2025

Community Trends Report

Your roadmap for what’s next in community

We surveyed over 1,200 community builders from around the world, got the inside scoop from 14 industry experts, and uncovered 12 trends that are shaping the future of community as we know it.

Tom Ross

TomRoss

Julie Solomon

JulieSolomon

76%

of community builders still rely on social media as their top growth channel

Bonnie Christine

BonnieChristine

Justin Moore

JustinMoore

46%

are hosted on Meta platforms—specifically Facebook and WhatsApp

Sophie Miller

SophieMiller

Jordan Godbey

JordanGodbey

Pat Flynn

PatFlynn

Matthew Carnevale

MatthewCarnevale

76%

of community builders still rely on social media as their top growth channel

Kristen Bousquet

KristenBousquet

Glo Atanmo

GloAtanmo

46%

are hosted on Meta platforms—specifically Facebook and WhatsApp

Ali Abdaal

AliAbdaal

Jay Clouse

JayClouse

Justin Welsh

JustinWelsh

Social media is where you find your people, community platforms are where you connect with them

1st Trend

Social media drives growth but isn't ideal for lasting relationships

Social platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn are still the top growth engines for community builders. But inevitably, social media algorithms prioritize virality over relationships, making it harder to foster authentic relationships. That’s why more creators are using social for discovery—then bringing their audience into dedicated platforms for deeper connection.

76%

of community builders still rely on social media as their top growth channel

Social media drives growth but isn't ideal for lasting relationships
Sophie Miller
Sophie MillerFounder & DirectorPretty Little Marketer

“While social platforms are the perfect stage for finding your tribe, it's the authentic connections and that special sauce of community culture that transforms casual scrollers into ride-or-die community members.”

2nd Trend

Meta owns the entry-level community game

Facebook Groups and WhatsApp remain popular starter spaces because they’re free, familiar, and easy to use. But as communities grow, their limitations become clear—no ownership, limited functionality, zero customization, and algorithms limiting your reach. Savvy community builders eventually outgrow Meta’s platforms and migrate to dedicated spaces where they can fully control the member experience.

Meta owns the entry-level community game

3rd Trend

The power of niche communities

The biggest trend in community growth isn’t scaling up—it’s scaling down. Instead of chasing massive audiences, creators are shifting toward high-value micro-communities that foster deep engagement and premium pricing models. Smaller, curated communities offer a VIP-like experience, leading to higher retention and stronger connections.

On average, respondents say one community member is worth 234 social media followers

The power of niche communities
Matthew Carnevale
Matthew CarnevaleHead of CommunityExit Five

“If you're in a room with 20 people, it's likely you'll connect with everyone. In a room of 500 people however, you'll maybe only connect with 15-20—and the rest remain strangers. People want to feel connected to others, especially those who are like them.”

4th Trend

Exclusivity and privacy sells

More and more community builders are closing their doors to the public—and some are even charging higher ticket prices as a result. Whether it’s invite-only Slack groups, curated professional networks, or exclusive masterminds, community builders are using applications and vetting processes to attract the right people and create high-trust environments.

Exclusivity and privacy sells

Communities aren’t just platforms, they’re ecosystems

5th Trend

Live virtual events are your secret engagement hack

In a world of AI-generated content and passive scrolling, live, interactive experiences are your secret weapon. From AMAs and expert panels to member-led workshops, real-time engagement drives deeper connections and keeps communities thriving.

The most popular community event types are:

Live virtual events are your secret engagement hack

6th Trend

2025 is the year of platform consolidation

Community builders are drowning in tools: one for email, another for events, a third for payments, a separate one for courses…you get the picture, and probably know the pain of juggling them all. The shift toward all-in-one community platforms is making it easier to manage operations—without the tech headache.

2025 is the year of platform consolidation

Only 6%

of respondents have no plans to consolidate their tools in 2025

Download the full 2025 Community Trends Report

Enjoying the findings so far?

