10 Buddyboss alternatives for your online community

Creating a community and considering Buddyboss? Let us show you a few Buddyboss alternatives you should consider before you get started.

Joanna Taylor

By Joanna Taylor  •  Updated 26 October 2024

Buddyboss alternatives

If you're considering switching from BuddyBoss or just exploring options for your online community, you're in the right place.

Here’s an in-depth look at a range of community platforms options that could be perfect BuddyBoss alternatives, whether you're focused on community building, learning management systems, or a combination of both.

Why look for Buddyboss alternatives?

Choosing an Buddyboss alternative might be the right move if you’re running into specific limitations or outgrowing its features.

While BuddyBoss is a solid solution for online community building and e-learning, it isn’t a perfect fit for everyone. Here’s why you might want to explore alternatives:

  • Pricing Flexibility: BuddyBoss offers a premium pricing model, which can be limiting for smaller businesses or startups. With annual fees and additional costs for plugins, it may not be budget-friendly for all users.
  • Complex Setup: Some users report that BuddyBoss can be challenging to set up. Its combination of online community, LMS, and membership tools requires more technical expertise, making it less ideal for beginners.
  • Limited Customization: While BuddyBoss offers a lot of features out of the box, its customization options, especially in design, can feel restrictive for those who want more creative control over their community space.
  • Heavier Resource Usage: BuddyBoss requires significant server resources, particularly when managing larger communities. This can result in higher hosting costs and performance slowdowns if not properly optimized.
  • Steeper Learning Curve: BuddyBoss comes with a range of functionalities, but for new users, this can lead to a steeper learning curve. The complexity of managing a community and integrating third-party plugins can be overwhelming.
  • Mobile App Limitations: BuddyBoss does offer a mobile app option, but it comes with a separate cost and lacks some flexibility compared to other platforms that have stronger mobile-first approaches.
  • Limited Support for Non-WordPress Users: If you're not tied to WordPress, BuddyBoss won’t be the right choice, as it's built on the WordPress ecosystem, making alternatives appealing for users who want a different framework.

10 Buddyboss alternatives: Choosing between online community platforms

Let's take a look at our top picks for the best Buddyboss alternatives for 2024. 

When considering these options, we've tried to cover the various requirements of community managers and creators who want to host online learning environments.

1. Kourses

Kourses comprehensive membership platform designed for creators looking to expand their online courses, communities, and membership sites while monetizing their content.

Kourses - BuddyBoss Alternatives

Kourses Features

Member Progress Tracking: Kourses lets you track your course progress. This helps you stay motivated to keep learning and staying engaged.
Content Organization with Hubs: The platform provides the flexibility to create customized hubs, including online courses, content pages, downloads, and online community features.
Customizable Communities: Kourses helps you create and customize your communities to get members to engage. You can also make your posts and branding for a unique social network.
Advanced Membership Management: Kourses makes managing memberships easy. You can choose different membership options, control when content is released, and connect it with popular checkout tools like OptimizeCheckouts, ThriveCart, and SamCart. It also links with autoresponder services and CRM systems.

Kourses Pros

Create beautiful membership portals: With Kourses, you can create stunning portals with your branding that make your content stand out.
Community, Course and content in one place: Kourses is an all-in-one solution for creating memberships that include online courses, communities, and content.
Super fast video hosting: It offers super fast video hosting and streaming that quickly delivers video content to your members.
Track learner progress: Kourses allows you to track and monitor learner progress through your online courses and provide feedback and support.
Organise your content: Kourses allows you to organize your content in a versatile manner, such as hubs, courses, pages, and downloads.
No matter what you want to do — teach a course online, talk with your community, or share different digital products — Kourses makes it easy in one neat, branded place.

2. PeepSo

PeepSo is a WordPress plugin that lets you create a social network within your site, making it a strong alternative to BuddyBoss.

While BuddyBoss excels in combining online community-building and e-learning, PeepSo focuses on providing an engaging social network experience.

PeepSo Home - Buddyboss Alternatives

PeepSo is a WordPress plugin that lets you create a social network within your site, making it a strong alternative to BuddyBoss.

While BuddyBoss excels in combining online community-building and e-learning, PeepSo focuses on providing an engaging social network experience.

PeepSo - Buddyboss alternative

PeepSo Key Features

Social Network Plugin: Add customizable user profiles, activity streams, and more.
Customizable Activity Streams: Supports polls, reactions, privacy settings, and pinned posts.
Custom Profile Fields: Users can personalize profiles with avatars, cover photos, and custom fields.
Integration with WordPress Plugins: Works with WooCommerce, LMS plugins like LearnDash, and more.
Premium Add-ons: Enhance functionality with premium features such as chat, groups, and social login.

