Free Plan
No
Has Free Trial
Yes - 14 days
Integrates With Zapier
Yes
Has Public API
Yes
Live Chat Support
Yes
SOC 2 or ISO Certified
Not specified
Popular Integrations
Slack, Zapier, Mailchimp
Supports SSO
Yes
Starting Price
$39/month

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How We Rank Products

How We Evaluate Products

Our Evaluation Process

In evaluating community and forum platforms for startups, key factors considered include specifications, feature sets, customer reviews, ratings, and overall value. Specific considerations for this category involve the scalability of the platform, user engagement capabilities, integration options with existing tools, and the level of support offered to users. The research methodology focuses on comparing these specifications, analyzing customer feedback across various platforms, and evaluating the price-to-value ratio to determine the most effective solutions for startups looking to build and nurture their communities. Rankings were determined by synthesizing data from multiple sources, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of each product's strengths and weaknesses.

Verification

  • Products evaluated through comprehensive research and analysis of community engagement features.
  • Selection criteria focus on user interface design, moderation tools, and support resources for startups.
  • Comparison methodology analyzes customer feedback and expert reviews to ensure reliable platform recommendations.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions from other affiliate partners.

Frequently Asked Questions About Community & Forum Platforms for Startups

What makes a community & forum platforms for startups the "best"?

We evaluate products based on quality, performance, value for money, user reviews, durability, and ease of use. Our rankings are updated regularly to reflect the latest market offerings and user feedback.

How often do you update your community & forum platforms for startups recommendations?

Our team continuously monitors the market for new products and updates our recommendations quarterly. We also adjust rankings based on user feedback and new testing results.

Do you test all the products you recommend?

Yes, whenever possible, we physically test products in our labs. For products we can't test directly, we rely on verified user reviews, expert opinions, and detailed specifications to make informed recommendations.

What if I'm looking for a specific type of community & forum platforms for startups?

Our top 10 list covers the most popular and highly-rated options. If you have specific requirements, check our detailed product descriptions and pros/cons to find the best match for your needs.

×

Score Breakdown

0.0 / 10
Excellent

What This Award Means