Circle vs Invision Community: 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 Invision Community 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
Invision Community
Community platform and forum software
Best for you if:
- • You want full community suite: forums, blogs, galleries, clubs, and commerce in one platform
| At a Glance | Circle | Invision Community |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $89/mo flat, billed yearly Professional plan | Not published |
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 4.2 · Capterra 4.2 · SourceForge 2.0 35 reviews |
Free plan | No | No |
Watch out for | Monthly billing costs more ($99 vs $89 on Professional, $219 vs $199 on Business) | n/a |
Choose Circle or Invision Community?
Choose Circle if
- You want all-in-one community solution
- You want good course features
Choose Invision Community if
- You want full community suite: forums, blogs, galleries, clubs, and commerce in one platform
- You want self-hosted option gives complete control over data and customization
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
Invision Community
Community platform and forum software
It's best for small to medium-sized communities with technical expertise to manage their own hosting.
Strengths
- Pro: Full community suite: forums, blogs, galleries, clubs, and commerce in one platform
- Pro: Self-hosted option gives complete control over data and customization
- Pro: Mature, battle-tested platform with over 15 years of development
- Pro: Built-in monetization eliminates need for third-party payment plugins
- Pro: Gamification features drive engagement without additional tools
Weaknesses
- Con: Self-hosted requires server administration skills
- Con: Design feels dated compared to modern community platforms
- Con: Self-hosted licensing requires annual renewal
- Con: Limited modern features like real-time chat or video compared to newer tools
- Con: Smaller developer community than open-source alternatives
Key features
Plans and prices: Circle vs Invision Community
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Circle |
| circle.so/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
| Invision Community | No plan prices on file | invisioncommunity.com/buy/buy read Sep 28, 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 Invision Community pricing.
Key Takeaways
Circle
- Higher user rating: 4.2/5 vs 4.0/5
Invision Community
- Choose if you want community platform and forum software
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 35 reviews for Invision Community).
- Circle starts at $89/mo flat, billed yearly; Invision Community has no public paid plan price on file.
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 Invision Community 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 35 reviews for Invision Community). Circle starts at $89/mo flat, billed yearly; Invision Community has no public paid plan price on file.
What are Circle and Invision Community used for?
Circle: Community platform for creators and brands. Invision Community: Community platform and forum software.
What does Circle cost vs Invision Community?
Circle's cheapest paid plan is Professional at $89/mo flat, billed yearly. Invision Community has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Circle and Invision Community?
Circle's main strength: all-in-one community solution. Invision Community's main strength: full community suite: forums, blogs, galleries, clubs, and commerce in one platform.