Circle to
FluentCommunity
Which Platform Should You Choose?
Here are a few reasons why entrepreneurs, organizations, creators, or agencies would love to consider switching to FluentCommunity (and why you might, too). Let’s have a quick overview!
Simply put, it All Comes Down to Your Goals!
It All Comes Down to Simplicity
TL;DR:
Circle is simple and standalone; FluentCommunity is easy, WordPress-integrated, and part of a broader ecosystem.
Circle
Circle is an easy-to-use platform designed to create communities outside WordPress. It’s beginner-friendly and requires minimal setup. If you’re looking for a quick way to launch a community without diving into WordPress, Circle might be a good choice. However, it lacks the flexibility and ecosystem benefits that come with being part of WordPress.
FluentCommunity
FluentCommunity is built specifically for WordPress users. It’s straightforward and requires no coding knowledge. With built-in tools for community management and engagement, it works seamlessly out of the box. Plus, you get the added advantage of managing everything directly from your WordPress site.
Performance & Speed
TL;DR:
Circle is server-managed but less customizable; FluentCommunity is optimized for speed and built to handle WordPress performance needs.
Circle
As a cloud-based platform, Circle’s performance depends on its own servers. While this ensures you don’t have to manage hosting or technical issues, it may lack the speed and customization that WordPress users expect for high-performance sites.
FluentCommunity
FluentCommunity is optimized for speed and efficiency. Built as a single-page application (SPA) using VueJS, it minimizes server load, allowing for smooth navigation and fast performance. Features like lazy loading, optimized queries, and caching keep it light and responsive, even on busy sites.
Flexibility in Learning Management
TL;DR:
Circle requires external course platforms; FluentCommunity includes an LMS for a complete community + learning experience.
Circle
Circle offers integrations for course platforms but does not include built-in learning tools. You’ll need external solutions like Teachable or Kajabi to sell and manage courses, which could increase costs and complexity.
FluentCommunity
FluentCommunity comes with a built-in LMS, allowing you to create, sell, and manage courses seamlessly within the platform. This integrated approach means you don’t need to juggle multiple tools—it’s all in one place!
Customizability
TL;DR:
Circle has limited customization; FluentCommunity offers flexibility and integrates seamlessly with WordPress themes.
Circle
Circle has a modern, polished interface but offers limited customization. Since it’s a standalone SaaS tool, adapting it to fit your brand’s unique needs can be challenging.
FluentCommunity
On the other hand, FluentCommunity works with any WordPress theme, giving you the flexibility to match your brand perfectly. Future updates promise even more theme customization options to enhance branding further.
All-in-One Ecosystem vs. Third-Party Tools
TL;DR:
Circle depends on third-party tools; FluentCommunity offers an integrated ecosystem for simplicity and efficiency.
Circle
Circle relies on integrations with third-party tools for email marketing, CRM, and more. While these integrations can be powerful, they often mean switching multiple platforms, which can add to the cost and complexity.
FluentCommunity
FluentCommunity is part of the WPManageNinja ecosystem, working seamlessly with tools like FluentCRM, FluentForms, and FluentBoards. This unified approach saves time and money while providing all your business and community needs under one roof.
Cost Comparison
TL;DR:
Circle charges $1468+/year; FluentCommunity starts at $199 for lifetime access.
Circle
Circle’s pricing starts at $39/month for its Basic plan, adding up to $468/year. For more advanced features, the Professional plan costs $89/month ($1,068/year).
FluentCommunity
FluentCommunity offers a cost-effective lifetime deal starting at $199 for a single-site license. This means you pay once and get lifetime access, making it a budget-friendly option for WordPress users.
Circle & FluentCommunty at a Glance
| Feature |  FluentCommunity |  Circle.so |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | One-time or subscription (lower cost) | Monthly subscription (starts at $39/mo) |
| Support & Documentation | Detailed docs and responsive support | Good support and documentation |
| Customization Options | Fully customizable (themes, plugins) | Limited customization options |
| Community Dashboard | Comprehensive, real-time insights | Standard analytics |
| User Engagement Tools (Leaderboards, Polls, Surveys) | Leaderboard available in core features. Polls in Pro plans | Available but limited to higher plans |
| Real-time Chats | Available | Not available in all tiers |
| Content Sharing (Posts, Media) | Rich content sharing options | Basic content sharing |
| Group Management | Easy group creation and management | Group management available |
| Integrations | Supports WordPress plugins, APIs | Limited integrations |
| Monetization Options | Sell courses, memberships, and more | Membership subscriptions supported |
| Ease of Use | WordPress-based, user-friendly | Intuitive interface, SaaS-based |
| Hosting | Self-hosted (on WordPress) | SaaS-based hosting |
| Scalability | Scalable with WordPress infrastructure | Scales with subscription plan |
| Mobile Accessibility | Fully mobile responsive | Mobile app available |
Create. Engage. Scale
Start building your own community today
Here’s What People Have Experienced So Far
Circle
Vegetable_While_5291
This is highway robbery and these clown shoes are pathetic I truly feel bad for anyone buying into this TRAIN-WRECK!!!! They sound nervous for a REASON PEOPLE!!!! Read more about this on reddit
Dave Gerherdt, Founder, Exit Five
I hired Circle to help me move my Exit Five marketing community off of Facebook to Circle Plus and the team has been super helpful and responsive in making the transition
BuckySpanklestein
Every few weeks i will notice my kids on their devices WAY past the Circle shutdown time. That’s because Circle just completely fails every few weeks and doesn’t alert you. Why? Why does it suck so bad? And why is there no support. Read more about this on reddit
FluentCommunity
Simon H
I’ve been testing this plugin for a month, and am very impressed with how much progress the developers have made. This plugin was used during its own beta testing, and the team behind it has been very responsive and attentive to feedback, which is a testament to the quality of their product. Read more about this on WordPress.org
Paul Hopkins
Shahjahan Jewel I, and the community I run want to thank you. Thank you for you and your team’s hard work. This community software is SO helpful for us. We are up and running with it, and learning as you continue to develop the code. My CSS is rusty, but what I have seen, how you have used variables to manage this means that it is and will be so customisable as well as it being FAST. Read more about this on our community portal.
Carlos Rodera
I have used several and different communities options from Facebook to Discord, Skool or BuddyBoss now to FluentCommunity.The game changer is first like in BuddyBoss you own you community 100%, however BuddyBoss has a big issue with the WordPress resources that makes it really slow.FluentCommunity is light, fast and simple, which users need as for example that is the main downside on discord, many users feel lost. Read more about this on WordPress.org
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