Circle, Disciple, and Hivebrite all help creators and organizations run paid, branded communities, but they are built for different scales and audiences:…
Subscription / Enterprise · From From $895/month (billed annually)
Best for: Large associations, alumni networks, and enterprises that need a comprehensive member directory, event management, and multi-level governance tools.
At a Glance
Circle
Disciple
Hivebrite
Primary category
Community Platforms
Community Platforms
Community Platforms
Rating
Not documented
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing model
Subscription
Subscription
Subscription / Enterprise
Starting price
$89/month (Professional plan, billed annually)
$399/month (billed annually)
From $895/month (billed annually)
Free plan
Not documented
Not documented
Not documented
Free trial
Yes
Not documented
Not documented
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android
Web, iOS, Android
Web, iOS, Android
Team collaboration
Not documented
Not documented
Not documented
AI features
Yes
Not documented
Yes
Public API
Yes
Yes
Yes
Standout Differences
AI tools layered onto an all-in-one product
Circle's AI Agents and Co-Pilot answer member questions and assist with content using the community's own knowledge base, on top of its existing courses, memberships, and events.
Circle
Zero-fee, fully independent branded apps
Disciple is the only one of the three to advertise 0 percent transaction fees on member and course revenue, and its branded apps are listed independently in the App Store and Google Play rather than as a white-labeled shell.
Disciple
Built for large associations and alumni networks
Hivebrite's member directory, fundraising analytics, and multi-level governance tools, plus every plan including unlimited end users, target complex organizations rather than individual creators.
Hivebrite
Entry pricing spans a wide range
Circle starts around 89 dollars a month, Disciple starts around 399 dollars a month, and Hivebrite starts near 895 dollars a month, reflecting three very different target customer sizes.
Circle, Disciple, Hivebrite
Feature-by-Feature
Community and Monetization
Feature
Circle
Disciple
Hivebrite
Paid memberships and monetization
Available
Available
Available
Built-in, monetizable courses
Available
Limited
Not documented
Live events and video
Available
Available
Available
Branded native mobile app
Limited
Available
Limited
Pricing and Access
Feature
Circle
Disciple
Hivebrite
0 percent transaction fees on member revenue
Not documented
Available
Not documented
Free trial
Limited
Not documented
Not documented
API access
Limited
Limited
Not documented
Pricing Compared
Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.
Circle
Professional — $89/month Annual
Business — $199/month Annual
Enterprise — $499/month Annual
Plus Branded App — Custom Custom
Disciple
Branded App — $399/month (annual) or $469/month (quarterly) Annual or quarterly
Branded App Plus — $599/month (annual) or $699/month (quarterly) Annual or quarterly
Branded App Pro — $999/month (annual) or $1,169/month (quarterly) Annual or quarterly
Organisation — Custom Custom
Hivebrite
Core — From $895/month annual
Flex — From $1,995/month annual
Prime — Custom pricing annual/custom
Custom Fit — Custom pricing annual/custom
Pros & Cons
Circle
Pros
Combines community, courses, memberships, events, and payments into one branded product
Actively adding AI features (Co-Pilot, AI Agents, Workflows) rather than a static feature set
Supports branded native mobile apps, which few community platforms offer out of the box
Founding team's prior experience building Teachable shows in the course and monetization tooling
Cons
No permanent free plan; only a 14-day free trial across all tiers
Entry-level Professional plan lacks automation, API access, and white-labeling, often forcing an upgrade to Business
Pricing (from $89 to $499+/month) is higher than some lighter-weight community tools
Branded native mobile apps require the separate, custom-priced Plus tier
Disciple
Pros
Fully white-labeled, independently app-store-listed iOS and Android apps
0% transaction fees on member and course revenue across all plans
Combines community, courses, and livestreaming in a single platform
No coding required to launch and configure the app
Cons
Entry pricing starts at $399/month, higher than many community-platform alternatives
Admin seats, groups, and video minutes are capped on lower tiers
Monetizable courses require the Plus tier or above
Custom Organisation-tier pricing is not publicly listed, requiring a sales conversation
Hivebrite
Pros
Comprehensive all-in-one platform covering directory, events, communication and monetization
AI-powered matching helps surface relevant connections within large communities
Strong fit for associations and alumni networks with complex governance needs
Every plan includes unlimited end users regardless of tier
Hands-on onboarding support included across all pricing tiers
Cons
Entry-level pricing at $895/month is high relative to smaller community platforms
Top two tiers require custom pricing negotiations rather than transparent rates
Steeper learning curve given the breadth of features aimed at large organizations
Not well suited for small creator communities or informal groups on a tight budget
Add-ons like mobile app and multi-language support are priced separately
Use Cases
Choose Circle: Creators and brands who want community, courses, memberships, live events, and AI tools bundled into one moderately priced, branded product.
Choose Disciple: Creators who want a fully white-labeled, independently app-store-listed mobile app and keep all of their membership and course revenue.
Choose Hivebrite: Large associations, alumni networks, and enterprises that need a comprehensive member directory, event management, and multi-level governance tools.
Circle
Paid creator communities — Creators and coaches use Circle to host a paid membership community with discussions, courses, and live events under one brand.
Cohort-based and online courses — Educators combine Circle's course tools with community spaces so students can discuss lessons and get support alongside structured content.
Brand communities — Companies build branded customer or member communities with Circle, using automation and integrations to connect community activity to their existing tools.
Disciple
Creator and coaching membership communities — Coaches and creators launch a branded app combining paid courses, group discussion, and livestreams for their audience.
Brand and fan communities — Brands and artists build a dedicated, ad-free space for fans and customers separate from mainstream social platforms.
Hivebrite
Alumni network management — Universities and schools use Hivebrite to run branded alumni communities with directories, events and giving campaigns.
Professional association engagement — Trade and professional bodies use Hivebrite to manage member directories, events and communication at scale.
Enterprise brand communities — Enterprises build branded customer or partner communities using Hivebrite's monetization and group management tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of Circle, Disciple, and Hivebrite is the cheapest to start with?
Circle has the lowest entry price at 89 dollars a month for its Professional plan, followed by Disciple at 399 dollars a month and Hivebrite at 895 dollars a month for its Core plan.
Which platform takes no cut of my membership or course revenue?
Disciple explicitly advertises 0 percent transaction fees on member subscription and course revenue across all its plans. Circle and Hivebrite do not document their transaction fee structure in the provided data.
Can I launch my own branded app in the App Store with these tools?
Disciple includes a fully white-labeled, independently app-store-listed iOS and Android app on its base Branded App plan. Circle offers a similar branded app only on its custom-priced Plus tier, and Hivebrite offers a branded mobile app as a separate paid add-on.
Which of these is built for large associations or alumni networks?
Hivebrite is the clearest fit, with a searchable member directory, fundraising and engagement analytics, and multi-level governance tools designed for larger organizations, reflected in its higher starting price of 895 dollars a month.
Do any of these platforms offer a free plan?
None of the three offers a permanent free plan in the provided data. Circle offers a 14-day free trial across all tiers, while free trial availability for Disciple and Hivebrite is not documented.