Top 5 Community Alternatives in 2024

Community is an SMS marketing platform used by creators to centralize their communication efforts. This article will explore its features and offer alternatives for those seeking SMS marketing solutions.

Community centralizes SMS marketing by providing tools to grow the audience, manage audience groups, engage at scale, and measure results. It integrates seamlessly with existing systems, allowing for data synchronization and personalized messaging across channels.

Key features of Community include:

• Grow your List: Easy discovery and conversation initiation for members.
• Manage your Audience: Effortless customization and targeting of audience groups.
• Engage at Scale: Intuitive tools for scalable engagement.
• Measure Results: Metrics that increase lifetime value and customer satisfaction.
• Integrations & API: Seamless integration with existing systems for data sync and message triggering.

For creators looking for alternatives to Community, several options are available:

• Twilio: Known for its robust API and flexibility, Twilio offers extensive customization for SMS marketing campaigns.
• SimpleTexting: A user-friendly platform that provides a range of features including mass texting, scheduled messages, and analytics.
• SlickText: Offers a variety of tools for SMS marketing, including keyword campaigns, autoresponders, and detailed reporting.
• EZ Texting: Provides an easy-to-use interface with features like text-to-vote, text-to-win, and comprehensive analytics.

Each of these alternatives offers unique features that can cater to different needs within the creator business, ensuring that there is a suitable SMS marketing solution for everyone.

What is Community?

Community is a text messaging platform designed to facilitate real conversations and meaningful interactions between brands and their audiences. It offers enterprise-grade power with everyday ease of use, allowing users to collect and organize audience responses through Zero Party Data. Community Intelligence tools help in stacking, sorting, and learning more about the audience. The platform also boasts high engagement rates, seamless integrations, and effective promotional campaigns that drive additional revenue.

What to Consider When Selecting a Community Alternative?

1. Integration Capabilities: Ensure the platform integrates seamlessly with your existing tools and systems for a smooth workflow.
2. Ease of Use: Look for a user-friendly interface that allows you to quickly set up and manage your SMS campaigns without a steep learning curve.
3. Customization Options: Choose a platform that offers robust customization features for audience segmentation and personalized messaging.
4. Analytics and Reporting: Opt for a solution that provides detailed metrics to help you measure the effectiveness of your campaigns and make data-driven decisions.
5. Customer Support: Reliable customer support is crucial for troubleshooting and optimizing your SMS marketing efforts. Ensure the platform offers comprehensive support options.

Best Alternatives to Community

1. Beacons

Beacons is the all-in-one creator platform that empowers over 5 million creators, including Green Day, Sia, Jeremy Lin, and Jack in the Box, to manage their audience all in one place. With Beacons, creators can send emails to fans, leverage a full stack of tools, and even engage in SMS marketing to enhance their reach and impact. This platform is designed to streamline every aspect of a creator's journey, making it easier than ever to connect with and grow their audience.

Pros of Using Beacons

Beacons offers several advantages that make it a standout choice for creators looking to streamline their operations and maximize their impact. Here are three key benefits:

• Cost Savings: Beacons is price competitive and even offers a free tier, making it accessible for creators at all stages. This allows you to leverage powerful tools without breaking the bank.
• Data Syncing: The platform excels in automatically syncing data across various tools, providing better insights and saving you valuable time. This seamless integration ensures that your data is always up-to-date and easily accessible.
• Comprehensive Toolset: Beacons provides a full stack of tools designed to help you manage your audience, send emails, and engage in SMS marketing, all from a single platform. This all-in-one approach simplifies your workflow and enhances your ability to connect with your audience.

For more information, visit Beacons.

Pricing

Beacons offers a range of pricing packages to suit different needs and budgets:

• Free Plan: $0 (Free forever)
• Creator Pro: $8.33 per month (billed annually) or $10 per month (billed monthly)
• Store Pro: $25 per month (billed annually) or $30 per month (billed monthly)
• Business Pro: $75 per month (billed annually) or $90 per month (billed monthly)

Reviews

Beacons has received an impressive overall rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on 16 reviews. Users consistently praise the platform for its thoughtfully designed tools, ease of use, and effectiveness in helping creators grow their businesses. For more detailed reviews, visit Beacons Reviews.

