I once blew $49,000 on ads and got absolutely nothing in return. Zero. Zilch. Nada. It was early in my journey with RemoteTeam, and I was convinced that if I just poured enough money into marketing, customers would come flocking. I was wrong. Dead wrong.
That painful experience taught me a valuable lesson: you can't just buy a community. You have to build it. And building a community is not about having a huge budget; it's about having the right tools and the right strategy. After that expensive failure, I went back to the drawing board. I started focusing on building a real community around our product, and that’s when everything changed. We grew 8x in just 5 months, and it was all thanks to the power of community.
I’ve learned a lot since those early days. I’ve built two successful companies, RemoteTeam and MovieLaLa, and I’ve invested in over 200 startups, including some of the biggest names in tech like OpenAI and Scale AI. And I can tell you that the single most important factor for success, especially in the early stages, is building a strong community. It’s your moat, your competitive advantage, and your most valuable asset.
But how do you actually do it? What are the tools you need to build, manage, and grow a thriving community? I get asked this question a lot, so I decided to put together a list of my top 12 community-building tools for 2026. These are the tools that I’ve seen work time and time again, both in my own companies and in the startups I’ve invested in.
The Old Guard: Still Relevant in 2026
Let's start with some of the classics. These are the tools that have been around for a while, but are still incredibly powerful for community building.
1. Slack: It’s not just for internal team communication. Slack is a fantastic tool for building a community around your product. We used it at RemoteTeam to create a space where our users could connect with each other, ask questions, and share feedback. It was like having a 24/7 focus group. The key to a successful Slack community is to be an active participant. Don't just let it run on its own. I was in our Slack community every day, answering questions, and getting to know our users. That personal touch makes all the difference. I remember one time, a user was having a problem with a specific feature. Instead of just sending them a link to the documentation, I jumped on a quick video call with them and walked them through it. That user became one of our biggest advocates and helped us get our first 100 customers.
2. Discord: If you're building a community around a more technical product or a gaming-related startup, Discord is a no-brainer. It’s got a different vibe than Slack – a bit more chaotic, but also more fun. The voice channels are a great way to host live AMAs and connect with your community in a more personal way. I’ve seen startups use Discord to build incredibly passionate and engaged communities. One of the startups I invested in, a gaming analytics company, built their entire community on Discord. They hosted weekly tournaments, AMAs with pro gamers, and even had a channel where users could submit their own ideas for new features. It was a masterclass in community building.
3. Reddit: Don't underestimate the power of Reddit. It’s one of the most engaged communities on the internet. Find the right subreddits for your niche and become an active, helpful member. Don't just spam your product. Provide value, answer questions, and build a reputation as an expert. I’ve seen startups get their first 1,000 users just from being active on Reddit. But you have to be smart about it. Don't just go in there and start spamming your product. Find a relevant subreddit, become a regular contributor, and build a reputation as someone who knows what they're talking about. Then, when the time is right, you can mention your product in a natural, non-spammy way.
The New Wave: Modern Community Platforms
Now let's talk about the new kids on the block. These are the modern community platforms that are designed specifically for building and managing online communities.
4. Circle: Circle is my top pick for a modern community platform. It’s what I recommend to most of the startups I invest in. It’s clean, easy to use, and has all the features you need to build a thriving community: forums, events, courses, and more. It’s like having your own private social network. We’re actually using Circle to build the community for my book, "Becoming Top 1%". The experience has been fantastic. We've been able to create a space where readers can connect with each other, share their own experiences, and get exclusive content. It's been a great way to build a deeper relationship with my readers and create a community that will last long after the book launch.
5. Mighty Networks: Mighty Networks is another great option. It’s similar to Circle, but with a stronger focus on courses and memberships. If you’re planning to monetize your community through paid content, Mighty Networks is a great choice. They’ve got a proven track record, with their hosts earning over $500 million in 2025. I haven't personally used Mighty Networks for one of my own companies, but I've been impressed with what I've seen. One of the startups in my portfolio, a company that teaches people how to code, uses Mighty Networks to host their entire online school. They've got thousands of students and a thriving community, all on one platform.
