The Community Platform Decision
You've decided to build a community around your course.
Great choice. Communities create stickiness, improve student results, and generate recurring revenue.
But now comes the hard part: Where do you actually build it?
Discord, Circle, and Slack are the three platforms I see course creators debate most. Each has passionate advocates. Each has real trade-offs.
I'm going to break down exactly what you need to know to make the right choice for YOUR situation.
No platform is universally "best." But there IS a best platform for you.
The Quick Overview
Before we dive deep, here's the 30-second version:
Discord – Free, real-time chat, great for active communities. Feels casual and fun. Learning curve for non-gamers.
Circle – Built for creators, clean interface, courses + community together. Paid platform. Professional feel.
Slack – Professional, organized, familiar to business users. Gets expensive. Not designed for communities.
Now let's explore what really matters.
Discord: The Real-Time Community
What Discord Is
Discord started as a gaming platform but has evolved into a general community tool. It's organized around servers (your community) and channels (topic-based conversations).
The Discord Experience
Discord is chat-first. Conversations happen in real-time. Messages flow quickly. It feels alive and dynamic.
Think of it like a virtual hangout space where people pop in and out throughout the day.
Discord Strengths
It's Free
This is huge. You can run a community of any size without paying Discord a dime. For course creators starting out, this removes a major barrier.
Real-Time Energy
When your community is active, Discord feels electric. Quick questions get quick answers. People form genuine connections through casual chat.
Voice Channels
Built-in voice and video chat. Host office hours, study groups, or casual hangouts without needing Zoom. Members can drop in and out naturally.
Familiar to Younger Audiences
If your students are under 35, many already use Discord. Zero learning curve for them.
Customization
Bots, roles, permissions, custom emojis—Discord is incredibly flexible. You can automate welcome messages, create leveling systems, and build exactly the structure you want.
Notification Control
Members can fine-tune exactly what they want to be notified about. This reduces notification fatigue.
Discord Weaknesses
Overwhelming for Beginners
If your audience isn't familiar with Discord, the interface can be confusing. Multiple channels, roles, and settings overwhelm people.
Content Gets Buried
Chat moves fast. Important discussions get pushed up quickly. Searchability exists but isn't great.
Not Designed for Courses
Discord is a communication tool, not a learning platform. You can't host course content directly.
Casual Perception
Some professional audiences see Discord as "for gamers" and don't take it seriously.
Requires Active Moderation
Real-time chat needs real-time moderation. If you're not around, spam or off-topic content can take over.
Best For
- Tech-savvy or younger audiences
- Communities that thrive on real-time interaction
- Creators who want free with maximum flexibility
- Niches where casual, fun energy fits the brand
- Active communities with engaged members
Pricing
Free for all core features. Nitro upgrades ($9.99/month) add perks but aren't necessary.
Circle: The Creator-First Platform
What Circle Is
Circle was built specifically for creators and communities. It combines discussion forums with courses, events, and member management.
The Circle Experience
Circle feels like a modern, clean community space. It's organized around Spaces (like rooms or topics) with threaded discussions.
Less chaotic than real-time chat. More organized and intentional.
Circle Strengths
Built for Creators
Every feature is designed with course creators in mind. Courses, community, events, and member management in one place.
Clean, Professional Interface
Circle looks polished. It reflects well on your brand. No cluttered gaming aesthetics.
Threaded Discussions
Conversations are organized. Important posts don't get buried in chat flow. Members can easily find and follow specific topics.
Courses Integration
Host your course content directly in Circle. Members access everything in one platform.
Events and Live Rooms
Built-in event scheduling and live video. No need for external tools.
White-Label Options
Custom domain, custom branding. It looks like YOUR platform, not someone else's.
Great Mobile App
The Circle app is well-designed. Members can engage on the go.
Circle Weaknesses
Monthly Cost
Starts at $89/month. That's a real expense, especially when starting out.
Less Real-Time Energy
Circle is discussion-based, not chat-based. Some communities feel slower or less active compared to Discord.
Smaller Ecosystem
Fewer integrations and automations compared to Discord's bot ecosystem.
Learning Platform Limitations
While Circle has courses, it's not as robust as dedicated course platforms for complex curricula.
Best For
- Professional or business-focused audiences
- Creators who want courses + community together
- Communities where organized, searchable discussions matter
- Brands that need a polished, professional look
- Creators ready to invest in their community infrastructure
Pricing
- Basic: $89/month (up to 100 members)
- Professional: $199/month (up to 1,000 members)
- Business: $360/month (up to 10,000 members)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Slack: The Professional Default
What Slack Is
Slack is a workplace communication tool. It's organized around workspaces and channels, similar to Discord but with a professional focus.
The Slack Experience
If your members work in tech or business, they probably already use Slack daily. The interface is familiar and professional.
Slack Strengths
Familiar to Professionals
Many business professionals live in Slack. Using it for your community means one less tool for them to learn.
Organized Conversations
Channels keep topics separated. Threads keep discussions focused. Search actually works well.
