Making the right connections can be a game changer for your creator business.
Meeting new people opens doors to new opportunities, introduces you to unique experiences, and extends your reach and influence — all of which help grow your income.
But being a creator often means going it alone. Finding the right people and community to help you grow can be tough, especially if your work is specialized and your interests are niche. So, how can you find your people, make the right connections, and grow your business?
We’re here to show you.
Pros and cons of different creator community options
There are tons of choices for creator communities. Your options break down into three different categories: start a community of your own, join an existing community, or do both. Let’s explore the pros and cons of each option.
Option 1: Start a creator community
On the one hand, by starting a creator community, you get to decide everything from start to finish. For example, the creative focus of the community, the conversation, group topics, the types of people who join, and the look and feel of the user experience.
On the other hand, it’s on you to decide everything from start to finish. For many creators, this can feel like a lot to manage. You’re responsible for each decision, and those decisions can either help the community thrive or stagnate.
As the community leader, it’s your job to make sure content doesn’t go stale. Sometimes that’ll mean coming up with topics to discuss when the chatter dies down. It also means having to moderate comments and show bad actors the door.
Option 2: Join a creator collaboration space
The great thing about joining a community is that you don’t have to do any work. It’s all done for you. People who you consider your peers are already there, conversations are already happening, and there are probably multiple different threads for you to dive into.
What’s not so great is that the community may not be exactly what you’re looking for in terms of experience, skill level, and career progression. In other words, it may be either too fast or too slow for where you are in your growth trajectory.
Option 3: Start a creator community + join other communities
Some brave souls out there may decide this is the best option. And while we don’t recommend it, there are a few tools that will allow you to join other communities and start your own simultaneously. Maintaining this level of engagement is likely to lead to burnout, forcing you to choose one option or the other.
The 20 best Creator communities
The options for joining existing creator-focused communities are limited. Most creator spaces exist in threads and groups on social media sites, but they aren’t always helpful or active, and when they are active, they can be crowded and noisy.
The #1 option for joining an existing creator-focused community is the Creator Network. By joining the Creator Network, you’ll have access to a community of people working towards the same goal: growing their email lists and building their businesses.
If joining a community isn’t your style, and you’d prefer to run your own space, one of the Creator Network alternatives below may be a good fit for you.
#1 – Kit Creator Network
The Kit Creator Network is more than just a community—it’s a support system for creators to grow their businesses and connect with like-minded people.
We built the Creator Network as a place where creators can learn from each other, share their journeys, and access exclusive resources that make building a sustainable business easier. It’s designed to help creators succeed together through collaboration and mutual support.
Creator Network’s community features
- Have your newsletter cross-promoted by other creators and collaboratively grow your email list
- Collaborate with other creators and get exposure for your work through Kit’s newsletter and social media channels
- Join a private community forum where creators can connect, ask questions, and share tips and advice
- Regular virtual events and workshops featuring industry experts and successful creators to help you learn and grow
- Creator education resources like courses, tutorials, and webinars to help creators grow their businesses and improve their email marketing skills
Who is Kit’s Creator Network for?
Creator Network is perfect for creators looking to be part of an established, collaborative community. Whether you’re just starting out or already growing your audience, the Creator Network offers a space where creators work together to expand their reach. When one creator succeeds, everyone benefits.
How to join the Creator Network?
- Sign up for the Creator plan, which comes with a 14-day free trial
- Create your profile
- Start collaborating with others on our platform, such as Nisha Vora and Jay Clouse
#2 – Kajabi Communities
Kajabi is a platform that provides you with tools to build, market, and sell your online courses, memberships, and digital products. Along with those tools, they also offer exclusive support for their clients, so they can connect with each other in Kajabi’s Facebook community and learn how to use this powerful platform through virtual events and the Kajabi University.
Kajabi’s features help you grow your community with their platform
- Kajabi Community: helps you become more proficient with using the tool and running more engaging communities. Members can connect, share resources, and support each other.
- Discussion boards: a space to ask questions, share knowledge, and offer advice
- Events: Kajabi hosts events throughout the year, allowing creators to connect and learn from industry experts
- Virtual meetups: connect with other Kajabi members and learn from and with each other
Who is Kajabi Communities for?
