Community plugins and platforms, side by side.
What each tool does, what’s free, and what needs a paid plan or an add-on. Use it to pick the one that fits you, whether that’s ours, the one you already have, or another.
checked on 11 Nov 2026, on each tool’s own site.
Start with what you need most.
Mostly a community
On WordPress, MemBuild Community, BuddyBoss, FluentCommunity and PeepSo each have a feed, profiles and a member directory in their free plugin. Hosted, Circle, Skool and Mighty Networks are built around the community.
See the community tableMostly courses, with quizzes and certificates
LearnDash and LifterLMS have both built in. Tutor LMS has quizzes for free and certificates on Pro. Hosted, Kajabi, Thinkific, Podia and GoHighLevel list both on their lowest plan.
See the Courses rowsMostly selling memberships
MemberPress, Paid Memberships Pro and WishList Member are built around paid access levels, and take payments themselves.
See the Selling rowsYou’d rather not run a website
Nine hosted platforms run everything for a monthly price. Check the fee on each sale before you pick: on the lowest plans, most take between 2% and 10%.
See the hosted tables
Already on one of these and it works? Staying is a fine answer. The tables show what you’d gain and what you’d give up, so you can decide before you move anything.
Four community plugins, feature by feature.
Each one adds a feed, profiles and a member directory to your own WordPress site, free. Under each name you’ll see every paid plan with its price.
- Included in the free edition, or in the lowest plan
- Needs the plan named under it
- Needs another plugin or extra, free or paid
- Not on their own site, so ask them
| FeatureFree edition and paid plans are under each name | MemBuild CommunityFree pluginCRM Connect add-on$69/yrNo paid plan; add-ons are optional | BuddyBossFree pluginLaunch$399/yrScale$699/yrHalf price the first year | FluentCommunityFree pluginPro$199/yr | PeepSoFree pluginCommunity$149/yrUltimate$249/yrIntro price the first year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community | ||||
| FeedMembers post, comment and react | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Groups or spaces | IncludedTopics in one feed | Included | Included | IncludedPublic and private groups |
| Profiles and member directory | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Private messages | IncludedAnd group chats | Included | Included | IncludedChat too |
| Events with RSVP | Included | Add-onAn events plugin | Not listed | Add-onWP Event Manager, on Ultimate |
| Live videoPlays inside, not just a Zoom link | IncludedYouTube, Vimeo or Twitch link | Add-onWpStream | Not listed | Not listed |
| Polls | Included | Paid planLaunch plan | Included | Included |
| Reels or stories | Included | Add-onA stories plugin | Not listed | Paid planStories, Ultimate plan |
| Points and leaderboard | IncludedLevels too | Paid planScale plan | IncludedMore, and badges, on Pro | Paid planAchievements, Ultimate plan |
| Member map | Included | Add-onA maps plugin | Not listed | Add-onGEO my WP, sold separately |
| ModerationReports, blocking, review | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Courses | ||||
| Courses and lessons | Included | Paid planPaid plans, or with LearnDash | Included | Add-onLearnDash or Tutor LMS, on Ultimate |
| Quizzes | Not built in | Paid planPaid plans, or with LearnDash | Paid planPro | Add-onLearnDash or Tutor LMS |
| Certificates | Not built in | Not listedThrough LearnDash or Tutor | Paid planPro | Add-onLearnDash or Tutor LMS |
| Lessons open over time | Included | Not listedThrough LearnDash or Tutor | Included | Add-onLearnDash or Tutor LMS |
| Selling and running it | ||||
| MembershipsPaid access levels | Included | Paid planPaid plans | Add-onFluentCart, free | Add-onPaid Memberships Pro, on Ultimate |
| Takes payments | Add-onFluentCart, free | Paid planStripe, on paid plans | Add-onFluentCart, free | Add-onPMPro or WooCommerce |
| Phone app | IncludedInstallable web app | Add-onFrom $499 first year | Paid planInstallable web app, Pro | IncludedShared app, free with ads |
| Email to members | IncludedDaily summary too | IncludedEmail digest on paid plans | IncludedEmail digest | IncludedEmail digest on Community |
| Two-step login | Add-onTwo Factor, free | Add-onTwo Factor, free | Add-onFluentAuth, free | Add-onA two-factor plugin |
| Import from other tools | IncludedFrom 6 tools or a spreadsheet | IncludedFrom 7 forums and communities | IncludedFrom BuddyBoss, BuddyPress | IncludedFrom BuddyPress, BuddyBoss, Ultimate Member |
Prices are the full yearly price for one site, from each pricing page. BuddyBoss charges half for the first year and PeepSo an intro price, then the full price. BuddyBoss also names a Start plan below Launch; its price isn’t on the pricing page, so cells that need any paid plan say Paid plans. PeepSo’s free plugin now downloads from its own site, not WordPress.org.