PeepSo Pros

Easy setup and user-friendly interface.
Fully customizable online community design.
Seamless WordPress integration.
Scalable, with premium add-ons for advanced features.

PeepSo Pros

Limited free features; advanced features are paid.
Less suitable for complex e-learning setups.
Customization depends heavily on additional paid plugins.
Can become expensive with all premium features.

PeepSo pricing

PeepSo Pricing - BuddyBoss Alternative
  • Free Plan: Basic community-building features.
  • Ultimate Bundle: from $199/year (for 1 site) – includes everything, including mobile app integration.

Pricing varies between yearly and lifetime licenses, with discounts available for multi-year purchases.

3. BuddyX

BuddyX is a WordPress theme that works with BuddyPress or BuddyBoss to help you build an online community site.

BuddyX - Buddyboss alternative

It’s a cheaper alternative to BuddyBoss if you need something easy to set up and customize. The main focus of BuddyX is making your site look good and work smoothly with different plugins like WooCommerce for online stores or LearnDash for online courses.

BuddyX Key Features:

Easy Customization: Change the layout and style of your site with simple tools.
LMS Integration: Works well with learning plugins like LearnDash and Tutor LMS.
Supports Online Stores: You can sell products or services using WooCommerce.
Mobile-Friendly: It looks good and works well on phones and tablets.
Extra Add-Ons: Paid add-ons give you more advanced features like group activity sharing.

BuddyX Pros

More affordable than BuddyBoss.
Easy to customize the look of your site.
Works with learning and store plugins.
Quick loading speeds.

BuddyX Cons

To get advanced features, you’ll need to pay for add-ons.
Not as powerful for large communities.
Needs other plugins to expand functionality.
Custom design may need some technical knowledge.

BuddyX Pricing

BuddyX Pricing - Buddyboss alternatives
  • Free Version: Basic features to start building an online community.

  • BuddyX Pro: $79/year – offers more designs, WooCommerce integration, and better features.

  • Lifetime License: $199 for lifetime access to all features and updates.

4. Buddypress

Buddypress Home - Buddyboss alternative

BuddyPress is an open-source social networking plugin for WordPress, making it a strong alternative to BuddyBoss for those who prefer free solutions.

BuddyPress helps users add social network-like features to their WordPress site, allowing for member profiles, activity streams, groups, and more.

While it lacks some advanced design options that come with BuddyBoss, it’s highly customizable with third-party plugins and themes.

BuddyPress is popular among developers due to its flexibility and the large community of contributors supporting it.

BuddyPress Key Features:

Member Profiles: Create customizable profiles for site users with avatars and bio sections.
Activity Streams: Users can post updates, like, and comment on activities, similar to Facebook.
Groups: Allows users to create and join groups based on shared interests.
Messaging System: Provides private messaging between members.
Customizable with Plugins: Hundreds of plugins are available to expand functionality.

BuddyPress benefits / advantages / pros:

Free and open-source.
Easy integration with WordPress themes and plugins.
Highly flexible and customizable.
Supported by a large community of developers.

BuddyPress cons and limitations:

Limited out-of-the-box design options.
Requires technical skills to customize fully.
Not ideal for large communities without additional plugins.
Lacks advanced LMS features like BuddyBoss.

BuddyPress pricing:

  • Free: BuddyPress is entirely free to use, though additional plugins or themes may come with costs depending on the customization needs. There are no official pricing plans, but users may incur expenses when using premium themes or extensions.

5. bbPress

Buddyboss alternative - BBPress

bbPress is a free WordPress plugin that lets you add discussion forums to your website, making it an easy-to-use Buddyboss alternative.

Its main focus is on simplicity and speed, allowing users to create forums without slowing down their website.

bbPress is lightweight and works well with most WordPress themes, making it popular for those who want a community feature on their site but don’t need all the advanced tools of a full social network platform like BuddyBoss.

bbPress Key Features:

Forum Creation: Set up discussion forums where users can post and reply to topics.
Easy Integration: Works well with most WordPress themes and plugins without much setup.
Lightweight and Fast: bbPress is designed to keep your site fast and won’t use too many resources.
User Profiles: Forum users can create profiles and interact through replies and threads.
Plugin Extensions: There are several add-ons to improve bbPress functionality, such as private forums or polls.

bbPress benefits / advantages / pros:

Free and open-source.
Simple and fast forum setup.
Works with most WordPress themes.
Lots of plugin add-ons for extra features.

bbPress cons and limitations:

Limited to forums; not a full community platform.
Requires third-party plugins for more features.
Basic design without much customization.
Not ideal for large communities.

bbPress pricing:

  • Free: bbPress is completely free to use, though you may need to buy premium themes or plugins to improve its design or add features. There is no official pricing page as bbPress is open-source.

6. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks - Buddyboss alternative

Mighty Networks is an all-in-one community-building platform, making it a popular Buddyboss platform alternative.

It allows creators and businesses to build online communities, run courses, and offer memberships all from one platform.

Unlike BuddyBoss, which is heavily focused on WordPress integration, Mighty Networks is a standalone solution. 

It is ideal for those looking to create branded experiences for their members, and it even allows for the creation of mobile apps through their premium plan.

Mighty Networks Features

Community Building: Create online community platforms with member profiles, activity streams, and direct messaging.
Online Courses: Offers native tools to create and sell online courses, including live cohort options.
Event Management: Hosts can organize live events and webinars, with built-in RSVPs and reminders.
Mobile Apps: Custom-branded mobile apps available on the higher-tier plan.
Flexible Payment Options: Charge for memberships, events, or courses with support for over 135 currencies.

Mighty Networks Pros

All-in-one platform for communities, courses, and events.
No need for WordPress or additional plugins.
Custom-branded mobile apps for advanced users.
Easy payment and subscription management.

Mighty Networks Cons

No free plan available.
Requires paid tiers for more advanced features like courses.
The mobile app is only available on the Pro plan.
Limited storage on lower-tier plans.

Mighty Networks Pricing

Mighty Networks pricing
  • Community Plan: $40/month (or $33/month paid yearly). Includes community-building features, events, and memberships.
  • Business Plan: $219/month (or $199/month paid yearly). Adds online courses, advanced analytics, and more storage.
  • Mighty Pro: Custom pricing based on needs. Includes custom-branded mobile apps and full support.

7. Disciple

Disciple BuddyBoss Alternative

Disciple is a community-building platform that offers a flexible, branded space for creators, businesses, and organizations.

Unlike BuddyBoss, which integrates with WordPress, Disciple is a standalone platform. It allows users to create private, members-only communities that can be accessed via a website or mobile app.

Disciple BuddyBoss alternative

Disciple focuses on helping creators manage and engage their audience through various tools like groups, direct messaging, and content sharing. 

It's ideal for anyone looking to grow a dedicated following or monetize their community.

Disciple Key Features

Custom-Branded Community: Build a fully customizable community with your own branding.
Mobile App: Available on iOS and Android, giving members easy access to the community.
Group Management: Create and manage groups to keep members organized and engaged.
Content Sharing: Share posts, videos, and files directly within the community.
Monetization Tools: Charge for memberships, events, or other content with integrated payment systems.

Disciple Pros

Easy to create a branded space.
Strong mobile app experience.
Monetization options for memberships and content.
No technical skills needed to get started.

Disciple Cons

No free version available.
Limited customization compared to open-source platforms.
Higher cost for larger communities.
Requires migration if moving from other platforms.

Disciple Pricing

Disciple Pricing
  • Web Community Plan: Starts at $55/month for web access only.
  • Mobile App Community Plan: Starts at $249/month, includes both web and mobile access.
  • Custom Plan: Available for enterprise clients with larger communities or specific needs.

8. Hivebrite

HiveBrite Home

Hivebrite is a comprehensive community management platform that offers powerful tools for organizations to build, manage, and engage their communities.

As a Buddyboss platform alternative, Hivebrite focuses on creating customizable and professional community environments for various sectors, such as education, non-profits, and professional networks.

Unlike BuddyBoss, which is more suited for creators and small businesses, Hivebrite is geared toward large, organized communities that require complex management features and in-depth member engagement tools.

Hivebrite Features

Customizable Platform: Design your community with tailored branding, personalized content, and seamless integration.
Event Management: Organize events, manage RSVPs, and communicate directly with attendees.
Job Board and Member Directory: Offer job postings and detailed member profiles to increase networking opportunities.
Analytics and Reporting: Track member activity and community growth with advanced analytics.
Monetization Options: Enable paid memberships, sponsorships, and fundraising opportunities directly within the platform.

Hivebrite Pros

Fully customizable for large, professional communities.
Strong tools for managing events, networking, and content.
Advanced analytics and reporting for tracking engagement.
Scalable for organizations of any size.