Kajabi is for people that want to build their own community of creators.
How to start a community for creators with Kajabi?
Sign up for one of Kajabi’s plans to build your own creator collaboration space. Prices start at $119 per month when paid annually, and they offer a free 14-day trial.
#3 – Mighty Networks
Mighty Networks is an excellent platform for creators seeking a (free) community to network with like-minded individuals or people with similar ambitions.
With Mighty Networks, you can join communities centered around specific topics or interests, connect with others, share insights, and participate in discussions. If you want to build your own community, the platform offers numerous features to support your efforts, including personalized invitations to join, event management tools, and interactive messaging.
Mighty Networks also has built-in engagement features, including surveys, quizzes, and polls, to help members learn from each other and connect.
Mighty Networks’ features to build your creator community
- Built-in engagement features, including surveys, quizzes, and polls, native live streaming
- Discussion boards for members to share insights and participate in conversations
- Event management tools to schedule and promote events
- Interactive messaging for members to connect one-on-one or in groups
Who are Mighty Networks communities for?
Mighty Network lets you create communities of your own, but you can also look for existing communities and join them. Some are free and others are paid.
How to join a Mighty Network community?
Go to https://mightynetworks.com/find enter a search term, e.g., “creator” and hit enter. Check out the groups that show up below. Access to some groups is restricted, they’re marked as private. So to join those, you’ll have to ask for access. For other groups, you may have to pay.
How to start a community for creators with Mighty Networks?
Sign up for one of Mighty Networks’ plans to build your own collab space. Prices start at $33 per month when paid annually, and they offer a free 14-day trial.
#4 – Circle
With Circle, you can build creator communities that cater to your specific niche or interest. They provide tools to easily manage and engage with your community, including features like discussions, polls, and member profiles.
With customizable themes and branding options, Circle enables you to create a unique online space that represents your community’s identity. You can also monetize your community through paid memberships, subscriptions, and other payment options.
Additionally, Circle offers integrations with other tools and services, such as Zapier and Stripe, to help you automate workflows and streamline your community management.
Circle features that support your communities growth
- Customizable themes and branding options to create a unique community identity
- Discussion and poll features to facilitate engagement and interaction among community members
- Member profiles and directory to help members connect
- Monetization options such as paid memberships, subscriptions, and payment processing
Who are Circle communities for?
For creators looking to build their own community or membership space. You can offer free or paid plans.
How to start a community with Circle?
Sign up for one of Circle’s plans to build a collaborative environment for your clients and members. Prices start at $39 per month when paid annually, and they offer a free 14-day trial.
#5 – Podia
With Podia, you can create and sell digital products such as online courses, memberships, and digital downloads. Additionally, you can connect with your audience through your Podia storefront and build a community around your offerings.
Podia offers features that support community building and networking, including a built-in messaging system that allows you to communicate with your customers and community members directly.
Additionally, Podia’s Memberships feature allows you to create a private community for your members to network and connect. Other top features of Podia that support community and networking efforts include:
Podia’s features that support your community-building efforts
- Customizable storefronts that allow you to create a unique brand identity and connect with your audience
- Automated sales and marketing tools that help you grow your audience and increase revenue
- Easy-to-use course and membership creation tools that allow you to offer valuable content to your community
- A user-friendly interface that makes it easy to manage your community and digital products
Who are Podia communities for?
Podia is a great choice if you want to start and build your own community.
How to start a community with Podia?
Sign up for one of Podia’s plans. They offer a free plan (8% transaction fee). The transaction fee for their other monthly payment plans is 0%.
#6 – Bettermode
Bettermode (formerly known as Tribe) is a powerful platform that allows creators to build and manage their own online community.
Creators can create a custom-branded community that reflects their unique style and values and provides a welcoming and engaging environment for members to connect and interact.