Six course and membership plugins, next to ours.
These are built to teach or to sell access, and many sites run one of them next to a community plugin. MemBuild Community is first so you can see what each would add.
- Included in the free edition, or in the lowest plan
- Needs the plan named under it
- Needs another plugin or extra, free or paid
- Not on their own site, so ask them
| FeatureFree edition and paid plans are under each name | MemBuild CommunityFree pluginCRM Connect add-on$69/yrNo paid plan; add-ons are optional | LearnDashNo free pluginOne plan$350/yrSold as a bundle | Tutor LMSFree pluginPro$199/yr | LifterLMSFree pluginEarth$398/yrUniverse$598/yrInfinity$1,598/yrHalf price the first year | MemberPressNo free pluginLaunch$399/yrGrowth$699/yrScale$999/yrHalf price the first year | Paid Memberships ProFree pluginStandard$499/yrMax$999/yrMax 2x$2,999/yrMax plans include hosting | WishList MemberNo free pluginBasic$299/yrPlus$499/yrPro$699/yrHalf price the first year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community | |||||||
| FeedMembers post, comment and react | Included | Add-onbbPress forums, its free add-on | Add-onBuddyBoss or PeepSo, on Pro | Paid planSocial Learning, Infinity | Paid planGrowth plan | Add-onBuddyPress or BuddyBoss, free link-up | Add-onA forum plugin, such as bbPress |
| Groups or spaces | IncludedTopics in one feed | Not listedGroups are for enrolling | Not listed | Add-onBuddyPress, free | Paid planGrowth plan | Add-onBuddyPress or BuddyBoss | Not listed |
| Profiles and member directory | Included | Not listedLearner profile only | Not listedDashboards only | Paid planSocial Learning, Infinity | Paid planGrowth plan | Paid planMember Directory, Standard | Not built inNeeds a directory plugin |
| Private messages | IncludedAnd group chats | Not listed | Not listed | Add-onBuddyPress, free | Paid planScale plan | Add-onBuddyPress or BuddyBoss | Not listed |
| Events with RSVP | Included | Add-onThe Events Calendar, in the bundle | Not listedCourse calendar on Pro | Paid planEvents add-on, Infinity; RSVP not listed | Not listed | Add-onAn events plugin, free link-up | Not listed |
| Live videoPlays inside, not just a Zoom link | IncludedYouTube, Vimeo or Twitch link | Not listed | Paid planZoom or Meet, on Pro | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listedWebinar links |
| Polls | Included | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Reels or stories | Included | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Points and leaderboard | IncludedLevels too | Add-onAchievements, its free add-on | Add-onmyCred, on Pro | Not listed | Add-onGamiPress or myCred | Not listed | Paid planPlus plan |
| Member map | Included | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Paid planMember Directory, Standard | Not listed |
| ModerationReports, blocking, review | Included | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Paid planGrowth plan | Not listed | Not listed |
| Courses | |||||||
| Courses and lessons | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Add-onIts free Courses add-on | Included |
| Quizzes | Not built in | Included | Included | IncludedAdvanced quizzes on Infinity | Paid planGrowth plan | Add-onAn LMS plugin, like LearnDash | Paid planPro plan |
| Certificates | Not built in | Included | Paid planPro | Included | Paid planGrowth plan | Add-onAn LMS plugin, like LearnDash | Not built inNeeds a certificate plugin |
| Lessons open over time | Included | Included | Paid planPro | Included | Paid planGrowth plan | Add-onIts free Courses add-on | Included |
| Selling and running it | |||||||
| MembershipsPaid access levels | Included | IncludedMemberDash, built in | Paid planPro | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Takes payments | Add-onFluentCart, free | IncludedStripe, PayPal and more | IncludedStripe and subscriptions on Pro | Paid planStripe and PayPal from Earth | Included4.9% fee on Launch | Included2% Stripe fee without a paid plan | IncludedStripe, PayPal |
| Phone app | IncludedInstallable web app | Add-onLearnDash App, sold separately | Not built inPhone-friendly site | Not listed | Add-onAppKit, $1,199/yr | Not listed | Not listed |
