# Circle vs Discourse Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that Circle excels in overall user satisfaction, boasting a significantly higher G2 Score compared to Discourse. Users appreciate Circle's **ease of use** and **mobile-friendly** design, making it a popular choice for small businesses looking for a reliable community platform.
- **According to verified reviews** , Discourse is praised for its extensive customization options, allowing users to create various topics and categories. Reviewers highlight its ability to facilitate open discussions in a forum-style format, making it a great platform for learning and sharing ideas.
- **Users say** that Circle's support is a standout feature, with many noting the **good support** and **innovation** that enhance their experience. This is particularly beneficial for those who may need assistance during implementation or day-to-day operations.
- **Reviewers mention** that Discourse shines in its community engagement features, with tools for **batches and awards** for top contributors, fostering a sense of achievement and motivation among users. This aspect is particularly appealing for communities focused on knowledge sharing.
- **G2 reviewers highlight** that while Circle has a clean and intuitive interface, some users feel that it could improve in terms of feature reliability. This feedback suggests that while Circle is user-friendly, there may be occasional hiccups that could affect the overall experience.
- **According to recent user feedback** , Discourse's ease of setup is often commended, with many finding the onboarding process straightforward. However, some users feel that Circle's setup could be more streamlined, indicating a potential area for improvement in user experience.



| | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.0 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 515 | 68 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (85.5% of reviews) | Small-Business (43.1% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | $89.00 Per Month | $100.00 Per Month | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Circle

Pros:
- Ease of Use (129 reviews)
- Features (91 reviews)

Cons:
- Missing Features (47 reviews)
- Expensive (31 reviews)

### Discourse

Pros:
- Features (3 reviews)
- Ease of Use (2 reviews)

Cons:
- Content Management (1 reviews)
- Data Loss (1 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.5 (359 reviews) | 8.6 (50 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.8 (467 reviews) | 8.5 (49 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.4 (360 reviews) | 8.7 (15 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.5 (330 reviews) | 9.2 (12 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.3 (318 reviews) | 8.5 (41 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.8 (321 reviews) | 9.2 (11 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.9 (352 reviews) | 7.7 (50 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Circle

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Professional 

Price: $89.00 Per Month

Description: Get key community building features, all in one place.

Key Features:
- Courses
- Events and live streams
- Website builder

[Browse all 3 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/circle-so-circle/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### Discourse

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Pro

Price: $100.00 Per Month

Key Features:
- See discourse.org for details

[Browse all 3 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/discourse/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Q&A Platforms

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Circle** | N/A | N/A |
| **Discourse** | N/A | N/A |

#### Account Options

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Single Sign-On (SSO)** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Social Login** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reputation System** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Topic Subscription** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Bookmarking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **History** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Q&A Tools

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Tags** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Commenting System** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Voting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Knowledge Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Embedding** | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 
| **Formatting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Knowledge Base

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Circle** | N/A | N/A |
| **Discourse** | N/A | N/A |

#### Knowledge Pages

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Templates** | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 
| **In-Content Feedback** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Versioning and Version History** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Decision Trees** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Duplicate Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Content Editor** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **WYSIWYG Editor** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Rich Text Editor** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Drag & Drop Editor** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Templates** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Surveys & Feedback** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Knowledge Dissemination

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Page Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Knowledge Sharing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Advanced Search** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Browser Extension** | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 
| **Organization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Other Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Knowledge Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Full Text Search** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Web Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Website Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Social Media Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting/Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Knowledge Base

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Natural Language Interaction** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Language** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Search/Filter** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Commenting/Notes** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Content Publishing Options** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Content Library** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Classification** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Drag & Drop** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Branding** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SEO Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Reporting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Self Service Portal** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Widgets** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Mobile Interface** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Catalog Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Online Forums** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Alerts** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Collaboration Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Mobile Alerts** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Feedback Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Storage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Live Chat** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Chatbot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Knowledge Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Wiki** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Text Editing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SSL Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Fields** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Import/Export** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Single Sign On** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Content Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Workflow Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Knowledge Base Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Discussions/Forums** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Calendar Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Communication Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Online Learning Platform

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Circle** | N/A | N/A |
| **Discourse** | N/A | N/A |

#### Reporting Analysis

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Progress Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Course Completion** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Course Management

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Course Authoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Course Access** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Integration

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Education ERP System** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Learning Management System** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Customer Assistance

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Help and Support** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Platform Customization

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **White Labeling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Online Learning Platform

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Online Community Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Circle** | 7.6/10 | 363 |
| **Discourse** | 8.3/10 | 45 |

#### Community Building

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Member Profiles** | 7.2 (212 reviews) | 8.4 (29 reviews) | 
| **Real-Time Notifications** | 6.9 (202 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Member Discovery** | 9.3 (15 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Member Referrals** | 8.3 (8 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Community Spaces** | 9.3 (63 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Paid Memberships** | 8.3 (24 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Multimedia Sharing** | 8.9 (29 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Courses** | 8.8 (52 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Community Improvement

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Gamification** | 7.2 (182 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Polls & Questions** | 5.0 (163 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Automation Rules** | 7.3 (28 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Customer Analytics

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Community Insights** | 6.7 (189 reviews) | 8.2 (30 reviews) | 
| **Community Engagement Analytics** | 7.8 (202 reviews) | 8.8 (32 reviews) | 
| **Downloadable Reports** | 6.8 (182 reviews) | 8.0 (29 reviews) | 
| **ROI Tracking** | 6.7 (179 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Engagement Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Community Management