The platform offers a wide range of features to support community-building and networking efforts, including customizable profiles, discussion forums, private messaging, event management, and more. Here are five top features of Bettermode that can help creators build and grow their communities:
Bettermode’s top features to help you build your community space
- Create a community that reflects your brand and style with customizable colors, fonts, navigation, and logos
- Encourage engagement and collaboration with discussion forums where members can share ideas, ask questions, and offer feedback
- Build deeper connections with members through private messaging, and create sub-groups for more targeted conversations
- Member directory: Build relationships with members and grow your network by exploring the member directory and discovering new connections
Who are Bettermode communities for?
Bettermode is best if you’re an established creator and want to take your business and community to the next level.
How to start a community with Bettermode?
Sign up for one of Bettermode’s plans. Prices start at $599 per month. They offer a demo to help you decide if the platform is right for you.
#7 – Meetup
Meetup is an online platform that helps you find and join local groups that share your interests. With Meetup, you can easily connect with like-minded people and expand your social circle while participating in activities that align with your passions.
Whether you’re looking to join a hiking group, a book club, or a professional networking organization, Meetup makes it easy to find and attend events that suit your interests. Plus, as a member of a Meetup group, you can communicate with fellow members, receive event reminders, and stay up-to-date with group news and announcements.
Here are some top features of Meetup that support community and networking efforts:
Meetup’s features that help you find a community
- Search for groups and events by location, category, and keyword
- RSVP to events and receive notifications about upcoming events
- Message and connect with other members of your Meetup groups
- Create your own Meetup group and organize events for your community
- Utilize Meetup’s event planning tools, including scheduling, ticketing, and payment processing
Who are Meetup communities for?
Mainly for people that want to join in-person communities or events. However, you can also create your own group to find like-minded people in your area.
How to join a Meetup group?
You can simply search for a local group that matches your passion or an event. To start your own group, you can simply sign up at: https://www.meetup.com/how-to-group-start
Course Community Platforms
#8 – Thinkific
Thinkific is an all-in-one platform for creating and selling online courses. By creating a course on Thinkific, you can attract potential customers to join your course community and connect with others who share their interests.
Thinkific offers various features to help you build and grow your community, such as the ability to create discussion forums, host webinars, and even offer certificates of completion to your students.
Thinkific’s top features that support community-building efforts
- Connect your course with your community for an all-in-one experience
- Host live events, like workshops, Q&As, and more, to connect with your audience and provide additional value
- Certificates of completion: Reward students for completing your course and help build credibility in your community
- Customizable student experience: Tailor your course community to your needs with customizable themes and branding options
Who are Thinkific communities for?
Thinkific is for you if you want to start and build your own community.
How to start your own Thinkific community?
Begin by signing up for Thinkific’s free plan (0% transaction fee).
#9 – Teachable
Teachable is a platform that provides creators with a variety of tools to create, market, and sell their online courses to a global audience. In addition, Teachable offers an exclusive members’ community to make it easy for creators to connect with their fellow creators, participate in group coaching sessions and community events, share ideas and best practices, and more.
Teachable’s features to support your community-building efforts
- Course comments: Teachable also allow students to leave comments on individual course lectures, facilitating collaboration and discussion among the community
- Affiliate program: Teachable’s affiliate program enables creators to incentivize their students and followers to promote their courses to their own networks, expanding their reach and growing their community
- Flexibility: Easily adjust your courses and training to the needs of your members with a straightforward drag-and-drop builder
- Sell anywhere: With tax-inclusive pricing, you can sell anywhere in the world
Who are Teachable Communities for?
Teachable is for you if you want to start and build your own community.
How to start your own Teachable community?
Simply sign up for Teachable’s free plan ($1 + 10% transaction fee)!
Membership Community Platforms
#10 – Patreon
As a creator-focused platform, Patreon provides opportunities for creators to connect with their fans and build a loyal following. Through Patreon, you can connect with other creators and fans, access exclusive content, and build relationships with people who share your interests.
Patreon’s community features
- Tiered membership levels: Creators can offer different membership tiers with various rewards, providing fans with exclusive content and perks at different price points
- Patron-only community: Creators can offer a patron-only community, such as a Discord server or private forum, for fans to connect with each other and the creator
- Direct messaging: Creators can directly message patrons and build relationships with them, providing personalized interactions and insights
- Integration with other platforms: Patreon integrates with other platforms like Discord and WordPress, making it easy for creators to connect with their fans and build their communities across multiple platforms
Who are Patreon communities for?
