Complete platform comparison guide: real pricing, features breakdown, when to use each platform, step-by-step setup, and proven moderation strategies for 2025.
Table of Contents
Why Online Communities Matter
Communities are where engagement lives. They’re not just nice-to-haves—they’re retention engines, feedback loops, and co-creators of product direction.
The Community Impact (2025 Data)
- Community members are 5x more likely to retain than non-members
- Active communities boost revenue by 25-35% through upsells and advocacy
- 66.3% of branded communities now have dedicated moderators (up from 45% in 2023)
- Peer-led moderation reduces rule violations by 40% and increases member trust
- Communities with regular engagement see 45% higher retention rates
- Proactive moderation reduces disruptive behavior by 25%
The question isn’t whether to build a community. The question is: which platform?
Platform Comparison: Slack vs Discord vs Forum
| Aspect | Slack | Discord | Forum (Circle/Mighty Networks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Cost | $0 (90-day message history) | $0 (unlimited history) | No free (Circle: $39+, Mighty: $99+) |
| Pro Plan Cost | $8.75/user/month | N/A (fully free, Nitro upgrade for perks) | Circle: $99+, Mighty: $99-360+ |
| Best For | Work teams, internal comms | Communities, gaming, casual talk | Monetized communities, courses, memberships |
| Message History | Free: 90 days only | Unlimited (all plans) | Unlimited + searchable |
| Voice/Video Calls | 15 person (free), 50 (paid) | Unlimited participants | Circle has, Mighty has |
| Moderation Tools | Basic | Advanced (bots, roles) | Advanced + analytics |
| Content Discovery | Threads (hard to find old content) | Forum channels (better organization) | Excellent (searchable, taggable) |
| Monetization Built-In | No | No (requires external setup) | Yes (memberships, paywall) |
| Engagement (Avg 2025) | Work-focused, lower retention | 10x higher than social media | Highest if course/membership tied |
Slack Deep Dive: Pricing & Best Use
Slack Pricing (2025)
| Plan | Cost/Month | Per User/Month | Message History | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 90 days only | Small internal teams testing |
| Pro | $8.75/user (annual) | $8.75 | Unlimited | Growing teams needing history |
| Business+ | $15/user (annual) | $15 | Unlimited + compliance | Regulated industries, large teams |
| Enterprise+ | Custom pricing | Varies | Unlimited + AI | Enterprise with custom needs |
Free Plan Limitations (Important for Communities)
- 90-day message history cutoff: Older messages disappear permanently
- 10 app integrations max: Can’t connect many tools
- 1-on-1 calls only: No group video calls
- Limited file storage: 5GB total
Why Slack for Communities?
- If your community is internal (employees, partners)
- If you need advanced integrations and workflow automation
- If you want organized threads and searchable history
- NOT recommended for public/external communities: Too expensive to scale, lacks community features
Reality Check: Slack pricing scales with users. 100 community members on Pro = $875/month. 1000 members = $8,750/month. Discord handles the same community for free. That’s why Slack is rarely used for public communities anymore.
