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Groups.io alternatives

As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded Groups.io alternative is Hylo (3.2 GPA). It's also the best free one.

Groups.io compared with 5 alternatives: Loomio, Hylo, Discourse, NodeBB and Bettermode.

Groups.io has a free plan. Paid plans start at $20 per month minimum, at $0.04 per member. 3 of the 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.

Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from

Black Friday: is there a Groups.io sale?

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
Groups.ioThis toolFree plan · from $20/moYesWeb
LoomioFree trial · from $33/moTrial onlyWeb
HyloFreeFreeWeb, iOS, Android
DiscourseFree plan · from $100/moYesWeb, iOS, Android
NodeBBFree plan · from $20/moYesWeb
BettermodeFree trial · from $149/moTrial onlyWeb

Price against what you get

Groups.io starts at $20 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 5 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.

Hylo starts lower without scoring higher.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$5$10$20$50$100$200$500$1kMore for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessGroups.ioLoomioHyloDiscourseNodeBBBettermode

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 Groups.io

  1. Loomio

    Group decision-making software for organizations and co-ops

    • Loomio starts at $33 per month, billed annually ($39 billed monthly).
    • Loomio has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Groups.io.
    • Loomio is open source, according to its own site.
    • Loomio does not cover wiki, calendar and team chat, which Groups.io does.

    Suits: Co-ops, unions and nonprofits that decide things by consensus or vote

    Loomio vs Groups.ioLoomio pricing and details

  2. Hylo

    Free open-source platform for community groups and coordination

    • Hylo is free.
    • Hylo also lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Hylo is open source, according to its own site.
    • Hylo does not cover wiki, which Groups.io does.

    Suits: Mutual-aid groups, bioregional networks and cooperatives

    Hylo vs Groups.ioHylo pricing and details

  3. Discourse

    Open-source discussion forum software with hosted plans

    • Discourse starts at $100 per month.
    • Discourse also lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Discourse is open source, according to its own site.
    • Discourse does not cover wiki and calendar, which Groups.io does.

    Suits: Public forums, support communities and product feedback boards

    Discourse vs Groups.ioDiscourse pricing and details

  4. NodeBB

    Open-source forum software with managed hosting plans

    • NodeBB starts at $20 per month for hosting; self-hosting is free.
    • NodeBB is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • NodeBB does not cover wiki, calendar and team chat, which Groups.io does.

    Suits: Developers who want to run a forum on their own Node.js server

    NodeBB vs Groups.ioNodeBB pricing and details

  5. 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 Groups.io.
    • Bettermode also covers AI search.
    • Bettermode does not cover wiki and calendar, which Groups.io does.

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

    Bettermode vs Groups.ioBettermode pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in Groups.io

  • The free plan stops at 100 members and has no files, calendar, chat or wiki.
  • After the 30-day trial a group with more than 100 members must pick a paid plan to continue.
  • Premium is billed per member, so cost grows with the list.
  • Paid Memberships is in early access and has to be requested from support.
Groups.io pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to Groups.io?

The alternatives to Groups.io in this directory are Loomio, Hylo, Discourse, NodeBB and Bettermode. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Groups.io.

Is there a free alternative to Groups.io?

Yes. Hylo is free to use. Discourse and NodeBB have a free plan alongside paid ones.

Which Groups.io alternatives work on Android?

The Groups.io listing does not include an Android app. Hylo and Discourse list one.

Which Groups.io alternatives work on iOS?

The Groups.io listing does not include an iOS app. Hylo and Discourse list one.

Is there an open-source alternative to Groups.io?

Loomio, Hylo, Discourse and NodeBB are described as open source on their own sites.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Nov 12, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.