| Email to members | IncludedDaily summary too | Add-onNotifications, its free add-on | Paid planPro | IncludedAutomatic emails | Included | Included | Included |
| Two-step login | Add-onTwo Factor, free | Not listed | Paid planPro | Not listed | Paid planGrowth plan | Not listed | Not listed |
| Import from other tools | IncludedFrom 6 tools or a spreadsheet | Add-onMigration, its free add-on | IncludedFrom LearnDash, Kajabi and more | Not built inOnly LifterLMS export files | IncludedSpreadsheet | Add-onFrom MemberPress, free; spreadsheet on Standard | IncludedSpreadsheet |
Prices are the full yearly price for one site, from each pricing page. MemberPress, LifterLMS and WishList Member charge half for the first year, then the full price. LearnDash is sold as a bundle with The Events Calendar, Give and Kadence. Paid Memberships Pro’s Max plans include hosting, and its free plugin now downloads from its own site, not WordPress.org.
Three hosted communities, next to ours.
Circle, Skool and Mighty Networks host everything for a monthly price, and none has a free plan. MemBuild Community is here as the WordPress option to hold them against: it runs on your own site, so you pay for hosting and keep your members, posts and payments there.
- Included in the free edition, or in the lowest plan
- Needs the plan named under it
- Needs another plugin or extra, free or paid
- Not on their own site, so ask them
| FeatureFree edition and paid plans are under each name | MemBuild CommunityFree pluginCRM Connect add-on$69/yrPlus your own hosting; add-ons are optional | CircleNo free planProfessional$89/moBusiness$199/moScale$419/moBilled yearly | SkoolNo free planHobby$9/moPro$99/mo | Mighty NetworksNo free planLaunch$79/moScale$179/moGrowth$354/moMighty ProCustomBilled yearly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community | ||||
| FeedMembers post, comment and react | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Groups or spaces | IncludedTopics in one feed | Included | Not listedCategories in one feed | Included |
| Profiles and member directory | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Private messages | IncludedAnd group chats | Included | Included | IncludedAnd chat spaces |
| Events with RSVP | Included | Included | IncludedCalendar; RSVP not listed | IncludedGoing, Maybe, Not going |
| Live videoPlays inside, not just a Zoom link | IncludedYouTube, Vimeo or Twitch link | Included | Included | Included20 hours a month on Launch |
| Polls | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Reels or stories | Included | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Points and leaderboard | IncludedLevels too | Included | IncludedLevels too | Included |
| Member map | Included | Included | Included | Not listed |
| ModerationReports, blocking, review | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Courses | ||||
| Courses and lessons | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Quizzes | Not built in | Included | Not listed | Included |
| Certificates | Not built in | Not listed | Not listed | Add-onFile made in Canva or Certifier |
| Lessons open over time | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Selling and running it | ||||
| MembershipsPaid access levels | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Takes payments | Add-onFluentCart, free | Included | Included | Included |
| Phone app | IncludedInstallable web app | IncludedShared app; own app on Circle Plus | IncludedShared app | IncludedShared app; own app on Mighty Pro |
| Email to members | IncludedDaily summary too | IncludedBranded emails $40/mo on Professional | Included | Included |
| Two-step login | Add-onTwo Factor, free | Included | Not listed | Included |
| Import from other tools | IncludedFrom 6 tools or a spreadsheet | Included | Not listedInvite by spreadsheet | IncludedInvite by spreadsheet |
| Where it lives | ||||
| Fee on each sale | None from us | 2% to 0.5% by plan | 10% on Hobby, 2.9% on Pro | 2% to 0.5% by plan |
| Runs on your own server | Included | NoHosted by Circle | NoHosted by Skool | NoHosted by Mighty Networks |
Prices are per month, from each pricing page. Circle and Mighty Networks show their prices billed yearly. A tick means it’s in the lowest plan. Fees on each sale are as each tool states them, and your card processor’s own fee may come on top.