Integrations
Slack connects to everything. Project management, calendars, automation tools—if it exists, it probably integrates with Slack.
Professional Perception
Slack signals "business" and "professional." For B2B courses, this matters.
Reliable
Slack is enterprise-grade infrastructure. It works. It's stable. It doesn't go down.
Slack Weaknesses
Expensive at Scale
Free tier limits message history to 90 days. Pro costs $8.75/user/month. A 100-member community costs $875/month. That's brutal.
Not Designed for Communities
Slack is a workplace tool adapted for communities. Features like member directories, events, and courses don't exist.
Notification Overload
If your members already use Slack for work, adding another workspace creates notification fatigue.
Less Community Feel
Slack feels transactional. The casualness and fun of community can get lost.
No Discovery
New members can't find your community through Slack. There's no directory or discovery feature.
Best For
- B2B or professional audiences already in Slack
- Small, high-touch communities where personalized interaction matters
- Consultants or coaches with small client groups
- Communities where members need to integrate with work tools
Pricing
- Free: 90-day message history, limited features
- Pro: $8.75/user/month
- Business+: $15/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Platform Comparison Table
| Feature | Discord | Circle | Slack | |---------|---------|--------|-------| | Cost | Free | $89-360/month | $8.75+/user/month | | Real-time chat | Excellent | Basic | Good | | Threaded discussions | Limited | Excellent | Good | | Course hosting | No | Yes | No | | Voice/video | Built-in | Built-in | Add-on | | Mobile app | Good | Excellent | Good | | Professional look | Casual | Professional | Professional | | Learning curve | Moderate | Low | Low | | Integrations | Bots | Limited | Extensive | | Best audience | Younger/tech | General | B2B/professional |
Decision Framework: Which Should You Choose?
Let me make this simple. Answer these questions:
Question 1: What's your budget?
- Tight budget (starting out): Discord
- Willing to invest $100+/month: Circle
- High-touch, small group (< 20 people): Slack or Discord
Question 2: Who's your audience?
- Under 35, tech-savvy, casual: Discord
- Business professionals, B2B: Slack or Circle
- Mixed or general audience: Circle
Question 3: What type of engagement do you want?
- Real-time, chat-based, spontaneous: Discord
- Organized, searchable, intentional: Circle
- Professional, work-integrated: Slack
Question 4: Do you need courses + community together?
- Yes, all-in-one: Circle
- No, courses live elsewhere: Discord or Slack
Question 5: How big will your community grow?
- Large community (500+): Discord or Circle
- Small, intimate group: Any platform works
My Recommendations by Creator Type
The New Course Creator
Start with Discord.
It's free. It works. You'll learn what your community needs without financial pressure. If you outgrow it or need more polish, migrate later.
The Professional or Business Coach
Choose Circle.
Your brand needs to look professional. Circle's clean interface and course integration justify the cost.
The Consultant with High-Ticket Clients
Consider Slack.
Small groups, high touch, and your clients probably already use it. The cost is manageable with fewer members.
The Technical or Developer Educator
Go with Discord.
Your audience already lives there. They'll love the customization options and bot integrations.
The Established Creator Ready to Scale
Invest in Circle.
You've proven your model. It's time for infrastructure that scales professionally.
What About Other Platforms?
Quick takes on alternatives:
Mighty Networks – All-in-one like Circle, but pricier. Good if you want built-in courses and events.
Skool – Simple community + courses. Growing quickly. Worth considering as a Circle alternative.
Facebook Groups – Free but you don't own the platform. Algorithm controls visibility. I don't recommend for serious communities.
Geneva – Newer platform, mobile-first. Worth watching but less proven.
Migration Considerations
Switching platforms later is possible but painful. Consider:
From Discord to Circle:
- Export isn't easy. You'll lose message history.
- Announce clearly, give transition time, and make the new home attractive.
From Slack to Circle:
- Similar challenges. Export what you can.
- Some members will resist change.
From Circle to Discord:
- Rare, but possible if cost becomes an issue.
- You'll lose the polished look.
My advice: Make a thoughtful initial choice. Migrating communities is harder than you'd think.
Setting Up for Success (Any Platform)
Whichever platform you choose, these principles apply:
Keep It Simple at First
Don't create 15 channels on day one. Start with 3-4 core spaces. Add more as needed.
Create Clear Guidelines
Post community guidelines visibly. Set expectations for how members interact.
Welcome New Members
Automate welcome messages. Make people feel seen when they join.
Show Up Consistently
The creator's presence sets the energy. Regular engagement matters more than perfect structure.
Empower Members
The best communities don't center on the creator. Elevate member voices. Celebrate their contributions.
Your One Small Win Today
Open each platform and explore for 10 minutes:
Don't decide yet. Just experience each interface. Notice how it feels.
Then answer: Which one matches the energy I want for my community?
That gut feeling matters more than feature lists.
Next Step
Once you've chosen your platform, you'll need a plan to run it without burning out. Read The Community Manager's Playbook: Running a Thriving Space Without Burnout for practical strategies.