Bettermode for Nonprofits: Customizable No-Code Community Platform
Bettermode is a no-code platform for building fully branded online communities. Modular Spaces let you configure discussion forums, Q&A boards, event listings, and knowledge hubs without writing a line of code. Privacy-first AI, running on self-hosted LLaMA models rather than third-party services, powers search, Ask AI, and automated moderation. Starting at $49/month with no nonprofit discount, it's a flexible but cost-real option for nonprofits ready to invest in community infrastructure.
What It Does
Most nonprofits that want to build an online community end up stitching together a mix of Facebook Groups, Slack workspaces, email lists, and a separate website. Each tool works in isolation, and the result is a fragmented experience that's hard for members to navigate and difficult for staff to maintain. Community engagement suffers, and when the organization needs to migrate away from a free platform (as happened when Facebook changed its Groups algorithm), there's no clean way to export member data or history.
Bettermode is a hosted community platform that replaces this fragmented stack with a single branded space. Its core building block is the Space: a configurable content container that can function as a discussion forum, a knowledge base, a Q&A board, an event listing, a job board, or an ideas/suggestions forum. Spaces are grouped into Collections for organized navigation. The entire community lives on your custom domain with your branding, colors, and typography, set through a visual Design Studio that requires no coding.
The AI layer is what sets Bettermode apart from basic forum software. Rather than sending data to OpenAI or other external providers, Bettermode runs open-source LLaMA models on its own infrastructure. This means Ask AI, which generates instant answers from community content in any language, and AI-powered moderation, which flags inappropriate posts automatically, operate without member data leaving the platform. For nonprofits handling sensitive community discussions around health, legal aid, housing instability, or advocacy, this data privacy approach is a genuine differentiator.
Bettermode is not a membership management or fundraising tool. It focuses specifically on the community experience: peer discussions, knowledge sharing, events, and member engagement. Organizations that need CRM, dues collection, or donation processing alongside their community should plan to integrate Bettermode with a separate tool via Zapier.
Best For
Organization Size
Small to large nonprofits that have an active or aspiring online community. Most value for organizations with 50+ active members who need structured discussion spaces beyond what social media platforms provide. The Starter plan ($49/month) is accessible for smaller organizations, while Growth ($199/month) supports scaling communities needing SSO and automation. Enterprise serves large-scale communities with custom SLAs.
Best Use Cases
- Volunteer and supporter communities where peer connection and shared resources drive engagement and retention
- Alumni networks for nonprofits, social enterprises, or leadership development programs needing a branded home base
- Advocacy organizations building grassroots networks where supporters need a private, moderated space away from public social media
- Training and education programs where participants need discussion boards, resource libraries, and Q&A alongside structured curriculum
- Professional associations or sector networks that want a white-labeled community under their own domain rather than a bettermode.io subdomain
- Organizations migrating away from Facebook Groups or LinkedIn Groups that need data portability and ownership of their community
Ideal For
Community Managers, Communications Directors, Program Managers, and Development staff who own the member or supporter experience. Also well-suited for small teams at digital-first nonprofits where one person manages both community engagement and content. Less suitable for organizations that primarily need fundraising tools, donor management, or event ticketing alongside community features.
Key Features for Nonprofits
Modular Spaces
Flexible content containers for any community need
Each Space is independently configurable as a discussion forum, Q&A board, blog, knowledge base, event listing, job board, or idea board. Spaces can be public, private, or invite-only, so you can have a public resource library alongside private volunteer discussion boards in the same community.
- 20+ pre-built templates including nonprofit-specific designs
- Collections group related Spaces for organized navigation
- Per-Space access controls for public vs. member-only content
Privacy-First Ask AI
AI answers from your community content, data stays on-platform
Ask AI generates instant answers from your community's discussions and knowledge articles in any language. Unlike most AI-powered tools, Bettermode runs LLaMA models on its own servers. Member data and community conversations are never sent to OpenAI, Anthropic, or other third-party AI providers.
- Responds in the same language the question is asked
- Available to staff on all paid plans; extendable to members on Enterprise
- No data sharing with external AI services
No-Code Design Studio
Full brand control without developers
The block-based Design Studio lets you build polished, branded community pages without touching code. Set your colors, fonts, navigation structure, and layout visually. Custom domain support and the ability to remove all Bettermode branding (Growth and above) mean members experience your brand, not the platform's.
