The 7 Best Mighty Networks Alternatives in 2026
1. Talkspresso (Best for Live Video Monetization)
Talkspresso is the best alternative for creators who monetize through live sessions rather than communities. Instead of building a community hub, Talkspresso focuses on paid video calls, group coaching, workshops, and digital products.
What sets it apart from Mighty Networks:
- Built-in HD video for 1:1 calls, group sessions, and workshops (up to 500 attendees)
- No monthly subscription (10% fee on paid sessions only)
- Automatic session recording with AI-generated summaries
- Digital product sales (sell recordings, templates, resources)
- Professional booking page with your branding
- Payment collection built into the booking flow
- Intake forms and client management
Talkspresso is not a community platform. It doesn't have forums, groups, or discussion boards. What it does have is the best live video and monetization infrastructure for creators who sell their time and expertise.
The cost comparison is stark. Mighty Networks costs $41-360/month whether you have paying clients or not. Talkspresso costs $0 until someone pays you.
Best for: Creators who monetize through live sessions (coaching, consulting, workshops) rather than community subscriptions.
Pricing: Free to start. 10% on paid sessions. No monthly cost.
2. Circle (Best Community Platform Alternative)
Circle is the most direct Mighty Networks competitor. It's a modern community platform with a clean design and strong integrations.
What makes it different:
- Clean, modern interface (better UX than Mighty Networks)
- Spaces for different topics and member groups
- Live events and live streaming
- Course hosting
- Member directory and profiles
- Integrations with Zapier, Stripe, and major email tools
- Custom branding and white-labeling
Drawbacks:
- Monthly subscription ($49-399/month)
- No built-in 1:1 video calling for paid sessions
- No AI session summaries or automatic recording
- No built-in payment collection for individual sessions
- Community engagement still requires constant effort
Best for: Creators who want a community platform with better UX than Mighty Networks.
Pricing: $49/month (Basic), $99/month (Professional), $199/month (Business), $399/month (Enterprise).
3. Skool (Simplest Community + Course Platform)
Skool strips community and courses down to the essentials. One price, one simple design, focused on what matters.
What makes it different:
- Extremely simple interface (community + courses + calendar)
- Gamification with leaderboards and points
- Flat pricing ($99/month for everything)
- Easy to set up (minutes, not weeks)
- Growing marketplace for discovery
- Affiliate program built in
Drawbacks:
- Limited customization
- No built-in video calling for 1:1 sessions
- No AI features
- $99/month is expensive for new creators
- No digital product sales beyond courses
- Limited branding options
Best for: Creators who want the simplest possible community + course combo and don't mind a flat $99/month.
Pricing: $99/month flat.
4. Heartbeat (Best for Niche Communities)
Heartbeat is a community platform focused on creating intimate, engaged communities rather than massive ones. Good for niche creators.
What makes it different:
- Designed for smaller, tighter communities
- Clean, modern design
- Events and live sessions
- Member management and engagement tools
- Integrations with payment processors
- Custom branding
Drawbacks:
- Smaller platform with less brand recognition
- Monthly subscription required
- No built-in HD video for paid sessions
- No AI features
- Limited course features compared to Mighty Networks
Best for: Creators building intimate, niche communities where quality of engagement matters more than scale.
Pricing: Free plan (limited). Paid plans from $29/month.
5. Kajabi (Best for Courses + Marketing)
Kajabi is the most comprehensive platform for creators who sell courses and want built-in marketing tools. More expensive than Mighty Networks, but more powerful for course businesses.
What makes it different:
- Course creation with detailed curriculum builder
- Built-in email marketing and automation
- Landing pages and sales funnels
- Community features
- Podcasting
- Mobile app
- Analytics and reporting
- Affiliate management
Drawbacks:
- Expensive ($149-399/month)
- No built-in live video for 1:1 sessions
- Overkill if you don't sell courses
- Learning curve for full platform setup
- No AI session features
Best for: Course creators who want marketing, email, and community in one platform and can justify $149+/month.
Pricing: $149/month (Basic), $199/month (Growth), $399/month (Pro).
6. Teachable (Best Affordable Course Platform)
Teachable focuses specifically on course creation and sales. Simpler and more affordable than Kajabi, with fewer features outside courses.
What makes it different:
- Straightforward course builder
- Built-in payment processing
- Student management
- Quizzes and certificates
- Affiliate program
- Basic community features (through add-on)
Drawbacks:
- Primarily a course platform (community is secondary)
- No built-in live video for sessions
- Monthly subscription ($39-199/month)
- Transaction fees on lower plans
- No AI features
- Limited marketing tools compared to Kajabi
Best for: Creators who primarily sell pre-recorded courses and want an affordable, focused platform.
Pricing: Free plan (with fees). $39/month (Basic), $119/month (Pro), $199/month (Pro+).