Who Should Use Beacons?

Beacons targets creators and businesses looking to centralize their operations, offering a comprehensive suite of tools beyond just SMS marketing. From musicians and influencers to small business owners, any creator aiming to manage their audience, sell products, and engage with fans will find Beacons invaluable.

2. Winno

Winno is a platform that allows creators to use text messaging to monetize exclusive content and engage in 1:1 interactions with their fans. It offers features like customizable subscription tiers, a shareable link for fan subscriptions, a dashboard for sending various media, and tools for managing and replying to subscriber messages.

Pros of Using Winno

Winno offers several unique features that make it a standout platform for creators looking to monetize their content and engage with their fans through text messaging. Here are three key benefits:

• Customizable Subscription Tiers: Winno allows creators to set up different subscription levels, providing flexibility in how they monetize their content and engage with their audience.
• Rich Media Formats: The platform supports a variety of content types, including texts, images, videos, and voice notes, enabling creators to deliver a richer and more engaging experience to their fans.
• Real-time Interaction: Winno's dashboard makes it easy to see and reply to subscriber messages quickly, fostering a more personal and immediate connection with fans.

Cons of Using Winno

• Information Overload: Some users have noted that Winno can contribute to information overload, making it difficult to focus on essential updates. This can be overwhelming for those who prefer a more streamlined communication experience.
• Lack of Necessity: The platform may not be necessary for all creators, as it adds to the noise rather than providing unique value. This can be a drawback for those who already have established communication channels.
• Limited User Feedback: The absence of direct user feedback or testimonials on the Winno website makes it challenging for potential users to gauge the platform's effectiveness and reliability based on real-world experiences.

Pricing

Winno offers two main pricing packages designed to cater to different needs. Here are the pricing details:

• Standard Package: 15% fee
• Professional Package: Custom pricing (requires contacting Winno for details)

Reviews

Winno has received an impressive rating of 5 out of 5 based on user reviews. Generally, people appreciate its ability to keep them updated with concise, informative, and objective news, although some users mention it can contribute to information overload. For more details, visit Winno Reviews.

3. Subtext

Subtext is an SMS marketing platform that allows online creators to engage directly with their audience through text messaging. It provides tools for real-time communication, community building, and monetization.

Pros of Using Subtext

Subtext offers several unique features that make it a standout SMS marketing platform. Here are three key benefits:

• Immediate, Reliable Communication: With a 98% or better open rate, your messages are read almost instantly, ensuring timely and effective communication.
• Exclusive Community Building: Create insider communities with VIP supporters through private Q&As and premium content, fostering deeper connections with your most loyal fans.
• Revenue Generation: Monetize your content through stand-alone subscriptions or as part of membership bundles, providing a new revenue stream for your business.

Cons of Using Subtext

• Limited Customization: Subtext offers fewer options for customizing messages compared to other platforms. This can be a drawback for creators who want to tailor their communication more precisely to their audience's preferences.
• High Cost for Small Creators: The pricing structure may be prohibitive for smaller creators or those just starting out. The fees can add up quickly, making it less accessible for those with limited budgets.
• Complex Onboarding Process: Some users have reported that the initial setup and onboarding process can be cumbersome and time-consuming. This can be a barrier for creators looking for a quick and easy way to start engaging with their audience.

Pricing

Subtext offers a range of pricing packages designed to cater to different needs and budgets. Here are the pricing details:

• Standard Package: $100 per month
• Professional Package: $500 per month
• Enterprise Package: Custom pricing (requires contacting Subtext for details)

Reviews

Subtext has received an impressive rating of 4.8 out of 5 based on user reviews. Generally, people appreciate its simplicity and accessibility, although some have noted limitations regarding file extensions. For more details, visit Subtext on the App Store.

