When it comes to building online communities, Mighty Networks has earned a reputation as a reliable platform. Thousands of creators and organizations use it to build their online communities and sell courses.
But is it truly the best fit for you? The answer depends on what you’re looking for. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of Mighty Networks alternatives offering features like better video hosting capabilities, member engagement tools, intuitive user interfaces, and seamless integrations with your current platforms. From course creation to professional networking, this list covers Mighty Networks alternatives for every type of community builder:
| Platform | Comparable Features |
| Tradewing | Online communities, member management, event management, website builder, email marketing |
| BuddyBoss | Communication tools, course creation via integration, mobile app, monetization tools |
| Blue Sky eLearn | LMS, virtual event hosting, resource library, certification tracking, reporting tools |
| Discourse | Open-source platform, threaded discussions, moderation tools, gamification |
| Facebook Groups | Group privacy options, built-in engagement tools, integration with Facebook tools, auto-invite suggestions |
| Hivebrite | Member directories, event management, networking tools, fundraising tools, resource libraries |
| LinkedIn Groups | Integration with LinkedIn profiles, content sharing, moderation tools |
| Patreon | Membership tiers, content management, community engagement tools, income reporting |
| Podia | Custom storefronts, support for different file types, one-on-one coaching, built-in marketing tools |
| Thinkific | Course builder, student communities, drip content delivery, integrations |
We’ll also explore the pros and cons of Mighty Networks, giving you a fair assessment of your options.
As an organization's community manager or an individual creator, you understand the importance of finding the right platform to foster connections and deliver value to your audience. Mighty Networks is a solid choice, but don’t jump into a new platform without reviewing a variety of options first! Let's get started.
Yes, Mighty Networks is a good platform for building online communities where members can interact and learn. It's particularly good for monetizing courses, and it suits different communities well, whether you're an individual creator, personal development group, special interest group, online learning community, or membership-based organization.
Pros:
This online community platform is ideal for:
However, it’s not for everyone. Even within those groups, many people still prefer Mighty Networks competitors due to features, pricing, or other factors.
You can get a 14-day free trial of Mighty Networks’ Community Plan, but after that, the price goes up to $41/month. While some community platforms offer an entirely free version, those are usually limited in functionality and/or may only allow a very limited number of users/members.
When billed annually, you get 2 months free on any plan. With annual billing, Mighty Networks' regular plans scale up to $360/month. Mighty Pro starts at $2,000/month, giving you branded apps.
While a great community platform, Mighty Networks isn't the best option for everyone. Based on customer reviews from platforms like G2 and Capterra, common complaints include:
TL;DR: Here's a chart comparing Mighty Networks' pros and cons:
As with any software, we recommend reading reviews on unbiased platforms like G2 and Capterra. This gives you a sense of how well each platform actually works, rather than solely judging based on the positive reviews that vendors feature on their websites.
Now, let's jump into leading platforms that offer different features and price points that may better fit your needs.
Tradewing is a powerful platform designed to help associations and other membership-based organizations build vibrant online communities. With features tailored for member engagement, event hosting, and communications, Tradewing offers a seamless experience for organizations seeking a robust yet budget-friendly alternative to Mighty Networks.
Its intuitive interface makes it easy to create communities while integrated tools like email marketing and a website builder streamline outreach. You can also integrate with Stripe, Constant Contact, and a variety of association management software solutions.
Whether you're an association, nonprofit, or professional organization, Tradewing is your best option for boosting community engagement and non-dues revenue.
One of the leading reasons people join associations is for networking opportunities. However, only 28% of associations invite new members to join an online community. Keep your members engaged with a vibrant online community built with Tradewing.
Encourage networking and skill development with features like:
Your online community will also be mobile-accessible, enabling members to participate from their favorite devices. Members can engage with others in a familiar social media-like platform where they can share content and interact with their peers.
From welcoming new members to encouraging renewals, Tradewing empowers you to create a positive member experience. Offer membership packages that inspire newcomers to join your community and create a custom application process that guides them through the process.
Accept a variety of payment options and offer grace periods, enabling members to pay how and when it makes the most sense for them. Thanks to automated renewal reminders that gently nudge them to make their payments, your members won’t forget to renew.
With real-time reporting and analytics tools, you can see how engaged members are at any point and respond quickly to lapses in engagement.
With Tradewing, you can plan, host, and promote events effortlessly. From webinars to in-person meetups, you can organize events directly within the platform, manage registrations, and even live stream events within your online community.
You have the option to open up your events to non-members, helping to increase attendance, drive revenue, and encourage new memberships. Easily adjust prices based on membership tiers and by enabling promotional codes. With custom registration fields, you can collect any relevant data you need from names to dietary restrictions. For in-person events, you can even set capacity limits.
Tradewing's built-in website builder lets you create a professional and appealing website without any coding skills. Customize and brand your site, and get up and running within minutes.
You can set some pages to public while others are members-only, so every user has access to the content they need. Plus, your site will be mobile-optimized right out of the box, so people can access it anywhere.