6. Bettermode: Formerly known as Tribe, Bettermode is a powerful and customizable community platform. It’s a great option for B2B SaaS companies that want to build a community around their product. I'm a big fan of their 'gamification' features. You can award points and badges to users for being active in the community, which is a great way to encourage engagement. I've seen this work really well for a B2B SaaS company I advise. They saw a 3x increase in user engagement after implementing Bettermode's gamification features. They’ve got some great features for integrating your community with your product, which can really change the game for user onboarding and retention.
7. Discourse: If you want to build a more traditional forum-style community, Discourse is the way to go. It’s open-source, so you have complete control over the look and feel of your community. It’s a bit more technical to set up than some of the other options, but it’s incredibly powerful and flexible. If you've got a developer on your team, you can do some pretty amazing things with Discourse. I've seen companies use it to build everything from a simple support forum to a full-blown social network. It's not for everyone, but if you're looking for a platform that you can truly make your own, Discourse is a great choice.
The Specialists: Tools for Specific Community-Building Tasks
Finally, let's look at some specialist tools that can help you with specific aspects of community building.
8. Higher Logic: If you're a larger enterprise, Higher Logic is a great option. They offer a suite of tools for community management, including forums, email marketing, and analytics. They’ve been around for a while and have a lot of experience working with big companies. I've seen Higher Logic used to power the communities of some of the biggest brands in the world. It's a solid, reliable platform that's built for scale. If you're a large enterprise with a complex community, Higher Logic is a safe bet.
9. Khoros: Khoros is another enterprise-grade community management platform. They’ve got a strong focus on AI and automation, which can help you scale your community without hiring a huge team of community managers. They claim to help companies build and scale communities faster, with far fewer resources. I'm always a bit skeptical of claims like that, but I have to admit, Khoros has some impressive technology. Their AI-powered moderation tools can save you a ton of time and money. I know a few companies that have been able to reduce their moderation costs by over 50% after switching to Khoros.
10. Sprinklr: Sprinklr is a full-service customer experience management platform, but they’ve also got a great community management tool. If you’re looking for a single platform to manage all of your customer interactions, Sprinklr is worth a look. I'm generally not a fan of 'all-in-one' platforms, as they tend to be a jack of all trades and a master of none. But Sprinklr is an exception. They've done a great job of integrating their community management tool with their other products, and the result is a seamless experience for both you and your customers.
11. Glue Up: If you’re running an association, chamber of commerce, or nonprofit, Glue Up is a fantastic all-in-one platform. It can help you manage your members, events, and marketing all in one place. It’s a great way to streamline your operations and grow your community. I've seen Glue Up work wonders for a number of nonprofits I've worked with. It's a simple, intuitive platform that makes it easy to manage your members, events, and communications. If you're a small team with limited resources, Glue Up can be a lifesaver.
12. Zanfia: For creators, Zanfia is an interesting new platform. It’s designed to help you build community-based products and foster deep engagement. They’ve got some advanced community tools that can help you create a unique and valuable experience for your followers. I'm really excited about the potential of platforms like Zanfia. The creator economy is booming, and there's a huge opportunity for creators to build real, sustainable businesses around their communities. Zanfia is one of the first platforms I've seen that's truly built for creators, and I think we're going to see a lot more like it in the years to come.
It's a Wrap
Building a community is not a "nice to have" anymore. It's a "must have." It's the most powerful growth engine you have. Don't make the same mistake I did and blow your budget on ads. Instead, invest your time and energy in building a real, authentic community around your product. It's the best investment you'll ever make.
And remember, the tools are just one piece of the puzzle. The most important thing is to be genuine, be helpful, and be human. Your community is not just a collection of users; they're people. Treat them like people, and they'll become your biggest advocates.
So, what are you waiting for? Go build your community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most common pushback you get on this?
People often push back by citing exceptions or edge cases. And they're usually right that exceptions exist. But building a strategy around exceptions rather than patterns is a losing game for most founders.
Do all experts agree with this view?
No, and that's fine. The best ideas in business are often contrarian. I share my perspective based on my experience and data, but I encourage you to seek out opposing viewpoints and form your own conclusions.
How can I apply this thinking to my own situation?
Start by identifying the core principle behind the opinion, not the specific example. Then ask yourself: does this principle apply to my context? If yes, test it in a small, low-risk way before going all in.