Best Tools for Community Engagement on Social Media in 2025

Engaging with your community on social media is no longer just an option, it's a necessity. Whether you're a brand, an influencer, a sports organization or a digital marketer, building a loyal community is key to long-term success. But let’s face it, managing a social media community is no small feat, it requires the right tools to foster engagement, encourage participation and measure success.

From AI-driven gamification to classic community forums, a variety of tools cater to different needs. In this article, we’ll explore the best tools for community engagement on social media, covering platforms that enhance interaction, boost loyalty, and create meaningful experiences for your audience.

Social Media Management & Scheduling Tools

1. Buffer

Best for: Scheduling, analytics, and engagement tracking.

Buffer is one of the most popular social media scheduling tools, helping brands plan and post content efficiently. It provides features like:

• Automated scheduling for multiple platforms

• Performance analytics to track engagement

• Engagement tools to interact with comments and messages in one dashboard

Business Insider has successfully used Buffer to manage its social media presence. The American news website maintained a consistent publication schedule and increased engagement on its social platforms, reaching over a million fans on Facebook.

2. Statusbrew

Best for: Moderation and real-time engagement.

Statusbrew integrates social media management with customer support. It offers:

• A unified inbox to respond to audience interactions across platforms

• Automated moderation tools for handling spam and negative comments

• Detailed audience insights to optimize content strategies

Creator Mill leveraged Statusbrew to enhance its social media engagement by streamlining content approval workflows for multiple YouTubers. The platform's unified inbox and automated moderation tools allowed them to manage comments more effectively, ensuring rapid audience interaction and higher engagement across different social platforms.

Community-Building Platforms

3. Mighty Networks

Best for: Creating private communities with monetization options.

Mighty Networks enables brands and influencers to build a dedicated community with features like:

• Exclusive member access and subscription models

• Live streaming, events and course creation tools

• Gamification elements to boost engagement

The GUILD, a network for female entrepreneurs, used Mighty Networks to transition from in-person networking events to a thriving online community. By using the platform’s live streaming and discussion features, they created an engaging digital space where members connect, share resources and participate in mentorship programs.

4. Circle

Best for: Brands and creators who want a structured community.

Circle is a highly customizable community-building platform that includes:

• Customizable spaces for discussions and interactions

• Live event integration and engagement analytics

• Direct messaging for one-on-one communication with followers

Income School, an online education platform, leveraged Circle to create an engaging community where students interact, share insights and access structured learning resources. By using Circle’s discussion forums and live event features, they fostered deeper engagement and collaboration among learners.

Interactive & Gamification Tools

5. Fanzone

Best for: AI-driven fan engagement, gamification and monetization.

Fanzone provides a mobile-first approach to social media community engagement by integrating gamification and AI-powered interactive content. Key features include:

• Games, predictors & contests to keep audiences entertained

• Leaderboard challenges that reward active users

• Loyalty analytics to track fan engagement and optimize campaigns

6. Bettermode

Best for: Branded communities with structured engagement.

Bettermode allows brands to create customizable engagement platforms with:

• Gamification features like badges and rewards

• Event management tools for hosting virtual gatherings

• AI-powered discussion moderation

Many businesses like Lenovo use Bettermode to foster user-generated content through structured reward programs. By integrating gamification elements like badges and challenges, brands can encourage customers to share experiences, participate in discussions and contribute valuable content to the community.

Real-Time Engagement & Messaging Apps

7. Discord

Best for: Interactive, real-time engagement.

Originally popular among gamers, Discord is now widely used by businesses and creators for building engaged communities. Features include:

• Real-time chat and voice channels

• Customizable bots to automate interactions

• Integrations with Twitch, YouTube and more

Midjourney, a company specializing in AI-generated art, leveraged Discord to build an interactive and highly engaged community. By integrating their tool directly into the platform, they enabled users to generate AI artwork through chat commands, fostering real-time discussions and collaboration.

8. Slack

Best for: Professional networking and niche communities.

Slack is ideal for building micro-communities within professional networks. It allows:

• Organized channels for different topics.

• Easy integration with tools like Google Drive and Trello.

• Automation options via bots and API integrations.

Copado, a company specializing in DevOps solutions for Salesforce, used Slack to create a highly interactive and structured community for its 91,000 members. By setting up dedicated channels for mentorship, knowledge sharing and technical support, they facilitated real-time discussions between experts and users. Slack’s automated workflows and integrations with Salesforce allowed Copado to streamline internal communication while keeping their community actively engaged through Ask Me Anyting) sessions, live Q&As and peer-to-peer networking opportunities.

Analytics & Monitoring Tools

9. Hootsuite

Best for: Comprehensive analytics and engagement tracking.

Hootsuite is an all-in-one social media tool that offers:

• Engagement insights to refine content strategy.

• Competitive benchmarking to see how you stack up.

• Post scheduling and automation tools.

Apricotton, a teenage lingerie brand, leveraged Hootsuite to optimize its social media strategy, leading to a 66,000 increase in impressions and a 108% boost in sales. By utilizing Hootsuite’s analytics and scheduling features, they successfully engaged their audience with tailored content and strategic ad campaigns.

10. Sprout Social

Best for: Advanced audience insights and reporting.

Sprout Social stands out for its in-depth analytics, helping brands track engagement metrics with:

• AI-powered social listening.

• Sentiment analysis to gauge audience reaction.

• Content recommendations based on engagement trends.

The Chicago Bulls incorporated Sprout Social into their digital strategy to enhance fan engagement across social media. Through Sprout Social’s advanced social listening tools, they monitored audience sentiment in real time and adjusted their messaging to boost interaction. The team also applied Sprout Social’s analytics to fine-tune their content schedule, ensuring fans received timely updates, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, and engaging storytelling. This approach helped them cultivate a highly interactive and loyal fanbase.

Conclusion

Choosing the right tools for community engagement on social media depends on your goals. Whether you need to automate posts, interact in real time, gamify experiences or analyze audience behavior, these platforms provide effective solutions. Fanzone stands out with its gamification and AI-driven fan engagement tools, making it a powerful choice for brands looking to boost loyalty and monetization.

For more insights and strategies on fan engagement, gamification and social media optimization, visit our Blog.