Six hosted course platforms, next to ours.
Kajabi, Thinkific, Teachable, LearnWorlds, Podia and GoHighLevel lead with courses and selling, and most add a community. None has a free plan.
- Included in the free edition, or in the lowest plan
- Needs the plan named under it
- Needs another plugin or extra, free or paid
- Not on their own site, so ask them
| FeatureFree edition and paid plans are under each name | MemBuild CommunityFree pluginCRM Connect add-on$69/yrPlus your own hosting; add-ons are optional | KajabiNo free planBasic$179/moGrowth$249/moPro$499/moLess when billed yearly | ThinkificNo free planStart$109/moGrow$219/moExpand$499/moLess when billed yearly | TeachableNo free planStarter$39/moBuilder$89/moGrowth$189/moLess when billed yearly | LearnWorldsNo free planStarter$49/moPro Trainer$99/moLearning Center$299/moLess when billed yearly | PodiaNo free planMover$42/moShaker$84/moEarthquaker$150/moBilled yearly | GoHighLevelNo free planStarter$97/moUnlimited$297/moFounder$497/moBilled monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community | |||||||
| FeedMembers post, comment and react | Included | Included | Included | Not built inCommunity closed to new schools | Included | Included | Included |
| Groups or spaces | IncludedTopics in one feed | IncludedChannels | Included | Not built inCommunity closed to new schools | Included | Included | Included |
| Profiles and member directory | Included | Included | Included | Not listed | Included | Included | IncludedMembers tab |
| Private messages | IncludedAnd group chats | Included | Included | Not built inCommunity closed to new schools | Included | IncludedAnd group chats | Included |
| Events with RSVP | Included | Included | Included | Not listed | Not listedCalendar; RSVP not listed | Included | Included |
| Live videoPlays inside, not just a Zoom link | IncludedYouTube, Vimeo or Twitch link | Included | Add-onThrough Zoom | Not listed | Paid planZoom inside, from Pro Trainer | Add-onYouTube Live or Zoom link | Included |
| Polls | Included | Included | Not listed | Not listed | Included | Add-onEmbed Typeform or similar | Included |
| Reels or stories | Included | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Points and leaderboard | IncludedLevels too | Included | Add-onThrough a connected app | Not listed | Not listedBadges only | Not listedBadges only | Included |
| Member map | Included | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| ModerationReports, blocking, review | Included | Included | Included | Not listed | Included | Included | Included |
| Courses | |||||||
| Courses and lessons | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Quizzes | Not built in | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Certificates | Not built in | Included | Included | Paid planGrowth plan | Paid planFrom Pro Trainer | Included | Included |
| Lessons open over time | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Selling and running it | |||||||
| MembershipsPaid access levels | Included | Included | Included | Included | Paid planFrom Pro Trainer | Included | Included |
| Takes payments | Add-onFluentCart, free | Included | Included | Included | IncludedYour own Stripe or PayPal | Included | Included |
| Phone app | IncludedInstallable web app | IncludedShared app; own app on Pro or $199/mo | IncludedShared app; own app $199/mo | IncludedShared student app | Add-onOwn app, sold separately | Not built inPhone-friendly site | IncludedShared app; own app from $49/mo |
| Email to members | IncludedDaily summary too | Included | IncludedBulk email from Grow | Paid planFrom Builder | Paid planFrom Pro Trainer | Included100 subscribers on Mover | IncludedBilled by use |
| Two-step login | Add-onTwo Factor, free | Not built inFor owners, not members | Not listedListed for owners and admins | Not listed | Included | Included | Not listed |
| Import from other tools | IncludedFrom 6 tools or a spreadsheet | IncludedContacts | Paid planSpreadsheet, from Grow | Paid planSpreadsheet, Growth plan | Paid planFrom Pro Trainer | IncludedMoving help from Podia | IncludedIncludes a Skool importer |
| Where it lives | |||||||
| Fee on each sale | None from us | 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic, with Kajabi Payments | 2.9% + 30¢ with Thinkific Payments | 7.5% on Starter, none above | $5 per enrollment on Starter, none above | 5% on Mover, none above | Not on the pricing page |
| Runs on your own server | Included | NoHosted by Kajabi | NoHosted by Thinkific | NoHosted by Teachable | NoHosted by LearnWorlds | NoHosted by Podia | NoHosted by HighLevel |
Prices are per month, from each pricing page. Podia shows its prices billed yearly; Kajabi, Thinkific, Teachable and LearnWorlds cost less per month when billed yearly. A tick means it’s in the lowest plan. Fees on each sale are as each tool states them, and your card processor’s own fee may come on top.