7. Discord (Best Free Community Option)
Discord isn't a traditional creator platform, but it's where millions of community members already hang out. Free, flexible, and surprisingly capable.
What makes it different:
- Completely free
- Real-time chat, voice, and video
- Channels and roles for organization
- Bots for automation and moderation
- Massive existing user base
- Server boosts for premium features
- Integrations with everything
Drawbacks:
- Not designed for monetization (no built-in payments)
- No course hosting
- No booking or scheduling
- Requires third-party tools for paid access
- Can feel chaotic without good moderation
- Not professional enough for some audiences
Best for: Creators who want a free community space and handle monetization separately.
Pricing: Free. Nitro subscription ($9.99/month) for personal perks.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Mighty Networks | Talkspresso | Circle | Skool | Heartbeat | Kajabi | Teachable | Discord |
|---|
| Community | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Basic | Yes |
| Courses | Yes |
How to Choose the Right Alternative
Your primary revenue is live sessions (coaching, consulting, workshops):
Choose Talkspresso. It handles the monetization side perfectly: HD video, scheduling, payments, recording, and AI summaries. Pair it with a free community tool like Discord if you also want a community space.
You want a community platform (forums, groups, discussions):
Choose Circle for the best UX, Skool for the simplest setup, or Discord if you want free.
You sell courses and need marketing tools:
Choose Kajabi if budget isn't a concern, or Teachable for a more affordable course-focused option.
You want a small, intimate community:
Choose Heartbeat. It's designed for quality over quantity.
The Community Trap (and How to Avoid It)
Here's something most Mighty Networks users learn the hard way: community platforms are expensive to run and hard to keep alive.
The typical pattern:
- Month 1-2: Excitement. Members join, post introductions, engage with content.
- Month 3-4: Activity drops. Same 10% of members carry the conversation.
- Month 5-6: Ghost town. You're paying $41+/month for a platform nobody uses.
Community engagement requires constant effort: posting content, responding to members, creating events, managing discussions. It's essentially a part-time job on top of your actual business.
The alternative model that works better for most creators:
- Free community (Discord, free Circle plan, or social media) for casual engagement and audience building.
- Paid live sessions (Talkspresso) for monetization. 1:1 coaching, group sessions, workshops.
- Digital products for passive income. Sell recordings, templates, and resources.
This model separates community (free, low-maintenance) from monetization (paid, high-value). You're not depending on community engagement to justify your monthly platform cost. Your revenue comes from sessions and products, which have clear, direct value.
The Revenue Model Comparison
Let's compare two approaches for a creator earning $3,000/month:
Mighty Networks Model
- Platform cost: $99/month (Business plan)
- Revenue source: Membership subscriptions ($20/month x 150 members = $3,000)
- Churn: You need to constantly replace churning members
- Work required: Daily content, moderation, engagement
- Net after platform: ~$2,900
Talkspresso Model
- Platform cost: $0/month + 10% on paid sessions
- Revenue source: 20 coaching sessions at $100 each + 2 workshops at $250 each = $2,500 sessions + $500 workshops = $3,000
- Churn: Clients rebook based on value, not subscription fatigue
- Work required: Deliver sessions, automated recording and follow-up
- Net after platform: $2,700
The Mighty Networks model earns slightly more in raw numbers, but requires maintaining an active community of 150+ people. The Talkspresso model requires 20 clients and 2 workshops per month, with no community maintenance.
For most solo creators, 20 clients per month is more achievable and sustainable than 150 active community members.
Making the Switch from Mighty Networks
If you're leaving Mighty Networks, here's how to transition without losing momentum:
Step 1: Identify your revenue drivers. What actually makes you money? Community subscriptions? Course sales? Live events? This determines which alternative to choose.
Step 2: Set up your new platform. If live sessions drive revenue, set up Talkspresso. If courses drive revenue, set up Kajabi or Teachable. If community is the revenue model, set up Circle or Skool.
Step 3: Migrate your members. Email your community members about the change. Give them a clear reason ("I'm upgrading to offer better live sessions and more value").
Step 4: Keep what works, drop what doesn't. If your community was a ghost town, don't recreate it elsewhere. Focus on the revenue model that actually works.
The Bottom Line
Mighty Networks is a capable platform for creators who want community, courses, and events in one place. But it's expensive, complex, and dependent on community engagement to justify the cost.
If live sessions are your primary revenue, Talkspresso gives you everything you need with no monthly fee. If community is your primary model, Circle or Skool are cleaner alternatives. If courses are your business, Kajabi or Teachable are more focused.
The best move is matching your tool to your revenue model, not forcing your business into a platform designed for a different model.
For a full breakdown, see our 9 best platforms for paid video calls or read how creators sell paid video calls to their followers.
For a full breakdown, see our 9 best platforms for paid video calls or read how creators sell paid video calls to their followers.
Try Talkspresso free for live video sessions →
