Circle vs Hivebrite: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Circle and Hivebrite side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Circle leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Circle
Community platform for creators and brands
Best for you if:
- • You want all-in-one community solution
Hivebrite
Build branded online communities for networking and member management
Best for you if:
- • You want highly customizable to match organizational branding and workflows
| At a Glance | Circle | Hivebrite |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $89/mo flat, billed yearly Professional plan | From $666.67/mo, billed yearly Focus plan |
Category | Community Platforms Membership Sites | Community Platforms Membership Sites |
Rating | 4.2/5 G2 4.5 · Trustpilot 3.8 599 reviews | 4.0/5 G2 4.4 · SourceForge 0.5 205 reviews |
Free plan | No | No |
Watch out for | Monthly billing costs more ($99 vs $89 on Professional, $219 vs $199 on Business) | Onboarding and setup fees not included |
Choose Circle or Hivebrite?
Choose Circle if
- You want all-in-one community solution
- You want good course features
Choose Hivebrite if
- You want highly customizable to match organizational branding and workflows
- You want serves diverse verticals from alumni networks to corporate communities
In-Depth Analysis
Circle
Community platform for creators and brands
Circle's Professional plan costs $89/month billed annually ($99 monthly), Business $199 ($219 monthly) and the new Scale plan $419/month, with Circle Plus on a custom quote.
Watch out
Monthly billing costs more ($99 vs $89 on Professional, $219 vs $199 on Business)
Strengths
- Pro: All-in-one community solution
- Pro: Good course features
- Pro: Modern interface
- Pro: Strong monetization options
Weaknesses
- Con: No free tier
- Con: Can get expensive
- Con: Learning curve for setup
Key features
Hivebrite
Build branded online communities for networking and member management
However, custom pricing often indicates a premium solution, likely placing it in the expensive range compared to off-the-shelf community platforms.
Watch out
Onboarding and setup fees not included
Strengths
- Pro: Highly customizable to match organizational branding and workflows
- Pro: Serves diverse verticals from alumni networks to corporate communities
- Pro: Dedicated mentoring tools with automated matching
- Pro: Mobile app keeps members engaged on the go
- Pro: Strong data privacy and security compliance
Weaknesses
- Con: No public pricing forces prospects to contact sales for quotes
- Con: Enterprise-focused positioning may be overkill for small communities
- Con: Limited self-serve setup compared to lighter community platforms
- Con: Feature depth means longer implementation and onboarding time
Key features
Plans and prices: Circle vs Hivebrite
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Circle |
| circle.so/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
| Hivebrite |
| hivebrite.io/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Circle pricing and Hivebrite pricing.
Key Takeaways
Circle
- Higher user rating: 4.2/5 vs 4.0/5
Hivebrite
- Choose if you want build branded online communities for networking and member management
What the data shows
On the data below, Circle leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Circle has the higher user rating (4.2/5 from 599 reviews for Circle, 4.0/5 from 205 reviews for Hivebrite).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Circle $89/mo flat, billed yearly; Hivebrite $666.67/mo, billed yearly.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Circle and Hivebrite compare in 2026?
On the data below, Circle leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Circle has the higher user rating (4.2/5 from 599 reviews for Circle, 4.0/5 from 205 reviews for Hivebrite). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Circle $89/mo flat, billed yearly; Hivebrite $666.67/mo, billed yearly.
What are Circle and Hivebrite used for?
Circle: Community platform for creators and brands. Hivebrite: Build branded online communities for networking and member management.
What does Circle cost vs Hivebrite?
Circle's cheapest paid plan is Professional at $89/mo flat, billed yearly. Hivebrite's cheapest paid plan is Focus at $666.67/mo, billed yearly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Circle and Hivebrite?
Circle's main strength: all-in-one community solution. Hivebrite's main strength: highly customizable to match organizational branding and workflows.