Build a community forum
Give your users a home base. A space to connect, help each other, and stick around.
Categories: engagement
Tools that power the Build a community forum stack
Discord — Real-time chat community
Create channels, voice rooms, and bots for an active real-time community
Circle — Structured community platform
Modern community space with spaces, courses, and member profiles for creators
Discourse — Async discussion forum
Open-source forum software trusted by major developer communities
Slack — Professional workspace
Channel-based messaging suited for professional and B2B communities
Setup guide
- Discord: Choose one community platform rather than installing all four. For Discord, create a server, define rules and moderator roles, and configure topic channels and onboarding. Test a new member’s permissions before inviting the community. (Read official instructions)
- Circle: Choose Circle instead if you want a hosted member community and structured spaces. Confirm that the selected plan includes your required access and SSO features; if using SSO, follow the integration guide and test both authorized and unauthorized access before launch. (Read official instructions)
- Discourse: Choose Discourse for a discussion forum. Select hosted or self-hosted deployment, configure categories, moderation and email, and test signup and a first post. External sign-on requires its documented identity-provider/server integration; do not treat a setting toggle as the entire implementation. (Read official instructions)
- Slack: Choose Slack for a workspace-based community if its account model and history limits fit. Invite members with the appropriate roles. Slack Connect connects people across participating workspaces and may require permissions or plan features; it does not remove account requirements. Test onboarding and shared-channel access. (Read official instructions)
Check: On the selected platform, a fresh member can join and participate but cannot access moderator-only or private spaces.