Hivebrite Cons

High cost compared to smaller community platforms.
Best suited for larger, organized communities rather than individual creators.
Steep learning curve for users new to community platforms.
Requires more setup compared to simpler platforms.

Hivebrite Pricing

Hivebrite book a demo

Hivebrite’s pricing is based on a custom quote system, which means you need to contact their sales team for specific costs.

Pricing typically scales with the size of the community and the features required, making it ideal for larger organizations with complex needs.

9. Circle

Circle - Buddyboss alternative

Circle is a community platform designed for creators, brands, and businesses to engage their audiences with private spaces, courses, and memberships.

It's a standalone solution that includes all the community features you would expect from viable Buddyboss alternatives. It provides a clean, intuitive interface and is popular for building online learning community sites.

Circle is ideal for those who need a simple yet powerful platform to host members, courses, and discussions without the complexity of WordPress integration.

Circle Features

Private Spaces: Create focused discussion areas, courses, and member interactions in a distraction-free environment.
Course Creation: Build and sell courses within the platform, integrating with the community experience.
Live Streaming and Events: Host live video events and webinars to engage with members in real-time.
Membership Tiers: Offer different membership levels with customizable pricing for exclusive content and features.
Analytics: Track member engagement and measure the effectiveness of your community through detailed analytics.

Circle Pros

Simple and user-friendly interface.
Fully standalone, no WordPress integration needed.
Excellent tools for course creation and member monetization.
Flexible membership tiers and private spaces for targeted content.

Circle Cons

Limited customization compared to open-source platforms.
Higher pricing than some alternatives for larger communities.
Features like live streaming and advanced analytics are available on higher-priced plans.
Not ideal for very large-scale communities with complex needs.

Circle Pricing

Circle Pricing - Buddyboss alternative
  • Basic Plan: $39/month or $29/month when billed annually, includes 10 spaces, unlimited members, and basic features.

  • Professional Plan: $89/month or $69/month when billed annually, adds live streams, courses, and more customization options.

  • Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for large communities, includes premium features like API access, advanced analytics, and a dedicated customer success manager.

10. Kajabi

Kajabi - Buddyboss alternative

Kajabi is one of the best buddyboss alternatives if you're looking for an all-in-one platform designed for building online courses, hosting your entire community as well as the marketing features required to grow your customer base.

Whilist it's not one of the cheaper alternatives, Kajabi provides native features that mean you probably won't need to purchase many other third party services to run your business.

Kajabi Features

Course Creation Tools: Build and sell online courses with a wide range of multimedia options and customizable modules.
Email Marketing and Automations: Create email sequences, automated funnels, and marketing campaigns directly within the platform.
Website Builder: Use Kajabi’s drag-and-drop builder to create a professional website for your brand.
Membership Tiers: Offer different membership levels with exclusive content and community engagement.
Analytics and Insights: Track sales, user activity, and engagement through detailed analytics and reporting.
Marketing tools suite: Build sales funnels and landing pages within Kajabi.

Kajabi Pros

All-in-one platform with built-in tools for courses, marketing, and sales.
No need for third-party integrations or WordPress plugins.
Excellent customer support and onboarding process.
Ideal for entrepreneurs selling courses and digital products.
Powerful Monetization options.

Kajabi Cons

Higher cost compared to other community platforms.
Limited flexibility in design customization.
More focused on course creation than providing an online community experience.
Requires a learning curve for those unfamiliar with marketing automation.

Kajabi Pricing

Kajabi Pricing - Buddyboss alternative
  • Basic Plan: $149/month or $119/month billed annually – includes 3 products, 3 pipelines, and marketing tools.
  • Growth Plan: $199/month or $159/month billed annually – includes 15 products, 15 pipelines, and advanced automation.
  • Pro Plan: $399/month or $319/month billed annually – includes 100 products, 100 pipelines, and priority support.

How to choose the right Buddyboss alternative Community platform

With the vast range of Buddyboss alternatives available online, it can be tricky to make the right choice for your community platform.

Most importantly, you firstly need to decide if you want to base your membership or community on WordPress, or whether you'd rather choose a hosted platform.

WordPress will give you more flexibility, whilst a hosted platform like Kourses will mean you have less internal work to manage your community.

You should also consider if you need online course facilities, messaging features, or sales and marketing features like funnels and checkouts.

If you're considering a hosted platform, Kourses will give you a simple, powerful platform that means you can run your community and membership worry free from any technical headaches. 

Create. Engage. Profit

Start building a better membership site.

The power to create beautiful membership portals that make your content the star of the show. Engaging experiences. Powerful business tools.