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Circle vs Ning Comparison

Last updated:

Circle

Starting at $39 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Circle is a community platform that facilitates collaboration between creators and their audiences, allowing them to establish a lasting relationship. It provides a personalized membership experience, giving you control…

Ning

2.9(62 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Small Business
  • Medium Business

Ning is a white-label community platform for content creators, professional associations, and brands that want to build a dedicated social network separate from mainstream platforms. It provides the tools to create brand…

Ning leads on user satisfaction with a 2.9-star rating across 62 reviews.

Circle vs Ning — at a glance

FeatureCircleNing
Rating2.9 / 5
Reviews62
Starting price$39 /MonthContact for pricing
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessSmall Business, Medium Business, Startups
CategoryOnline Community Management SoftwareOnline Community Management Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailable
Support modesOnline
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyGlobalGlobal

Key differences between Circle and Ning

  • Pricing: Circle starts at $39 /Month. Ning pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Target audience: Circle is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Ning targets Small Business and Medium Business.

Circle vs Ning — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Online Community Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Circle - New SaaS Software
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Ning
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Free PDF comparison

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Circle

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Ning

Best for small teams needing simple, affordable community and social media integration.

Choose if
  • You want an easy-to-set-up platform for basic online community building.
  • Your team values integrated social media features to boost engagement.
  • You have a small to mid-sized company with limited budget and need a free trial.
Consider alternatives if
  • You require advanced customization and scalability for large enterprise communities.
  • Your team depends on robust analytics and extensive third-party integrations.

Circle typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Ning tends to fit Small Business and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Circle is a community platform that facilitates collaboration between creators and their audiences, allowing them to establish a lasting relationship. It provides a personalized membership ... Read More about Circle

Ning is a white-label community platform for content creators, professional associations, and brands that want to build a dedicated social network separate from mainstream platforms. It ... Read More about Ning

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $39
  • Not Available

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

2.9

(62)

Best Company Size

Small BusinessMedium Business
1-50 employees51-200 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

Circle has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

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Step 1 of 4

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How do Circle and Ning Compare on Features?

Total Features

9 Features

12 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare Circle and Ning on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $39
      • Not Available

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      Circle pricing
      Ning pricing

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🌐 Global

      Circle User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      No reviews available for the product

      Rating Distribution

      2

      0

      0

      0

      0

      20

      6

      12

      2

      6

      Pros and Cons

      • Branded domain and custom branding options

      • Dedicated discussion channels for focused conversations

      • Support for online learning pods

      • Limited publicly available pricing information

      • Lack of detailed user reviews and ratings

      • Easy to set up and customize basic communities

      • Integrated social media features

      • Affordable entry with free trial option

      • Limited advanced features and scalability

      • Lower user satisfaction reflected in 2.9 rating

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Negative Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used Circle or Ning? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      List of Customers

      Customers

      teachable

      teachable

      Forte Labs

      Forte Labs

      spi

      spi

      No Customers information available.

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Circle screenshot

      4 Screenshots

      My Networks

      2 Screenshots

      Videos

      No videos available.

      video-0

      2 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Circle and Ning in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, Circle or Ning?
      Ning edges out the other on user ratings (2.9 vs -1.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Circle and Ning offer a free trial?
      Yes, both Circle and Ning offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Circle vs Ning?
      Circle starts at $39 /Month. Ning starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to Circle?
      Top alternatives to Circle include Skool, Qualified, Workvivo, Sociohub, AfterClass.
      What are the top alternatives to Ning?
      Top alternatives to Ning include Mighty Networks, Circle, Bind, ReplyBox, Tribe.