Download the full 2025 Community Trends Report for:

  • A deep-dive analysis on the future of community building
  • Expert insights from 14 industry leaders
  • Real-world case studies showing trends in action
  • Exclusive predictions straight from Circle’s co-founders

7th Trend

The transformative power of recurring revenue

Recurring revenue is a game-changer for community builders. Instead of chasing one-off sales, creators are shifting to memberships and subscriptions, providing them with a steady source of income, and more headspace to innovate. It’s not just about making more money—it’s about creating a sustainable business that grows with your audience and keeps them coming back for more.

54% are already tapping into paid memberships.

41% use subscriptions, alongside offerings like coaching and courses.

The transformative power of recurring revenue
Bonnie Christine
Bonnie ChristineFounderFlourish with Bonnie Christine

"It was the most stable income I’d ever experienced, and it gave me the freedom to focus on building my dream career. Today, that same membership has grown into a community that generates over a million dollars annually."

The comeback kids: newsletters and IRL events

8th Trend

From URL to IRL: in-person events are back in a big way

From intimate meetups to large-scale gatherings, bringing members together in real life creates deeper trust, stronger relationships, and a renewed sense of belonging. More community builders are hosting high-impact, real-world experiences, with many saying they've been a big hit.

48%

of our survey respondents are hosting IRL events.

Types of in-person events that our respondents are running:

From URL to IRL: in-person events are back in a big way
Glo Atanmo
GloAtanmoFounderThe Life Leap

“I've been hosting in-person experiences for the last decade, and I've always felt that social media can only go so far in community-building. The magic happens offline, so we're doubling down on in-person experiences this year to reflect that.”

9th Trend

Newsletters are having a renaissance

Newsletters are giving creators back a direct, reliable line to their top followers. So it’s no surprise that community builders are embracing email to share curated content, nurture relationships, and even drive revenue. Unlike social media, newsletters offer full ownership, zero algorithm interference, and a highly engaged audience—making them one of the most valuable tools for community growth in 2025.

Newsletters are having a renaissance

82%

of survey respondents report that their newsletter drives moderate to high impact on their community business

Jay Clouse
JayClouseFounderCreator Science

"If there's one hill I will die on, it's that all creators should include email as part of their creative platform. And I'm not alone on that hill."

Community AI’s true potential lies in supporting human relationships, not replacing them

10th Trend

AI is freeing many community builders up to focus on meaningful work

Community AI is all about the thoughtful, intentional application of AI to enhance human connection. The technology is taking on more behind-the-scenes work than ever, including tasks like moderation, content curation, data analysis, and member onboarding.

How survey respondents use AI to support their community business

AI is freeing many community builders up to focus on meaningful work

11th Trend

AI chat agents: still early days, but adoption is about to soar

Only 19% of respondents use AI chat agents today—but a whopping 70% plan to in the next year. When done right, these agents act as an extension of the community builder, allowing them to scale their presence and impact without a big team.

AI chat agents: still early days, but adoption is about to soar

70%

of respondents are either considering or planning to integrate AI chat agents into their community in 2025

12th Trend

Communities as the antidote to an AI-dominated digital world

The more AI saturates our online lives, the more people will crave more human connection. The future belongs to communities that foster real conversations, a personal touch, and that sense of belonging that AI alone can’t replicate.

The takeaway?

AI isn’t the enemy—it’s a tool. Smart community builders will use it to streamline operations while doubling down on what truly matters: deep, meaningful human connections.

Download the full 2025 Community Trends Report

Enjoying the findings so far?

Download the full 2025 Community Trends Report for:

  • A deep-dive analysis on the future of community building
  • Expert insights from 14 industry leaders
  • Real-world case studies showing trends in action
  • Exclusive predictions straight from Circle’s co-founders

The 2025 Community Trends Report is brought to you by Circle

Circle is the world's leading complete community platform. Circle enables you to bring together your community, events, and courses — all under your own brand.

In the last year alone, Circle powered:

  • 4.9M

    Posts

  • 20M

    Comments

  • 529K

    Events

  • 31K

    Courses

Our customers range from creator-led communities like Ali Abdaal's Productivity Club, Dr. Becky's GoodInside, and Jay Shetty's Coaching Program, to organizational communities like Harvard's CrimsonConnect, SpaceX's Starbase community, The RSA's Circle, and Notion.