Community Website4 platforms compared

Best CMS for Community Websites in 2026

Compare the best platforms for building online communities with forums, member profiles, events, and discussion features.

Build a community hub where members connect, share, and grow together.

TL;DR — Our Top Pick

Next.js + Payload + Forum SDK is our top recommendation for community website sites.

Full control over the community experience. Payload manages members and content. Add a forum SDK (Orbit, Forem API) for discussions.

What a Community Website CMS Needs

Community builders creating forums, member directories, event platforms, or discussion-based sites.

User registration and profiles

Discussion threads or forums

Member directory with search

Event management and RSVPs

Moderation tools and content guidelines

Top 4 Platforms Ranked

Next.js + Payload + Forum SDK

React framework for production with SSR, SSG, and API routes

TOP PICK

Full control over the community experience. Payload manages members and content. Add a forum SDK (Orbit, Forem API) for discussions.

Open SourceJavaScript/TypeScript (React)Free (open-source)

Strengths

Hybrid rendering — SSG, SSR, ISR, and client-side in one app
Most popular React framework with massive community
Built-in image optimization, API routes, and middleware

Trade-offs

React learning curve for non-JavaScript developers
App Router introduced complexity with Server Components

Payload CMS

TypeScript-first headless CMS that lives in your Next.js app

User management, access control, and custom collections for discussions, events, and resources. Admin panel doubles as moderation dashboard.

Open SourceTypeScript / Node.jsFree (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available

Strengths

Lives inside your Next.js codebase — zero API latency
Config-as-code with full TypeScript type safety
Built-in auth, access control, and file uploads

Trade-offs

Tightly coupled to Next.js ecosystem
Newer platform with a smaller community and fewer plugins

Ghost

Modern publishing platform built for professional content creators

Built-in memberships and newsletters for content-driven communities. Members pay for access, receive exclusive content. Simpler than a full forum.

Open SourceNode.jsFree (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed)

Strengths

Beautiful, focused writing experience (Markdown + rich editor)
Built-in membership and subscription payment system
Newsletter/email delivery built right into the platform

Trade-offs

Limited to blogs and newsletters — not a general CMS
Small theme ecosystem compared to WordPress

Sanity + Next.js

Real-time collaborative headless CMS with customizable Studio

Flexible content model for events, member profiles, and resources. Real-time updates for live discussions. Custom studio for community managers.

Open SourceJavaScript/TypeScript (React-based Studio)Free / $15+/month per user

Strengths

GROQ query language is more powerful and flexible than GraphQL
Real-time collaborative editing (like Google Docs)
Fully customizable React-based Studio admin panel

Trade-offs

GROQ is a custom query language with its own learning curve
Studio customization requires React development knowledge

How to Decide

Start with the minimum viable community — member profiles, a discussion channel, and events

For content-driven communities (newsletters, articles), Ghost is the fastest path

For discussion-heavy communities, consider integrating Discord or a forum SDK instead of building from scratch

Moderation is critical — plan tools for reporting, banning, and content guidelines from day one

Ready to migrate from WordPress?

WordPress → Next.js WordPress → Payload CMS WordPress → Ghost

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use Discord instead?

Discord is great for real-time chat but bad for searchable, long-form discussions and SEO. Build a website for evergreen content and community pages, use Discord for day-to-day chat.

How do I handle moderation?

Build moderation tools into your admin panel: flag/report buttons, content approval queues, user suspension. For AI moderation, Perspective API and OpenAI moderation API can auto-flag problematic content.

Can I monetize a community?

Common models: membership tiers (free + paid), event tickets, job board listings, sponsored content, and premium resources. Ghost handles paid memberships natively.