- Custom domain included on all paid plans
- Full white-label (remove Bettermode branding) on Growth and above
- Responsive layout works across desktop and mobile browsers
AI-Powered Moderation
Automated safety with human oversight controls
Community moderation is time-consuming for small nonprofit teams. Bettermode's AI automatically flags content that violates community guidelines, while keyword blocklists, profanity filters, and minimum account age rules reduce low-quality posts before they're published. A moderation panel gives staff a central queue for human review.
- AI content flagging with industry-specific keyword customization
- Role-based permissions for moderators vs. admins vs. members
- Centralized moderation panel for reviewing flagged content
Gamification and Engagement
Rewards and social mechanics to sustain participation
Community platforms often see initial engagement spike after launch, then plateau. Bettermode's gamification tools help sustain participation over time with automated leaderboards, configurable badge systems, reactions, polls, @mentions, and rich media posts. Private messaging lets members connect one-on-one without leaving the platform.
- Automated leaderboards and manual or automated badges
- Personalized activity feeds highlighting relevant posts
- Private messaging with rich media (images, files, links)
Multilingual Support
Built-in translation for global or diverse communities
Nonprofits serving multilingual communities often struggle with platforms that force a single-language experience. Bettermode supports real-time translation, multilingual interface options, and multilingual email notifications. Ask AI responds in the same language the question was asked, making it accessible to non-English speakers.
- Real-time content translation for global communities
- Multilingual interface and email support
- Ask AI answers in the member's language automatically
Real-World Nonprofit Use Case
Consider a workforce development nonprofit that runs a 12-month young adult job training program in multiple cities. After graduates complete the program, the organization has no structured way to keep them connected to each other, to current cohorts, or to the organization's resources. Graduates drift away, peer mentorship doesn't happen organically, and the organization loses the ability to track long-term outcomes.
With Bettermode, the organization builds a branded alumni community on its own domain. A "Resources" Space functions as a searchable knowledge base with interview guides, resume templates, and industry-specific career tips. A "Job Board" Space aggregates opportunities submitted by employer partners. Discussion forums are segmented by cohort year, so 2023 graduates can connect with peers from their program without being overwhelmed by thousands of unrelated posts. A private "Mentorship" Space connects graduates who opted in to mentor current participants.
Staff spend minimal time moderating because AI content flagging handles most inappropriate posts automatically. When graduates search the community for "how to negotiate salary," Ask AI surfaces relevant discussion threads and articles from the knowledge base, reducing repeat questions to staff. The organization uses the analytics dashboard to track engagement rates by cohort and identify which resources are most accessed, feeding that data back into curriculum improvements.
Pricing
Starter
Growing communities
$49/mo
- Core community features
- Modular Spaces and Design Studio
- Custom domain
- AI search and Ask AI (staff/moderators)
- Gamification and analytics
Growth
Scaling communities
$199/mo
- Everything in Starter
- SSO (OAuth, JWT, SAML)
- Basic automation workflows
- Full white-label (remove Bettermode branding)
Advanced
Full-featured communities
$599/mo
- Everything in Growth
- Advanced moderation and analytics
- Developer API and webhooks
- Staging environment and dedicated CSM
- Audit logs
Annual billing: 20% discount available when paying annually. Enterprise plan offers custom pricing and SLAs for large organizations. All prices in USD.
Note: Prices may be outdated or inaccurate.
Nonprofit Discount and Special Offers
No Dedicated Nonprofit Discount
Bettermode does not offer a nonprofit discount program, TechSoup listing, or application-based pricing reduction. All customers pay the published rates. The only available discount is 20% for annual billing. Nonprofits evaluating Bettermode should budget accordingly and compare with alternatives that do offer nonprofit pricing.
Bettermode does provide nonprofit-specific community templates, including designs oriented toward social causes and community organizing. These are cosmetic starting points that reduce initial setup time, but they don't represent a pricing concession. Enterprise customers may be able to negotiate custom pricing, but there is no published process or guarantee of reduced rates for nonprofits.