Patreon is for you if you want to start and build your own community. If you want to join a community, it also offers a search feature to find specific groups of creators to support and network with other fans.
How do I start a Patreon community?
You can start with Patreon’s Lite Plan, which takes 5% of the monthly income you earn on this platform (plus payment processing).
#11 – Buy Me A Coffee
Buy Me A Coffee is a platform that enables creators to connect with their supporters and build a community around their work. As a creator, you can set up a page where you can share your creations, interact with your audience, and offer exclusive perks to your supporters.
With the community-building tools provided by Buy Me A Coffee, you can easily connect with your audience, grow your network, and collaborate with other creators in your field. Additionally, the platform offers features such as analytics, email marketing, and payment processing, making it easy to monetize your work and connect with your audience.
Buy Me A Coffee’s features to build your community
- Personalized creator pages that showcase your work and allow you to interact with your audience
- The ability to offer exclusive perks to your supporters, such as behind-the-scenes content or personalized messages
- Integration with social media platforms like X/Twitter and Instagram to help you expand your reach
- Advanced analytics that provides insights into your audience and their engagement with your content
- The option to collect recurring payments from supporters, allowing you to build a sustainable income stream and grow your community over time
Who are Buy Me A Coffee communities for?
Buy Me A Coffee is for you if you want to start and build your own community. If you want to join a community, it also offers a search feature to find creators that you want to support at: https://buymeacoffee.com/explore-creators
How do I start a Buy Me A Coffee community?
It’s easy, just sign up on Buy Me A Coffee’s website. They charge a 5% transaction fee.
#12 – Ko-fi
Ko-fi is a platform that provides creators and artists with the ability to showcase their work. Ko-fi offers several features to help build and engage with your community. Members can participate in chats, share resources, and exchange feedback. Additionally, Ko-fi offers tools for creators to showcase their work, collaborate with others, and monetize their efforts.
ko-fi’s community features to build your community
- Customizable profile pages with links to social media accounts
- Ability to create a shop to sell digital and physical products
- Option for supporters to make one-time or monthly donations
- Ability to host exclusive content for supporters
- Integration with popular tools such as Discord, Slack, and more
- Option to create membership tiers with unique benefits for supporters
Who are Ko-fi communities for?
Ko-fi is for creators who want to start and build their own community. If you want to join a community, it also offers a search feature to find specific groups of creators that you want to support and network with other fans at: https://ko-fi.com/explore
How do I start a Ko-fi community?
It’s easy, just sign up on the Ko-fi website. They charge a 5% transaction fee. What’s really cool is that they don’t take a cut if you receive donations from your fans!
Chat Community Platforms
#13 – Slack
Slack groups and channels can be a fantastic way for you to connect with others who share similar interests or goals. With Slack, you can join existing communities or create your own channels to discuss relevant topics, share ideas, and support each other on your journeys.
Whether you’re looking to network professionally or connect with others who share a hobby or passion, Slack can provide you with a platform to build meaningful relationships and grow your network.
Some of Slack’s top features that support community building and networking efforts include the ability to:
Slack’s community features, you can use to network with others
- Create public or private channels to discuss specific topics or interests
- Direct message other members to connect and collaborate one-on-one
- Integrate with other apps and tools to streamline communication
- Use @mentions and reactions to provide feedback and engage with other members
- Customize notifications to stay up-to-date on relevant discussions and events
Who are Slack communities for?
Creating your own Slack workspace and building your own community is an option ( https://slack.com/get-started#/createnew), but joining open (or paid) workspaces is a great way to meet others who have similar interests or are experts in the same field.
How to join a Slack community?
You’ll have to search for an open Slack community online. This is a great article that can help you: https://onlinegeniuses.com/the-top-14-ways-to-find-open-slack-communities/
#14 – Discord
Discord is a popular communication platform that has evolved beyond gaming to support a wide range of communities. With its text, voice, and video chat features, Discord provides an interactive and engaging way for individuals to connect with others who share their interests.
Whether you’re looking to network professionally or simply want to find a group of people who share your passions, Discord offers a robust platform for building communities.