Discord Deep Dive: Pricing & Best Use
Discord Pricing (2025)
| Option | Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free Server | $0 | Unlimited members, unlimited message archive, voice/video calls, basic integrations |
| Nitro (Personal) | $9.99/month or $99.99/year | Enhanced user profile, custom badges, boosted streaming quality (for creator, not community) |
| Server Boosts | $9.99/month per boost (members can contribute) | Server-level perks: better audio quality, more emojis, higher upload limit |
What You Get Free (This is HUGE)
- Unlimited members: Host 10,000 or 100,000—same cost
- Unlimited message history: Every message stays forever
- Unlimited voice/video calls: Unlimited participants on voice channels
- 25-person video calls free (50 with Nitro): No time limits
- Forum channels: Threaded discussions like traditional forums
- Advanced moderation: Bots, roles, permissions, timeouts
- Screen sharing & Go Live streaming: Built-in
Why Discord Dominates for Communities
- Completely free (unlimited scale)
- Best voice/video experience (gaming-grade infrastructure)
- Powerful moderation tools (MEE6, Dyno bots)
- Member-friendly interface (low barrier to entry)
- Caveat: Less professional feel, limited monetization options
Discord Moderation Bots (Essential Setup)
| Bot | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| MEE6 | Auto-moderation, welcome messages, music, leveling | Most communities (most popular, 10M+ servers) |
| Dyno | Advanced auto-mod, spam filtering, command logging | Communities with high moderation needs |
| SentryBot | AI-powered spam detection, abuse prevention | Large, fast-growing communities |
| Arcane | Lightweight, customizable moderation | Communities wanting customization without bloat |
Forum Platforms Deep Dive: Circle, Mighty Networks
Forum Platform Pricing (2025)
| Platform | Basic Plan | Growth Plan | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circle | $39/month (100 members) | $99/month+ (scales with members) | Premium communities, courses, memberships |
| Mighty Networks | Courses Plan: $99/month | Business: $179/month, Growth: $360/month | Creators, builders, online educators |
| Discourse (DIY Forum) | $100-200/month (self-hosted) | Varies based on hosting | Large communities, search-first content |
Circle vs Mighty Networks
| Feature | Circle | Mighty Networks |
|---|---|---|
| Community Organization | Spaces (organized, clean) | Flexible (feature-heavy) |
| Course Integration | Add-on (less native) | Native (deeply integrated) |
| Live Streaming | Yes (native) | Yes (superior features) |
| Automation Tools | Advanced workflow builder | Zapier integration, AI Cohost |
| Customization | Strong (custom domain on Pro tier) | Excellent (white-label available) |
| Integrations | Extensive (50+ native) | Good but more limited |
| Member Engagement Avg | Good | Excellent (AI connection tools) |
When to Choose Forum Platform
- You want to monetize directly (memberships, paywalls)
- You’re teaching or selling courses alongside community
- You need content to be discoverable (SEO, search)
- You want asynchronous, long-form discussions (not real-time chat)
- You need advanced automation and member management
When to Use Each Platform (Decision Framework)
Use SLACK if:
- Community is internal (employees, partners)
- You need heavy workflow automation
- Members MUST integrate with existing tools
- Archival is critical (financial records, legal)
- You have budget for per-user costs (100 users = $875/mo)
Use DISCORD if:
- Community is public (open to anyone)
- You need real-time chat and voice
- Budget is constrained (free is perfect)
- Community is casual/gaming-focused
- You want unlimited scale without cost concerns
- Moderation sophistication is important
Use FORUM PLATFORM (Circle/Mighty) if:
- You want to monetize directly (memberships)
- Content discoverability matters (search, SEO)
- You’re building a course + community combo
- You need asynchronous long-form discussions
- You want professional branding and white-label
- Budget allows for platform costs
Hybrid Approach (Many Companies Use This)
- Primary community: Discord (free, accessible, real-time)
- Secondary content hub: Circle/Mighty (monetized, searchable, structured)
- Internal collaboration: Slack (if team-focused, not public)
Setup Guide by Platform
Discord Server Setup (15 minutes)
Step 1: Create Server
Log into Discord → “+” button → “Create My Own” → Name server → Choose region → Create
Step 2: Set Up Basic Channels
Create channels: #welcome, #announcements, #introductions, #general, #help
Step 3: Customize Roles
Server Settings → Roles → Create roles: Admin, Moderator, Member
Step 4: Add Moderation Bot (MEE6)
Visit mee6.xyz → Login → Select your server → Install MEE6 → Configure auto-moderation rules
Step 5: Set Welcome Rules
Server Settings → Safety Setup → Verification level (Moderate or High) → Set welcome message
Step 6: Promote & Invite
Get server link (Settings → Widget → Copy) → Share with target audience
Circle Community Setup (30 minutes)
Step 1: Sign Up & Create Community
Go to circle.so → Sign up → Choose plan → Create your community → Enter basic info
Step 2: Customize Settings
Community Settings → Upload logo, cover image → Set description → Customize colors
Step 3: Create Spaces
Add Spaces (like channels): General, Introductions, Resources, Events
Step 4: Enable Monetization (if needed)
Settings → Memberships → Set membership price → Configure access levels
Step 5: Invite Members
Get shareable link → Share publicly or send direct invites
Step 6: Set Moderation Rules
Settings → Moderation → Create guidelines → Assign moderators
Slack Workspace Setup (20 minutes)
Step 1: Create Workspace
slack.com → “Create a Workspace” → Enter company/org name → Invite email addresses
Step 2: Create Channels
Click “+” → Create channels: #general, #announcements, #introductions
Step 3: Set Channel Descriptions & Purposes
Channel name → Settings → Edit topic and description
Step 4: Add Integrations
Apps → Search for tools (Zapier, GitHub, Google Drive, etc.) → Install and configure
Step 5: Invite Members & Set Permissions
Admin Settings → Workspace permissions → Invite users → Assign roles
Step 6: Upgrade Plan if Needed
If you need unlimited message history, upgrade to Pro ($8.75/user/month)
Moderation Best Practices
Moderation Is Non-Negotiable
- 66.3% of branded communities have dedicated moderators (up from 45%)
- Peer-led moderation reduces violations by 40% and increases trust
- Proactive moderation reduces disruptive behavior by 25%
- Communities with regular engagement see 45% higher retention
5-Step Moderation Framework
1. Create Clear Community Guidelines
- Purpose: What is this community for?
