Skip to content
ToolGPA

Alternatives · Courses

Discourse alternatives

As of Nov 13, 2026, the best Discourse alternative for most people is Circle (2.8 GPA), first in our ranking of course and community platforms.

Discourse compared with 5 alternatives: Bettermode, Circle, Mighty Networks, Khoros and Disciple Media.

Discourse has a free plan. Paid plans start at $100 per month. None of the alternatives has a free plan. 4 more offer a free trial.

Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from

Black Friday: is there a Discourse sale?

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
DiscourseThis toolFree plan · from $100/moYesWeb, iOS, Android
BettermodeFree trial · from $149/moTrial onlyWeb
CircleFree trial · from $89/moTrial onlyWeb, iOS, Android
Mighty NetworksFree trial · from $79/moTrial onlyWeb, iOS, Android
KhorosPaidNoWeb
Disciple MediaFree trial · from $599/moTrial onlyWeb, iOS, Android

Price against what you get

Discourse starts at $100 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 2 of the 4 alternatives on this chart score higher and start lower: Circle and Mighty Networks.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$5$10$20$50$100$200$500$1kMore for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessDiscourseBettermodeCircleMighty NetworksDisciple Media

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of course and community platforms, and the best at every price

How each one differs from Discourse

  1. Bettermode

    Branded community platform with Q&A, events and AI search

    • Bettermode starts at $149 per month, billed yearly ($199 billed monthly).
    • Bettermode has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Discourse.
    • Bettermode lists no iOS and Android apps, which Discourse has.
    • Bettermode also covers AI search.

    Suits: Companies building a customer or product community on their own domain

    Bettermode vs DiscourseBettermode pricing and details

  2. Circle

    Community platform with courses, events, payments and branded apps

    • Circle starts at $89 per month, billed annually ($99 billed monthly).
    • Circle has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Discourse.
    • Circle also covers workflow automation, email campaigns and online courses.
    • Circle does not cover team chat, which Discourse does.

    Suits: Creators and brands whose main product is a community

    Circle vs DiscourseCircle pricing and details

  3. Mighty Networks

    Community platform with courses, livestreams and paid memberships

    • Mighty Networks starts at $79 per month, billed annually ($950 a year).
    • Mighty Networks has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Discourse.
    • Mighty Networks also covers workflow automation and online courses.
    • Mighty Networks does not cover team chat, which Discourse does.

    Suits: Hosts running a paid membership with courses and live events

    Mighty Networks vs DiscourseMighty Networks pricing and details

  4. Khoros

    Enterprise community and social media platform with AI tools

    • Khoros has no free plan, unlike Discourse.
    • Khoros lists no iOS and Android apps, which Discourse has.
    • Khoros also covers AI search.
    • Khoros does not cover team chat, which Discourse does.

    Suits: Large brands running a customer support community

    Khoros vs DiscourseKhoros pricing and details

  5. Disciple Media

    White-label community app for iOS, Android and web

    • Disciple Media starts at $599 per month, billed yearly.
    • Disciple Media has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Discourse.
    • Disciple Media also covers online courses.
    • Disciple Media does not cover team chat, which Discourse does.

    Suits: Organizations that want a community inside its own branded mobile app

    Disciple Media vs DiscourseDisciple Media pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in Discourse

  • The free plan caps staff seats at 2 and categories at 10.
  • SSO, workflows, events and gamification are on Business ($500 a month) and above.
  • Plans are sold by staff seats, not by members; members are unlimited.
  • It is a discussion forum, not a course platform, so it has no built-in course checkout.
Discourse pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to Discourse?

The alternatives to Discourse in this directory are Bettermode, Circle, Mighty Networks, Khoros and Disciple Media. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Discourse.

Is there a free alternative to Discourse?

None of the alternatives listed here has a free plan. Bettermode, Circle, Mighty Networks and Disciple Media offer a free trial.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 17, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.