Discord’s community features
- Voice and video chat: Discord’s voice and video chat features enable real-time communication, making it easier to connect and build relationships within your community
- Screen sharing: With the ability to share your screen, Discord can be an excellent platform for remote collaboration and workshopping within your community
- File sharing: Whether you need to share documents, images, or videos, Discord makes it easy to share files with others in your community
- Customizable roles and permissions: With the ability to customize roles and permissions, you can give different members of your community varying levels of access and responsibility
- Mobile app: Discord’s mobile app makes it easy to stay connected with your community no matter where you are, allowing you to network and build relationships on the go
Who are Discord communities for?
They are for you if you want to join a community.
How to join a Discord community?
Find a community that works for you here: https://discord.com/servers
#15 – Element
With Element, you can join or create public or private chat rooms or groups and even participate in voice or video calls with members of your community. You can also share files, links, and other resources within your community, making it easier to collaborate and work together towards common goals.
Plus, with end-to-end encryption and other security features, you can rest assured that your conversations and information are kept private and secure.
Element’s community features
- Create and join public or private chat rooms or groups
- Participate in voice or video calls with members of your community
- Share files, links, and other resources within your community
- Use end-to-end encryption and other security features to keep your conversations and information private and secure
- Customize your profile and notifications to stay up-to-date with your community’s activity
- Integrate with other communication and collaboration tools to streamline your workflow
Who are Element communities for?
Element is for you if you want to start and build your own community.
How to build your own Element community?
Sign up on their website ( https://element.io/pricing), their pricing starts at $5 per user per month (paid annually).
Social Community Platforms
#16 – Facebook Groups
Whether you’re looking to network, collaborate, or just connect with others who understand what you’re going through, Facebook groups offer a place to share ideas and support each other. With the ability to create or join groups based on almost any interest, Facebook groups provide an opportunity to connect with people from all over the world.
Facebook group members can engage in discussions, share resources, and even plan events together. Additionally, many groups have specific rules and guidelines to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all members.
Top features of Facebook groups that support community and networking efforts include:
Facebook Groups’ top community features
- Ability to create or join groups based on specific interests or goals
- Group chat and messaging features for easy communication
- Ability to share multimedia content such as photos and videos
- Polls and surveys for group members to gather feedback and opinions
- Event planning and scheduling features to coordinate meetups or virtual events
- Moderation tools to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all members
Who are Facebook communities for?
Facebook groups are for creators that want to build their own community, as well as for creators that want to join an existing group.
How to create or join a Facebook community?
To create a Facebook community follow the steps laid out in this article: https://www.facebook.com/help/167970719931213/.
To find and join a community, login to your account, and enter your search term (for example“content creator community”) in Facebook’s search bar. Look through the results and see which ones are Public (or even Private) and interest you. Click on the join button and, if necessary, answer some questions to be able to join the group.
#17 – LinkedIn Groups
LinkedIn Groups can be a valuable resource. With over 2 million active groups covering a wide range of topics and industries, you’re bound to find a community that aligns with your interests. In LinkedIn Groups, you can network with other professionals, share industry knowledge and best practices, and even find job opportunities. You can join up to 100 groups at a time, so you have the ability to connect with numerous individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
LinkedIn Groups’ community features
- Discussion forums for group members to ask questions, share knowledge, and engage in conversation
- Ability to message other group members directly to connect and network
- Group search function that allows you to find relevant groups based on keywords or industry
- Notifications for group activity, such as new discussions or comments, so you can stay up-to-date on the latest conversations
- Ability to showcase your expertise and build your personal brand by participating in group discussions and sharing relevant content
Who are LinkedIn communities for?
LinkedIn groups are for creators that want to build their own community or for creators that want to join an existing LinkedIn community.
How to create or join a LinkedIn community?
To create a LinkedIn group of your own, simply follow the steps laid out in the article below: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a540601/creating-a-linkedin-group?lang=en
To find and join an existing community, login to your account, and enter your search term (for example “digital creator community”) in LinkedIn’s search bar. Look through the group results and see which ones interest you. Click on the join button and make yourself familiar with the group’s rules.
