Building an online course community is essential for engagement, support, and student retention. However, Facebook Groups come with serious drawbacks for course creators:

  • Limited control over audience reach (thanks to unpredictable algorithms)
  • No direct monetization options for gated content
  • Distractions from ads and unrelated posts
  • Lack of branding to make your community feel like a premium learning experience

That’s why many course creators, coaches, and membership site owners are moving to dedicated online community platforms that offer better engagement tools, monetization options, and a distraction-free learning environment.

Let’s explore the best Facebook Group alternatives for course creators and educators.

What to Look for in a Facebook Group Alternative

Before choosing a platform, consider these essential factors to ensure it aligns with your course business needs:

1. Customization & Branding

Your platform should reflect your brand identity. Look for:

  • White-label options
  • Custom domain and branding features
  • Flexible community structures

2. User-Friendly Interface

A steep learning curve can deter both you and your students. Prioritize:

  • Easy setup and navigation
  • Mobile-friendly design
  • Built-in tutorials and support

3. Engagement & Community Tools

A thriving community requires active engagement. Key features include:

  • Discussion boards and live chat
  • Polls, challenges, and leaderboards
  • Private messaging for networking

4. Monetization Options

If you’re looking to turn your community into a revenue stream, ensure the platform supports:

  • Paid memberships and subscriptions
  • Course sales and content gating
  • Affiliate and referral programs

5. Cost & Scalability

Consider both upfront costs and long-term scalability. Some platforms offer free tiers, while others require a monthly subscription. Choose based on:

  • Your budget
  • Future growth potential
  • Value for money

Best Facebook Group Alternatives for Course Creators

1. Mighty Networks – The All-in-One Course & Community Platform

Mighty Networks is one of the most popular Facebook Group alternatives for course creators who want everything in one place—community, courses, and monetization. Unlike Facebook, Mighty Networks allows you to fully own and brand your community, while integrating online courses and paid memberships.

Why It’s Great for Course Creators:

Mighty Networks combines online courses and communities seamlessly, creating an interactive learning experience. Instead of forcing your students to access content on one platform (like Teachable) and engage on another (like Facebook Groups), they can do everything within your branded Mighty Network.

Key Features:

  • All-in-one platform – Combines courses, community, and membership features
  • Custom branding – Use your own domain, colors, and branding
  • Course creation tools – Built-in course hosting with modules and lessons
  • Monetization options – Charge for access, sell digital products, and offer subscriptions
  • Mobile app access – Members can engage on iOS and Android

Pricing:

Plans start at $39/month, making it an affordable choice for course creators looking for a scalable and professional community platform.

🔗 Visit Mighty Networks

2. Kajabi – The Premium Course & Community Builder

Kajabi is an all-in-one business platform designed for course creators, membership site owners, and digital entrepreneurs. It offers course hosting, community features, and advanced marketing tools—all within a premium, high-end platform.

Why It’s Great for Course Creators:

Unlike Facebook Groups, Kajabi provides a structured learning environment with built-in course hosting and community spaces. You can create private student communities where learners can interact, ask questions, and collaborate—without distractions from ads or algorithm changes.

Key Features:

  • Comprehensive course hosting – Create structured lessons with videos, PDFs, and quizzes
  • Premium community features – Run exclusive member groups with gated access
  • Built-in monetization – Charge for courses, memberships, and coaching programs
  • Advanced marketing tools – Email automation, landing pages, and sales funnels

Pricing:

Starts at $149/month, making it a premium choice for course creators who want all-in-one control over their content and community.

🔗 Visit Kajabi

3. Circle – The Best Platform for Membership Communities

Circle is a modern, minimalist community platform that’s perfect for course creators looking for a clean, distraction-free alternative to Facebook Groups. It integrates seamlessly with Teachable, Thinkific, and Kajabi, making it a great add-on for course creators.

Why It’s Great for Course Creators:

Circle is built for engagement. Unlike Facebook, where students can get distracted by ads and unrelated content, Circle provides a structured environment where students can interact, ask questions, and access exclusive resources.

Key Features:

  • Seamless integration – Works with popular course platforms like Teachable
  • Private & public communities – Control access to different discussion spaces
  • Event hosting & live calls – Foster real-time engagement through live discussions
  • Custom branding – White-labeling available for a professional look

Pricing:

Starts at $39/month, making it affordable for membership-based course creators.