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Community Feeds & Discussions** | 8.2 (220 reviews) | 8.2 (29 reviews) | 
| **Live Streaming** | 9.0 (15 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Chat & Messaging** | 9.4 (24 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Events Management** | 8.9 (38 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Admin Roles & Permissions** | 8.5 (26 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Knowledge Base Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Group Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Content Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Feedback Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Membership Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Website Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Communication Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Calendar Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Online Community Management

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | 7.0 (16 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-step Planning** | 6.2 (14 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | 6.1 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Natural Language Interaction** | 6.2 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | 6.0 (15 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Decision Making** | 6.4 (16 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Social Media Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Language** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Single Sign On** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Reminders** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Discussions/Forums** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Ideation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Personalization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Contact Database** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Moderation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **@mentions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Member Directory** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Mobile Access** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Filtering** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Import/Export** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Commenting/Notes** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Storage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Branding** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Drag & Drop** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SSL Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Templates** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Knowledge Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Circle** | N/A | N/A |
| **Discourse** | N/A | N/A |

#### Knowledge Base

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Q & A** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Link Sharing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Searchable** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Security

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Verification** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Role-Based Permission** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Public vs Private** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Content

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Trackable Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Import** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **File Viewing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Update Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Communication

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Social Features** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Tagging ** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Upload ** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Comments** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Collaboration Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SSL Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Fields** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Branding** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Import/Export** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Single Sign On** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Content Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Content Library** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Workflow Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Text Editing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Widgets** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Knowledge Base Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Discussions/Forums** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Live Chat** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Calendar Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Drag & Drop** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Self Service Portal** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Communication Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Commenting/Notes** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Catalog Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Online Community Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/online-community-management)

**Unique to Circle (1):** [Online Learning Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/online-learning-platform)

**Unique to Discourse (2):** [Knowledge Base Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/knowledge-base-software), [Q&A Platforms ](https://www.g2.com/categories/q-a-platforms)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Circle | Discourse | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 85.5% | 43.1% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 13.3% | 36.9% | 
| **Enterprise** | 1.2% | 20.0% | 

### By Industry

#### Circle

- **Health, Wellness and Fitness:** 11.3%
- **Professional Training & Coaching:** 9.8%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 8.7%
- **Education Management:** 7.5%
- **Consulting:** 7.2%
- **E-Learning:** 6.4%
- **Non-Profit Organization Management:** 4.9%
- **Higher Education:** 3.6%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 3.4%
- **Computer Software:** 3.0%
- **Other:** 34.1%

#### Discourse

- **Computer Software:** 10.8%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 9.2%
- **Entertainment:** 7.7%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 6.2%
- **Non-Profit Organization Management:** 4.6%
- **Accounting:** 3.1%
- **Apparel & Fashion:** 3.1%
- **Business Supplies and Equipment:** 3.1%
- **Design:** 3.1%
- **Education Management:** 3.1%
- **Other:** 46.2%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Circle

- [Mighty Networks](https://www.g2.com/products/mighty-networks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (768 reviews)
- [Thinkific](https://www.g2.com/products/thinkific/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (405 reviews)
- [Hivebrite](https://www.g2.com/products/hivebrite/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (228 reviews)
- [Bettermode](https://www.g2.com/products/bettermode/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (117 reviews)
- [Heartbeat](https://www.g2.com/products/heartbeat-chat-heartbeat/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (31 reviews)
- [Kajabi](https://www.g2.com/products/kajabi-kajabi/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (93 reviews)
- [Higher Logic Thrive](https://www.g2.com/products/higher-logic-thrive/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (435 reviews)
- [Gainsight Customer Communities](https://www.g2.com/products/gainsight-customer-communities/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (273 reviews)
- [LearnWorlds](https://www.g2.com/products/learnworlds/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (383 reviews)
- [Influitive](https://www.g2.com/products/jigsaw-interactive-influitive/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (396 reviews)

### Alternatives to Discourse

- [Bettermode](https://www.g2.com/products/bettermode/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (117 reviews)
- [Mighty Networks](https://www.g2.com/products/mighty-networks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (768 reviews)
- [Higher Logic Thrive](https://www.g2.com/products/higher-logic-thrive/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (435 reviews)
- [Stack Internal](https://www.g2.com/products/stack-internal/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (794 reviews)
- [Influitive](https://www.g2.com/products/jigsaw-interactive-influitive/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (396 reviews)
- [Gainsight Customer Communities](https://www.g2.com/products/gainsight-customer-communities/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (273 reviews)
- [Higher Logic Vanilla](https://www.g2.com/products/higher-logic-vanilla/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (99 reviews)
- [Hivebrite](https://www.g2.com/products/hivebrite/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (228 reviews)
- [Confluence](https://www.g2.com/products/confluence/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (4368 reviews)
- [Webex Events & Webinars](https://www.g2.com/products/webex-events-webinars/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (1079 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Circle

No discussions available for this product.

### Discourse

- Title: [How do I set up a forum discourse?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-i-set-up-a-forum-discourse) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Setting up a Discourse forum can be a complex process with many different options and configurations depending on your specific needs. Luckily, there are..."
- Title: [How much does Discourse cost?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-much-does-discourse-cost) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Discourse offers a range of pricing options to fit the needs of different organizations and communities. For small communities, there is a free plan with..."
- Title: [What is a discourse server?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-a-discourse-server) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "A Discourse server is a type of web server that is used to host and manage online communities and discussions. Discourse is an open-source software platform..."
- Title: [What is discourse app?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-discourse-app) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Discourse app is a mobile application for iOS and Android that enables users to access and interact with online communities and forums powered by the..."

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/circle-so-circle-vs-discourse)