For nonprofits that need to justify the cost, the clearest value calculation is comparing Bettermode's monthly fee to the combination of tools it replaces: a forum platform, a knowledge base, an events page, and the staff time spent managing fragmented community tools. Organizations that currently pay for multiple separate tools may find Bettermode consolidation results in net savings even without a dedicated discount.
Learning Curve
Bettermode occupies an interesting middle ground: the Design Studio is genuinely intuitive and widely praised in user reviews, but the underlying architecture has a documented learning curve. Understanding how Spaces, Collections, and CMS models relate to each other is not immediately obvious, and users consistently report that some settings are buried in non-intuitive menus that take time to discover.
Expect two to four weeks of regular use before your team feels fully comfortable with the platform. This includes time to configure your Space structure, set up access permissions, connect integrations via Zapier, customize the Design Studio, and train any staff who will moderate or manage the community. Organizations with high staff turnover may find this setup cost recurs more frequently than expected.
Bettermode is not recommended as a beginner platform for organizations with minimal technical capacity or limited staff availability for onboarding. If you need something that staff can be trained on in a single afternoon, consider Mighty Networks, which has a simpler setup experience.
Integration and Compatibility
Zapier Integration Hub
Bettermode's primary integration method connects it to 5,000+ apps via Zapier, including HubSpot, Salesforce, Mailchimp, Google Workspace, and most major nonprofit CRMs. This gives Bettermode broad compatibility with your existing tech stack without requiring native direct integrations.
- Triggers: new member joined, post published, member leveled up
- Actions: invite member, create post, add to Space
Native and SSO
Direct integrations include Slack (for community notifications) and Intercom (via App Store). SSO options cover OAuth, JWT, and SAML, available on Growth plans and above. Social login supports Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Slack, and Discord.
- SSO on Growth ($199/month) and above
- Developer API and webhooks on Advanced ($599/month)
CRM compatibility note: Bettermode does not have confirmed native direct integrations with nonprofit-specific CRMs such as Bloomerang, Raiser's Edge NXT, or Little Green Light. Connecting Bettermode community data to your donor database requires Zapier as middleware. Organizations that need tight, real-time CRM sync may find this adds complexity and latency compared to an all-in-one platform like Glue Up, which includes built-in CRM alongside its community features.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Privacy-first AI: Self-hosted LLaMA models keep member data off third-party AI services, a genuine differentiator for organizations handling sensitive community information
- Highly customizable: The Design Studio enables polished, brand-consistent communities without a developer, praised consistently in user reviews
- Flexible Space architecture: Configurable modules for any community type, from peer discussions to knowledge bases to event listings, all in one branded space
- Multilingual support: Real-time translation and multilingual interface make it practical for nonprofits serving linguistically diverse communities
Cons
- No nonprofit discount: Nonprofits pay full price, unlike many community and SaaS platforms that offer reduced rates for 501(c)(3) organizations
- No free tier: Free plan eliminated March 2026; smallest paid plan is $49/month, which excludes very small or zero-budget nonprofits
- No native mobile app: Members access communities via mobile browser only; no iOS or Android apps may reduce engagement for mobile-first audiences
- Intermediate learning curve: Spaces, Collections, and CMS model relationships are not immediately intuitive; setup complexity can be a barrier for low-capacity teams
Alternatives to Consider
Mighty Networks
Better for: Mobile-first communities and built-in courses
Mighty Networks offers native iOS and Android apps, a key gap that Bettermode has. It's also well-suited for nonprofits that want to combine community with online courses or structured learning programs in one platform. The Mighty Co-Host AI handles member matching and engagement prompts. Pricing starts at $41/month (annual) with a simpler setup experience than Bettermode.
Glue Up
Better for: Membership management + community in one platform
If your nonprofit needs community features alongside membership dues management, event registration, and a built-in CRM, Glue Up is worth evaluating. It's an all-in-one association management platform rather than a pure community tool. Pricing starts at $1,000/year (higher than Bettermode's Starter), but it replaces more separate tools. Best for membership-based nonprofits and professional associations.