- Behavior expectations: What’s allowed? What’s banned?
- Consequences: What happens if rules are broken?
- Reporting process: How do members report violations?
Example: “This community is for founders to share growth tactics. Spam, self-promotion of competing products, and harassment will result in a warning first, then removal.”
2. Build Your Moderation Team
- Founder/admin: Final decisions, crisis management
- 2-3 moderators: Day-to-day enforcement (for communities 500+)
- Community champions: Trusted members who report issues
Tip: Train moderators on conflict resolution and community values. They represent your brand.
3. Automate What You Can
Use bots to:
- Filter spam automatically (Discord: MEE6, Dyno)
- Warn users before removing them
- Log all actions (who deleted what, when)
- Send welcome messages to new members
4. Enforce Rules Consistently & Fairly
- Apply rules equally to all members (no favoritism)
- Before removing, give warnings (except extreme cases)
- Document why you removed someone (shows transparency)
- Give members chance to explain themselves
5. Foster Self-Moderation
- Create reporting channels (e.g., #report-abuse in Discord)
- Implement upvoting systems (good content rises, bad falls)
- Reward positive contributors (badges, recognition)
- Trust your community to police itself (40% violation reduction when they do)
What to Moderate (Priorities)
| Priority | Content Type | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Critical | Harassment, hate speech, illegal content | Immediate removal + ban |
| High | Spam, self-promotion, off-topic | Warning first, then removal |
| Medium | Misinformation, debate boundaries | Flag + provide context |
| Low | Tone issues, etiquette | Gentle nudge or ignore |
Moderation Tools by Platform
Discord: Roles/permissions, bots (MEE6/Dyno), audit logs, timeouts, bans
Slack: Channel permissions, moderation apps (Moderator.fm), message deletion, user restrictions
Circle/Mighty Networks: Built-in moderation dashboard, member verification, content flags, admin tools
Key Takeaways: Choose Your Platform
1. Slack is for work teams, not public communities. Per-user pricing scales linearly. 100 members = $875/month. Rarely makes sense for external communities.
2. Discord dominates for public communities. Free tier is genuinely unlimited (members, voice, video, message history). MEE6/Dyno bots make moderation powerful. Perfect for non-monetized communities.
3. Forum platforms (Circle, Mighty) win for monetized communities. Built-in memberships, courses, paywalls. Content is searchable. Asynchronous discussions last longer. Best ROI if you have 500+ engaged members.
4. Hybrid is common. Many communities use Discord (free, accessible, real-time) + Circle/Mighty (monetized, searchable, structured).
5. Message history matters more than you think. Slack free = 90-day cutoff (bad). Discord = unlimited (good). Forum = unlimited + searchable (best).
6. Moderation scales. Start with 1 moderator, add more as you grow. Use bots to automate spam filtering. Peer-moderation reduces violations by 40%.
7. Clear guidelines prevent 80% of problems. Most communities fail because rules are unclear. Write them down, share publicly, enforce consistently.
8. Communities with dedicated moderators retain 45% better. Moderation isn’t optional—it’s foundational. Assign someone whose job includes managing health.
Decision Quick Reference: Internal/work → Slack. Public/free → Discord. Monetized/courses → Circle. Large/search-first → Discourse/Forum.