The best community engagement tools in 2025

Community engagement has become a vital part of modern communications for both public and private sector organisations.

In a world where citizens expect to be heard, connected, and informed, the ability to build meaningful two-way relationships has never been more important.

With billions of people interacting online every day through social platforms, forums, or digital communities, effective engagement is no longer just a nice-to-have, it’s essential.

From local councils sharing community updates to universities gathering student feedback, every organisation needs a way to manage these conversations efficiently and at scale. But with so many channels and audiences to consider, how can communications and engagement teams keep up?

That’s where community engagement tools come in. These platforms bring all your citizen interactions, surveys, and feedback into one central hub, helping teams listen, respond, and act on insights in real time. If you need to do more research on what a community engagement platform is, read this blog – what is a community engagement platform?

So, rather than juggling multiple apps and inboxes, why not invest in a community engagement platform that simplifies the process and strengthens your connection with the people you serve? Of course, choosing the right tool is key, it should align with your organisation’s goals, audience, and communication style.

Read more about why community engagement is important here.

We’ve rounded up some of the best community engagement platforms available today, grouped by the type of organisation they’re best suited to.

• Orlo – Designed for public sector and government organisations
• Hivebrite – Best for membership organisations and non-profits
• Khoros Communities – For technology and customer experience
• Zapnito – Best for B2B tech and professional services

Orlo is the only community engagement platform built specifically for the UK public sector and is the only platform for that sector which combines the power of social media scheduling and management, surveying, analytics and insights all in one place.

With over 14 years of experience working alongside councils, emergency services, healthcare providers, central government, housing, education, and other public bodies, Orlo understands the unique pressures and expectations these organisations face. The platform is designed to enable meaningful engagement, build public trust, and support service delivery, rather than driving leads or revenue.

As a CCS (Crown Commercial Service) and G-Cloud approved supplier with Cyber Essentials Plus certification, Orlo offers a secure, UK-based solution where all data is held within the UK.

It is the platform of choice for public sector teams who need to manage risk, demonstrate impact, and engage with their communities in a trusted and transparent way.

Key Features:

• The only platform on the market for public sector organisations that includes both social media management capabilities, surveying and insights, all in one place
• Integrates with multiple channels including Nextdoor and Bluesky
• Real-time updates and scheduled communications using a flexible engagement calendar
• Unified inbox for managing messages, requests, and community interactions
• Community listening and monitoring capabilities to capture sentiment and trends
• Emotion and sentiment analysis for better understanding of public feedback
• “Company Lockdown” feature for emergency communication blackouts
• Advanced analytics including a unique Trust Score metric
• Pre-built and custom reports for measuring community impact
• GDPR and ISO-compliant, built with public sector security in mind
• Continuous strategic support from UK-based customer success managers with public sector expertise

Summary:

Used by over 90% of the UK police force, many local and central government councils and departments, and hundreds of other public sector organisations, Orlo is purpose-built for councils, healthcare providers, housing associations, educational institutions, infrastructure, and government departments.

If trust, community outcomes, public safety, health, security, and social impact are your priorities – Orlo is your platform.

Hivebrite is a community engagement platform designed for membership organisations, alumni networks, and nonprofits.

It helps organisations manage member interactions, build lasting relationships, and foster active communities that drive engagement and membership retention. The platform is focused on enabling meaningful participation, knowledge sharing, and collaboration rather than generating leads or revenue.

Key Features:

• Customisable community spaces for members and alumni
• Event management and RSVPs
• Discussion forums and private groups for networking
• Feedback collection
• Analytics on member engagement and participation
• GDPR-compliant and secure data hosting
• Continuous support from expert community managers

Summary:

Used by universities, professional associations, and nonprofit organisations worldwide, Hivebrite is purpose-built to help membership organisations foster connection, collaboration, and long-term engagement. If member satisfaction, knowledge sharing, and community growth are your focus – Hivebrite is your platform.

Khoros Communities is a community engagement platform that enables technology companies and customer-focused organisations to build branded, interactive spaces for their customers.

It focuses on creating meaningful conversations, supporting self-service, and improving customer experience rather than driving sales directly.

Key Features:

• Branded, secure online community spaces
• Discussion forums, Q&A, and peer-to-peer support
• Moderation tools to ensure safe and constructive interactions
• Analytics and reporting on community engagement and sentiment
• Integrations with CRM, helpdesk, and support platforms
• GDPR-compliant and enterprise-grade security
• Strategic support from experienced customer success teams

Summary:

Used by tech companies, SaaS providers, and customer service-focused brands, Khoros Communities is ideal for organisations looking to strengthen customer relationships, reduce support costs, and grow loyalty. If customer engagement, feedback-driven improvement, and community building are your priorities – Khoros Communities is your platform.

Zapnito is an enterprise community engagement platform that helps B2B tech companies and professional service providers build thriving online communities.

It focuses on connecting experts, customers, and partners in private, branded spaces to foster engagement, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

Key Features:

• Customisable and secure community spaces
• Expert-led content, webinars, and discussion forums
• Member management and networking tools
• Analytics and reporting on community activity
• Integration with CRM and marketing systems
• GDPR-compliant with enterprise security standards
• Dedicated support and strategic guidance

Summary:

Used by SaaS providers, consultancy firms, and professional service organisations, Zapnito is ideal for businesses that want to engage clients, showcase expertise, and build long-term relationships. If knowledge sharing, professional networking, and client engagement are your focus – Zapnito is your platform.

With so many platforms on the market, choosing the right one for your organisation isn’t just about ticking feature boxes – it’s about finding the right strategic fit.

Here are a few key things to consider:

Customer success and support
Make sure the platform offers support that matches your needs, whether that’s onboarding, training, or ongoing strategic guidance. Especially in public sector or community-focused organisations, where teams are stretched, access to responsive and knowledgeable support matters.

Ask how much access you’ll have to your account manager and whether you can meet face to face.

Vision and values of the provider
Is the provider aligned with your organisation’s goals? A community engagement platform that shares your values and mission – whether building trust with citizens, improving member satisfaction, or fostering stakeholder collaboration – is more likely to deliver a productive long-term partnership.

Feature fit
Go beyond generic feature lists. Does the platform offer tools, workflows, analytics, and integrations tailored to your type of community or organisation?

Whether you’re a council, healthcare provider, university, nonprofit, or B2B company, ensuring the features match your engagement goals is crucial.

Scalability and cost
Consider not just the upfront cost, but also whether the platform will grow with you without adding unnecessary complexity or expense. Look at licence flexibility, user limits, and how pricing aligns with your team’s size and future ambitions.

Time to evaluate
Take the time to explore the platform thoroughly. Speak to the provider team, ask about their road map, request a demo tailored to your use case, and see if they understand your sector. A strong provider will welcome your questions and be transparent about what they can and can’t offer.

If you’re comparing multiple community engagement platforms, it’s worth asking each provider for customer references. Speaking with a current user can offer practical insight into how the platform performs in real-world scenarios, the quality of ongoing support, and how well it fits into day-to-day operations.

Hearing directly from someone in a similar role or organisation often provides a clearer picture than a feature list alone. Most providers will be happy to connect you with a customer willing to share their experience.

Ultimately, the right platform should feel like a partner, not just a tool.

Whether you’re a public sector body looking to build trust with citizens, a membership organisation fostering long-term engagement, or a B2B company connecting with clients, investing time to investigate the right community engagement platform will pay off in the long run.

Check out our pick of the best social media management platforms.