Each tool in two lines.
Who it suits, and the main thing to know before you choose. Every line comes from the tables above.
WordPress community plugins
MemBuild Community
Fits if you want the community, courses and events in one free plugin on your own site.
Good to know: No quizzes or certificates. Payments go through FluentCart, a free plugin. CRM Connect, a $69 a year add-on, keeps FluentCRM, GoHighLevel, Salesforce or Keap in step with your members.
BuddyBoss
Fits if you want a full social network on WordPress. If you already run it and it does the job, staying is a fine choice.
Good to know: Feed, groups, profiles and messages are in the free plugin. Polls, courses and memberships need a paid plan, and the phone app is sold separately.
FluentCommunity
Fits if you want a community with spaces and courses, starting free.
Good to know: Quizzes, certificates, badges and the installable app are on Pro. Payments go through FluentCart, a free plugin.
PeepSo
Fits if you want a social network on WordPress with a feed, groups, chat and polls in the free plugin.
Good to know: Stories and points are on Ultimate. Courses, memberships and events come from other plugins it connects to.
WordPress course and membership plugins
LearnDash
Fits if courses are the main thing, and you need quizzes and certificates built in.
Good to know: One paid plan, sold as a bundle. Forums, points and notification emails come from its own free add-ons.
Tutor LMS
Fits if you want to start with courses and quizzes for free.
Good to know: Certificates, lessons that open over time, memberships and emails are on Pro.
LifterLMS
Fits if you want a full course plugin with quizzes, certificates and lessons that open over time, starting free.
Good to know: Card payments start on Earth. The community feed, member directory and events are on Infinity.
MemberPress
Fits if selling memberships comes first, with courses on every plan.
Good to know: The feed, groups, directory, quizzes and certificates start on Growth. Private messages are on Scale.
Paid Memberships Pro
Fits if you want flexible membership levels and payments, with the main plugin free.
Good to know: The community comes from BuddyPress or BuddyBoss. Stripe adds a 2% fee unless you have a paid plan or use your own Stripe keys.
WishList Member
Fits if you mainly need to protect pages by membership level and take payments.
Good to know: Courses are on every plan and quizzes on Pro. A feed needs a forum plugin next to it.
Hosted platforms
Circle
Fits if you want a hosted community with spaces, events, live video and courses in one place.
Good to know: Takes 2% to 0.5% of each sale, by plan. Your own branded app is on Circle Plus.
Skool
Fits if you want one simple feed with a classroom, calendar and points.
Good to know: The fee on each sale is 10% on Hobby and 2.9% on Pro. Quizzes and certificates aren’t listed.
Mighty Networks
Fits if you want a hosted community first, with courses, events and live streams in one app.
Good to know: Takes 2% to 0.5% of each sale, by plan. Your own branded app is on Mighty Pro, priced on request.
Kajabi
Fits if you want courses, community, email and payments from one hosted company.