#18 – Reddit
With thousands of subreddits dedicated to every topic imaginable, it’s easy to find a community of people who share your passions. Whether you’re looking to connect with others who share your hobbies, get advice on a particular topic, or simply find some new friends, Reddit has something for everyone. You can join discussions, ask questions, share your own insights, and learn from others in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Reddit’s community features
- Discussions: Reddit allows you to engage in discussions with other users, which can be a great way to share knowledge and build connections
- Upvoting and Downvoting: Users can upvote or downvote posts and comments, which can help to surface the most relevant and useful content
- Moderators: Moderators help to ensure that subreddits stay on topic and that discussions remain respectful and productive
- Reddit Chat: With Reddit Chat, you can connect with other users in real-time, which can be a great way to build relationships and get to know people on a more personal level
- Reddit Events: Reddit Events allow users to organize and participate in real-world events and meetups, which can be a great way to connect with others who share your interests
Who are Reddit communities for?
This platform is for people who are looking to join a community or amplify their network.
How to join a Reddit community?
Go to https://www.reddit.com add your term (e.g. podcasters) in the search bar and select the Community tab. Look through the results and ask to join the community that looks interesting to you.
A great community to start is /r/entrepreneur. There are a lot of conversations going on in this subreddit and few of them apply directly to creators. Unfortunately, you’ll have to dig a bit to find those gems.
#19 – X/Twitter
Through the use of hashtags and X/Twitter chats, it’s easy to find and join conversations around shared interests or topics. By participating in these conversations and engaging with others, you can grow your network and establish valuable connections. Additionally, X/Twitter offers features such as lists and direct messaging that can be used to stay organized and build relationships with other members of your community.
X/Twitter’s community features
- Hashtags: By using relevant hashtags in your tweets, you can make your content discoverable to others interested in the same topics or themes
- X/Twitter Chats: Participating in X/Twitter chats allows you to connect with others in real time around a specific topic or theme
- Lists: X/Twitter Lists can be used to organize and keep track of the accounts you follow, making it easier to engage with members of your community
- Direct Messaging: X/Twitter’s direct messaging feature allows you to connect and communicate with other members of your community one-on-one
- Retweets and Replies: Retweeting and replying to other users’ tweets can help you build relationships and establish yourself as an active member of the community
Who are X/Twitter communities for?
This platform is for people who are looking to join a community or build their own.
How to join a X/Twitter community?
To join an open X/Twitter community, simply click the join button on the community page. You can learn more about X/Twitter communities and how to use them at the link below: https://help.x.com/en/using-x/communities#communities
#20 – YouTube Community
If you’re looking to find a community, the YouTube community feature can be a great place to start. This feature allows creators to build a space within their YouTube channel where fans can connect with one another and engage with the creator’s content.
By joining a YouTube community, you can participate in discussions, share ideas, and get to know other people who are passionate about the same things as you. Additionally, you can use this feature to collaborate with other creators and grow your network.
YouTube’s community features
- Ability to post text, images, and videos to a dedicated community feed
- Option to create polls and gather feedback from community members
- Ability to create exclusive content for community members only
- Option to organize events and meetups with community members
- Ability to interact with other creators in their communities, expanding your network
- Option to monetize your community with membership tiers and exclusive perks
Who are YouTube communities for?
They’re for people who either already have a YouTube channel and want to add a community feature to connect with their audience or for fans to connect with each other and a creator they support.
How to create or join a YouTube community?
To create a community on YouTube, you need to have a channel first. In order for the Community tab to be available, you must enable access to advanced features on your channel. Learn more about community posts.
There are no specific requirements to join or comment in a community on YouTube. Look for the creator you want to support, subscribe to their channel and keep an eye on their community, comment, and interact with other followers.
Ready to join and grow with a network of creators like you?
You now have a great starting place for finding and connecting with other creators just like you, whether you decide to start your own space or join an existing community.
When you join Kit’s Creator Network, not only do you become part of the largest community of creators online, but you’re also introduced to some of the biggest names in the creator space who are ready to help you actively help you grow your subscriber list by recommending your newsletter to their own subscribers.
Because when one creator wins, all creators win.