Circle
Better for: Simple, clean community setup with lower learning curve
Circle is a modern community platform popular with membership organizations and online educators. It offers a more intuitive setup experience than Bettermode with a cleaner interface. While it lacks Bettermode's privacy-first AI architecture, it's easier to get staff up to speed quickly, which matters for nonprofits with limited technical capacity. A free trial is available.
Getting Started
Map your community structure before building
Before logging into Bettermode, sketch out the Spaces and Collections you need. Decide which content should be public vs. member-only vs. invite-only. Define who your community segments are (volunteers vs. alumni vs. staff vs. program participants) and what each group needs. This planning step prevents confusing restructuring later and makes the Design Studio setup faster.
Start with the nonprofit template and customize
Bettermode offers nonprofit-specific templates (including cause-oriented designs) that provide a configured starting point. Use the Design Studio to apply your brand colors, upload your logo, and set your custom domain. This is more efficient than building from a blank canvas, especially for teams new to the platform.
Connect your existing tools via Zapier
Set up Zapier connections between Bettermode and your CRM, email platform, and any other tools your team uses. Common connections include: syncing new Bettermode members to your donor database, triggering welcome emails in Mailchimp when someone joins, and posting Slack notifications when high-priority community posts are flagged for review.
Seed the community before launch
An empty community discourages new members from posting. Before inviting your full audience, add 10-15 starter posts across each Space, publish a welcome message from your Executive Director, and configure gamification badges for early participation. Ask two or three engaged community members to join early and seed discussions. This creates momentum for the wider launch and reduces the "empty room" problem.
Need Help with Bettermode Implementation?
Building an effective online community takes more than the right platform. Our team helps nonprofits design community structures, configure moderation workflows, connect integrations, and develop engagement strategies that keep members returning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bettermode offer a nonprofit discount?
Bettermode does not offer a dedicated nonprofit discount program. All customers pay the same published rates: Starter at $49/month, Growth at $199/month, and Advanced at $599/month. A 20% discount is available for annual billing. Enterprise customers may be able to negotiate custom pricing, but there is no published nonprofit rate or application process. Nonprofits evaluating Bettermode should compare with alternatives like Mighty Networks or Glue Up, which may offer better value at lower effective costs.
Is there still a free plan for Bettermode?
Bettermode eliminated its free plan effective March 15, 2026. Any communities on the free tier that did not upgrade or export their data by that date were permanently deleted. The lowest-cost entry point is now the Starter plan at $49/month (approximately $39/month on annual billing). Nonprofits looking for a free community platform should explore alternatives such as Mighty Networks (free trial available) or Circle.
What makes Bettermode's AI different from other community platforms?
Bettermode's key AI differentiator is its privacy-first approach: the platform runs open-source LLaMA models on its own infrastructure rather than routing data through third-party AI providers like OpenAI or Anthropic. This means member conversations, posts, and community data are not shared with external AI services. For nonprofits handling sensitive member information, this is a meaningful data governance advantage. AI features include semantic search, Ask AI for instant multilingual answers from community content, and automated content moderation.
What integrations does Bettermode support?
Bettermode's primary integration method is Zapier, connecting it to 5,000+ apps including HubSpot, Salesforce, Mailchimp, and Google Workspace. Direct integrations include Slack and Intercom. SSO support (OAuth, JWT, SAML) is available starting on the Growth plan at $199/month. A full developer API and webhooks are available on Advanced and Enterprise plans. Bettermode does not have confirmed native direct integrations with nonprofit-specific CRMs like Bloomerang or Raiser's Edge; those connections require Zapier.
How difficult is Bettermode to set up and manage?
Bettermode has an intermediate learning curve. The Design Studio is intuitive and widely praised, but understanding how Spaces, Collections, and CMS models relate to each other has a documented learning curve. Users report that some settings are buried in non-obvious menus. Expect two to four weeks before your team feels fully comfortable with the platform. Organizations with minimal technical staff or high turnover may find the setup complexity challenging over time.
Does Bettermode have a mobile app?
Bettermode does not offer dedicated iOS or Android mobile apps. Members access the community through a mobile web browser. The platform is designed to be responsive and mobile-friendly, but the absence of native apps may reduce push notification capabilities and engagement for mobile-first supporter communities. If native mobile apps are a priority, Mighty Networks includes iOS and Android apps and is a strong alternative.