Good to know: Plans start at $179 a month. Two-step login is for owners, not members.
Thinkific
Fits if courses with quizzes and certificates lead, and the community comes second.
Good to know: Live video runs through Zoom. Importing people from a spreadsheet starts on Grow.
Teachable
Fits if you mainly sell courses, coaching and downloads, with simple checkout.
Good to know: Starter takes 7.5% of each sale. Its help centre says the community is closed to new schools, and certificates are on Growth.
LearnWorlds
Fits if you want a full course academy with assessments and a built-in community.
Good to know: Starter charges $5 per enrollment and leaves out certificates and memberships. Your own app is sold separately.
Podia
Fits if you want one simple place to sell courses, downloads and a community.
Good to know: Mover takes 5% of each sale and emails up to 100 subscribers. No phone app; live video goes through YouTube Live or Zoom.
GoHighLevel
Fits if you already run your marketing and client list in it, and want courses and a community in the same tool.
Good to know: Emails are billed by use. Its fee on each sale isn’t on the pricing page.
What MemBuild Community doesn’t do.
It’s our plugin, so here’s where another tool may suit you better.
- No quizzes or certificates. Run it next to LearnDash or Tutor LMS if your courses need them.
- No App Store app. Members add it to their phone’s home screen and it opens like an app.
- One feed with topics. No separate spaces with their own feeds, like Circle, BuddyBoss and FluentCommunity have.
Questions owners ask
I already use BuddyBoss, LearnDash or another tool here. Should I move?
Not unless something is missing. If your tool does what you need at a price you’re happy with, staying is the right call. Use the tables to check what you’d gain and what you’d give up before you move anything.
Do I have to choose between MemBuild Community and LearnDash, Tutor LMS or MemberPress?
No. MemBuild Community is the community part, and it runs on the same WordPress site as your course or membership plugin. Keep the plugin that sells and teaches, and add the community next to it. If you’d rather move your courses into the community’s own Classroom, it imports them from LearnDash and Tutor LMS.
What’s the difference between Paid plan and Add-on?
Paid plan means the feature is part of the same product, on the plan named in the cell. The plans and their prices are under each tool’s name at the top of the table. Add-on means you install something else next to it: another plugin, or an extra that’s sold separately. The cell names it and says when it’s free.
What does “Not listed” mean?
We couldn’t find the feature on that tool’s own website, docs or pricing page when we checked. It doesn’t mean the tool can’t do it, so ask them before you decide. Where a tool’s own docs say it isn’t built in, the table says Not built in.
What doesn’t MemBuild Community do?
It has no quizzes or certificates, no App Store app (members add it to their phone’s home screen instead), and topics in one feed, not separate spaces. If quizzes and certificates matter, run it next to LearnDash or Tutor LMS.
Why is a hosted platform priced per month and WordPress per year?
That’s how each one sells. Hosted platforms include the hosting in a monthly plan and some take a share of each sale. WordPress plugins are a yearly licence or free, and you pay for your own hosting on top.
How current is this?
We read every tool’s own site on 11 Nov 2026. Prices and plans change often, so check the tool’s pricing page before you buy. The links are under Where this comes from.
Where this comes from
- MemBuild CommunityDocs
- LearnDashPricing · Add-ons
- Tutor LMSFree vs Pro · Pricing
- MemberPressPricing · Mobile app
- BuddyBossPricing · App pricing · Email digest
- FluentCommunityWordPress.org · Free and Pro · Pricing
- WishList MemberPricing · Member directory
- PeepSoPricing · Features · Moving to PeepSo
- LifterLMSPricing · Free plugin · Social Learning
- Paid Memberships ProPricing · Add-ons · Stripe fee
- CirclePricing · March 2026 release
- KajabiPricing · Two-step login
- SkoolPricing · Help centre
- ThinkificPricing · Live video · Fees
- GoHighLevelPricing · Communities · Polls
- Mighty NetworksPricing · Certificates
- TeachablePricing · Community
- LearnWorldsPricing · Community
- PodiaPricing · Features · Phone use