4. Attentive

Attentive is an AI-powered SMS and email marketing platform designed to help online creators engage customers, drive loyalty, and increase revenue through personalized messaging. It offers tools for list management, audience segmentation, analytics, and AI-driven campaign automation, ensuring effective communication and marketing performance.

Pros of Using Attentive

Attentive AI™: This feature allows users to create and send top-performing campaigns quickly, leveraging AI to optimize every aspect of your marketing efforts.

Patented Two-Tap Mobile Technology: Facilitates a frictionless sign-up process, making it incredibly easy for customers to subscribe and engage with your content.

Conversational AI: Provides accurate and helpful replies to customers in seconds, enhancing customer experience and engagement through real-time, personalized interactions.

Cons of Using Attentive

• Communication Issues: Users have reported that communication with Attentive can sometimes be spotty, and the platform is still actively being developed. This can lead to instances where certain features or use cases are not yet supported.
• High Character Count for Emojis: Incorporating emojis into messages can take up a significant amount of character count, which can be limiting for those who want to use emojis to enhance their messaging.
• Data Export Limitations: Users have expressed frustration with the inability to export data without first reaching out to Attentive's white glove service, making it less convenient for those who need quick access to their data.

Pricing

Attentive offers a range of pricing packages designed to cater to different needs and budgets. Here are the pricing details:

• Standard Package: $100 per month
• Professional Package: $500 per month
• Enterprise Package: Custom pricing (requires contacting Attentive for details)

Reviews

Attentive has received a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 509 reviews. Generally, users praise its customer support, ease of use, and effectiveness in SMS marketing, although some mention it can be expensive and has some missing features and reporting issues. For more details, visit Attentive Reviews on G2.

5. Blueprint

Blueprint offers SMS and WhatsApp marketing solutions tailored for eCommerce businesses. The platform provides tools for customer feedback, flexible subscription management, and intelligent cross-selling and replenishment, integrating seamlessly with eCommerce platforms like Shopify to improve customer retention and engagement.

Pros of Using Blueprint

Flexible Subscription Management: Blueprint allows customers to manage their subscriptions, including order skips and edits, via SMS and WhatsApp, making it incredibly convenient for users to stay in control.

Intelligent Cross-Sells & Replenishments: The platform uses a data-driven recommendation engine to automate reorder prompts, ensuring that the right customers receive the right messages at the right time.

Direct Customer Feedback: Blueprint enables brands to gather customer feedback directly through SMS and WhatsApp, providing valuable insights that can be used to improve products and services.

Cons of Using Blueprint

• Subscriber List Growth: Users need to put in extra effort to grow their subscriber list, which can be time-consuming and challenging for those new to SMS marketing.
• Mandatory Opt-In Message: The instant sending of the mandatory opt-in message can cause customers to stop engaging without giving the company a chance to respond, potentially leading to lost opportunities.
• Interface Usability: The interface isn't always intuitive, often requiring extra steps to save messaging, which can be frustrating and inefficient for users.

Pricing

Blueprint offers a range of pricing packages designed to cater to different needs and budgets. Here are the pricing details:

• Startup Plan: $47 per month (billed annually) or $59 per month (billed monthly)
• Growth Plan: $153 per month (billed annually) or $191 per month (billed monthly)
• Performance Plan: $384 per month (billed annually) or $479 per month (billed monthly)
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing (billed annually or monthly)

Additional messaging overage fees apply:

• $0.012 USD per message in the US
• £0.033 GBP per message in the UK
• €0.108 EUR per message in Germany
• $0.0444 AUD per message in Australia

Reviews

Blueprint has received an impressive rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 16 reviews. Generally, users praise its automation capabilities, customer service, and ability to drive customer engagement and sales through personalized SMS interactions. For more details, visit Blueprint Reviews.

Which One Should You Go With?

Choosing the right SMS marketing platform can significantly impact your ability to engage with your audience and grow your business. While all the platforms discussed offer valuable features, we recommend Beacons for online creators looking to centralize their SMS marketing efforts. With its comprehensive toolset, cost-effective plans, and seamless data syncing, Beacons stands out as a top choice for creators aiming to maximize their reach and impact.