🔗 Visit Circle

4. Discord – The Free & Feature-Rich Community Platform

Discord, originally built for gaming communities, has become a top choice for course creators who want a free, real-time chat-based alternative to Facebook Groups.

Why It’s Great for Course Creators:

If your students prefer chat-based interactions, Discord is a fantastic option. It offers organized channels, voice and video chat, and customizable community management tools.

Key Features:

✔️ Organized discussion channels – Separate topics for better navigation
✔️ Voice & video calls – Perfect for live coaching and Q&A sessions
✔️ Custom bots & automation – Automate engagement and moderation
✔️ Free to use – No subscription required for basic features

Pricing:

Free, with optional Discord Nitro ($9.99/month) for extra perks like better video quality and emoji customization.

🔗 Visit Discord

5. Podia – The Course Creator’s Business Hub

Podia is an all-in-one course and community platform that helps creators sell online courses, memberships, and digital products—while engaging with their students in a built-in community space.

Why It’s Great for Course Creators:

Podia eliminates the need for multiple tools by combining course hosting, memberships, and email marketing in one place. Unlike Facebook Groups, your community is fully owned by you.

Key Features:

  • Course creation tools – Host unlimited video lessons and quizzes
  • Built-in memberships – Charge for access to exclusive community spaces
  • Email marketing & automation – Stay connected with students
  • No transaction fees on paid plans

Pricing:

Free plan available (8% transaction fee); Paid plans start at $39/month.

🔗 Visit Podia

Final Thoughts: Which Platform is Best for You?

Each alternative offers unique advantages for course creators:

  • Mighty Networks → Best all-in-one course & community platform
  • Kajabi → Best premium solution for online courses & marketing
  • Circle → Best for creating engaged membership communities
  • Discord → Best free option for real-time engagement
  • Podia → Best budget-friendly platform with built-in sales tools

Choosing the right platform will help you grow your online course business, engage students, and build a thriving learning community.💬 Which platform are you considering?

Get the latest Course Creation Tips & insights

Get free expert insights and tips to grow your course business sent right to your inbox.

arrow right
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Read More Articles

✨ Reviews ✨

#1 Course Service

Ready to turn your knowledge into a thriving online course? Join the countless creators who trust Course Co., the top-rated course creation service for aspiring entrepreneurs like you.

When it comes to course creation, there’s no better partner than Course Co. With our trusted resources and expert guidance, you’ll be on the fast track to success.

Let’s build your course together—because your success is our mission! 🚀 You'll be able to:

checkmark

Save Time: Streamline your course creation process with expert training and ready-to-use templates.

checkmark

Boost Confidence: Gain step-by-step guidance and support to launch with clarity and ease.

checkmark

Grow Revenue: Leverage proven strategies to create a course that engages your audience and drives sales.

course.co creator client

Teachable

Won 2 Awards, 152,383+ Leads — "It truly represented the passion Teachable has for the creators that are saying yes to their passions, big ideas and sharing it with the world."

teri ijeoma course creation services

Teri Ijeoma

$5M+ Lifetime Sales — "Seamlessly came into my team and helped with messaging and thinking through the story and pain points that my audience have."

echo summer hill course creation services

Echo Summer Hill

"We’re converting a 67% close rate! We're clearing $30k in just a few hours of launch!"

course.co creator

Ricky Rohaidy

"First mini course sale today!!!!!!!!! Thank you both for all your hard work on this project. Looking forward to many more sales!"

course.co creator

Logan Gross

"Sales are good! We should hit $200K by the end of month, so as soon as we launch this evergreen webinar and start ads I think this thing is really gonna take off!"

Which plan is right for you? Schedule a call first.

Launch your first or next online course, digital product and big idea with our course creation solutions from free to paid.

checkmark
Free Resources: Blog, Videos, Articles, Guides
checkmark
Course In A Day Workshop: On-demand training & templates.
checkmark
Course PRO: A monthly membership with advanced training & support.
checkmark
Course SERVICES: Done-for-you course creation to help you launch and scale your course business.
Schedule Call
danielle leslie course creation services
mike course creation services
course.co creator client
course.co creator

Trusted by over 10.000 students

kelsey blue