Ongoing emails are the top way associations engage tenured members. Luckily, Tradewing empowers you to stay connected with your community through integrated email marketing tools. Streamline outreach with features such as:
Additionally, you can use the tools you love by integrating Tradewing and your preferred email marketing platform like Constant Contact. That way, your communications, events, and member engagement data are all synced.
Tradewing helps organizations of every size in different industries. The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) is one of our happy customers who built an easily accessible online community with Tradewing.
This association's greatest assets are its members: college and high school physics teachers. They needed a solution to connect anytime to ask questions and collaborate with other educators. Prior to Tradewing, AAPT held two in-person conferences a year, but that wasn't feasible for every member due to travel costs and PTO needs.
Considering that members also wanted to connect between these meetings, AAPT invested in Tradewing. Today, members can share lesson plans, teaching methods, resources, and more whenever they need to, so they can become better physics teachers.
Watch the full story with AAPT's director of membership below:
Explore other case studies to envision what Tradewing can do for your organization and its members.
If you're still on the hunt for the right Mighty Networks alternative, we've researched plenty of options. Let's explore comparable features to Mighty Networks and pricing information for other leading community and eLearning platforms.
BuddyBoss is a powerful community-building platform designed for WordPress users. It offers flexibility to create online communities, courses, and membership sites with full control over your data and branding. With integrations for popular plugins, BuddyBoss empowers creators, educators, and businesses to deliver highly tailored experiences. Its deep WordPress integration makes it a standout choice for those who prefer open-source platforms and extensive customization.
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Blue Sky eLearn is an LMS specifically designed to support eLearning and virtual events needs for professional organizations and associations. It excels in delivering webinars, virtual events, and continuing education (CE) programs with tools for tracking certifications and managing resources. Blue Sky eLearn stands out for its robust LMS features, making it a perfect choice for organizations focused on education, training, and professional development.
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Discourse is an open-source discussion platform designed for creating vibrant, forum-based communities. Known for its simplicity and developer-friendly customization, Discourse is perfect for groups that want full control over their community infrastructure. Its intuitive design encourages meaningful discussions, while its open-source nature allows for deep integrations. For anyone seeking a forum-centric alternative to Mighty Networks, Discourse is a top choice and now powers over 20,000 online communities.
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With more than 3 billion monthly active users, Facebook is the world's most popular social media platform and offers unmatched convenience for connecting people around shared interests and causes. Bring your community members together on this platform by creating a Facebook Group. While limited in functionality, it's a free option for casual online communities.
Whether you're looking to create a private group for close-knit interactions or a public space for large-scale discussions, Facebook Groups provides a user-friendly environment to foster engagement without the need for extensive setup.
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Hivebrite is a highly customizable community management platform that serves different membership-based organizations, with a strong emphasis on educational institutions and alumni networks. It offers powerful tools for connecting alumni, organizing events, and enabling professional networking. Its user-friendly interface, coupled with advanced features like member directories and fundraising tools, makes it the ultimate solution for schools looking to build vibrant alumni communities.
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If this option sounds appealing, but you're not sold on it, check out our ultimate list of Hivebrite alternatives.
With more than 1 billion active users, LinkedIn Groups is ideal for managing professional communities centered around specific industries or topics. Leveraging LinkedIn’s massive network of professionals, Groups make it easy to connect members, foster discussions, and share industry insights. With its professional focus and integration into the LinkedIn ecosystem, LinkedIn Groups is best for organizations or individuals looking to build industry-focused communities.
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Patreon is a leading platform for digital creators looking to monetize their content and build relationships with their audience. It enables creators to earn income while providing exclusive content, rewards, or experiences to members. Its user-friendly design and monetization tools make it the go-to platform for artists, podcasters, writers, influencers, and other creators seeking community engagement.
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Podia is designed for creators who want to sell online courses, digital products, and memberships without technical headaches. Its interface makes it easy to set up and manage your storefront and content delivery. With a focus on simplicity and monetization, Podia empowers creators, educators, and entrepreneurs to grow their businesses while maintaining full control over their offerings.
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Thinkific is a leading platform for building educational communities, offering powerful tools to create, market, and deliver online courses. Tailored for educators, institutions, and businesses, Thinkific combines robust course creation features with community engagement tools to foster collaborative learning experiences. Its focus on professional-grade course delivery makes it the ideal Mighty Networks alternative for educational communities.
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Choosing the right online community platform depends on your unique needs, whether it’s selling courses, fostering professional connections, or creating a secure space for members. While Mighty Networks is a strong contender, there are numerous alternatives offering specialized features that might better align with your goals. From Podia’s seamless course-selling tools to Hivebrite’s alumni-focused capabilities, each platform has something unique to offer.
For a solution that combines powerful community-building features with advanced member management, Tradewing stands out as the ultimate choice. With tools for boosting membership renewals, non-dues revenue, and community engagement, Tradewing empowers you to build thriving, connected communities.
To set your community up for success, check out these educational resources: