In today’s digital landscape, fostering a vibrant online community is no longer just an option; it’s a strategic imperative for businesses, educators, and creators alike. A strong community enhances engagement, builds loyalty, and provides invaluable feedback, driving growth and innovation. This is where specialized community builders software becomes indispensable.
You might be wondering how to choose the right tools to bring your vision to life. This article explores two distinct platforms, GoBrunch and UNA CMS, offering you a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses.
By examining their features, user experiences, and overall value, you will be equipped to make an informed decision that best serves your unique community building needs, ultimately benefiting your reach and impact.
Top Picks
How We Chose The Best Community Building Platforms
When evaluating community building platforms, we considered several key factors that directly impact your experience and the success of your online community. We looked at the overall ease of use, ensuring that you can navigate and implement features without unnecessary hurdles. The breadth and depth of features, such as meeting capabilities, customization options, and scalability for different audience sizes, were also crucial.
User reviews provided invaluable real-world insights into each product’s performance, customer support, and any potential challenges you might encounter. Finally, the pricing structure was assessed to ensure you receive significant value for your investment, allowing you to choose a solution that aligns with your budget and long-term goals.
GoBrunch
Imagine a virtual space where your online meetings and community gatherings feel less like a chore and more like an experience. That’s GoBrunch for you, a standout in the realm of community builders software.
It’s designed to make your virtual interactions truly engaging and memorable, whether you’re hosting a small one-on-one chat or a massive webinar. You can craft diverse ‘worlds’ for different purposes, embed all sorts of media like videos and documents, and even use breakout rooms for dynamic discussions.
It’s pretty versatile, offering public and private rooms, and honestly, once you try its unique approach to virtual spaces, you might find it hard to go back to plain old video calls. It works great for daily meetings, special workshops, or even large community events you’re planning.
Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
✅ Highly customizable virtual environments (‘worlds’) | ❌ Does not include a native booking calendar (though integrates well with others) |
✅ Intuitive and simple user interface for both hosts and attendees | ❌ Limited selection of built-in face memes |
✅ Robust features for webinars and large group interactions | ❌ Currently lacks a dedicated mobile application |
✅ Ability to embed diverse media (videos, documents) directly into rooms | ❌ Users have requested future features like ticketing, membership, and native live streaming |
✅ Offers breakout rooms and flexible public/private room options | |
✅ Actively developed with consistent new features and updates |
What People Say
Users are consistently impressed with GoBrunch’s innovative approach to virtual meetings and community building. Many highlight its unique customizable ‘worlds’ and robust features for engaging participants, from one-on-one chats to large webinars. People appreciate how easy it is to use and how well it handles different meeting scenarios, making it a refreshing alternative to standard video conferencing tools. While some mention minor suggestions for future enhancements, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with users looking forward to a long relationship with the platform.
Overall Sentiment: Positive
🗣️ roger52
I’ve been using GoBrunch for around five months now and am continuing to discover more features as I go. It’s simple UI and easy access for my clients has added to my enjoyment. Almost all of my usage centers around one on one meetings with clients, but the webinar features are begging me to try them out with a large group. I’m confident that I’ll have no trouble setting that up. I was disappointed that GoBrunch didn’t come with a booking calendar, but an inexpensive purchase of TidyCal Booking by AppSumo works just fine with it so no big deal. Some of my clients have complained about the lack of a larger selection of face memes. I haven’t looked into the possibility of adding my own, perhaps GoBrunch can direct me where to go in their system to add more. I appreciate receiving emails from GoBrunch with new features and software updates. I look forward to a long relationship with them. Thanks, GoBrunch for offering your SAAS here on AppSumo. It’s a bargain!
🗣️ ladyInfinity
This is a great innovative platform that has so many customisable options that make it unique to anything that is out here right now. I will use it for specific meetings and webinars. I like the blue background function and am still getting used to the other features. Being able to embed videos, documents and other useful stuff in the rooms is really creative and allows you to express your business in a way that is different. It is fun to use and has options for a lot of breakout room so it can be used for so many different functions. I like how it has options for public and private rooms so you can choose who can have access if your meetings are private. This platform is in its own lane so I would not compare it to other meeting platforms, and it is always having upgrades added. I will continue to enjoy using this platform and develop the rooms to meet my creative and business needs. The only suggestions I would make is customisable virtual video backgrounds and an app for the platform.
Getting Around GoBrunch
Aspect | Ease Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
User Interface | Easy | Users find the interface straightforward and intuitive, making it simple to navigate and utilize features. |
Client Access | Easy | It’s super easy for your clients to join meetings without fuss, contributing to a smooth experience for everyone. |
Customization | High | You get a ton of options to customize your virtual spaces, allowing for a unique and branded experience. |
Learning Curve | Moderate | While simple to start, discovering all the creative features takes a little time, but it’s a fun process. |
Playing Nicely With Others
Software | Integration Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|
TidyCal Booking | Seamless | Reported to work ‘just fine’ and be an ‘excellent match’ for managing your meeting schedules. |
General CRMs | Good | While not explicitly detailed, as a community platform, it likely offers standard integration possibilities via API or webhooks for contact management. |
Marketing Automation Platforms | Good | Commonly integrates with tools like Zapier for connecting to email marketing or lead nurturing systems, though specific integrations are not listed. |
Keeping Things Safe
Feature | Protection Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Data Encryption | Standard | As a modern online platform, you can expect standard encryption protocols to protect your meeting data and communications. |
Access Controls | Strong | The ability to create public and private rooms gives you good control over who can access your content and discussions. |
Regular Updates | Strong | The platform is constantly getting upgrades, which typically includes security patches and improvements, keeping your environment robust. |
Always There For You
GoBrunch shows strong reliability and a commitment to ongoing development. Users report consistent software updates and new features being added, fostering a sense of a long-term, dependable platform that is always evolving to meet user needs.
Working Together
GoBrunch truly shines when it comes to bringing people together. You can easily host intimate one-on-one meetings, or scale up to lead large-scale webinars with hundreds of attendees. The platform lets you create distinct ‘worlds’ for different collaboration needs, from formal discussions to more fun, informal gatherings. You can embed videos, documents, and other helpful resources directly into your rooms, making your presentations super engaging.
Plus, with flexible breakout rooms and options for public or private access, you have all the tools you need to foster dynamic discussions and control your community spaces.
Why You’ll Love It
- Create unique, highly customizable virtual ‘worlds’ for diverse interactions
- Engage audiences with interactive webinar and meeting features
- Simple user interface and easy access for your clients
- Embed rich media like videos and documents directly into your virtual rooms
- Flexible use with breakout rooms, and public or private access options
Rating: 4.89 (total: 296+)
UNA CMS
So, you’re looking to create your very own online community, right? Something where you’re truly in control, without being at the mercy of big tech platforms. That’s where UNA CMS steps in, acting as a powerful foundation among community builders software.
Think of it as your toolkit to launch and manage an independent online community platform, whether you’re aiming for a niche social network or a massive forum for millions of users. It’s pretty versatile, letting you build anything from a simple directory to a full-blown social media platform.
You get to manage your own hosting, keep a tight grip on your data, and ensure user privacy, which is a huge plus in today’s digital world. It’s a robust solution for developers, product managers, and web design agencies who want to offer custom, scalable community experiences.
You can use it to create a bespoke platform for your daily business interactions, host special community events, or just carve out a unique online space for your audience. If you’re ready to get hands-on and build something truly yours, UNA CMS might just be what you need.
Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
✅ Extremely powerful and flexible for building custom social networks and communities | ❌ Not user-friendly or ready-to-use out of the box; requires significant time and technical expertise |
✅ Offers deep customization options, allowing you to tailor it exactly to your needs | ❌ Steep learning curve, especially for non-coders, as advanced customization often requires coding |
✅ Provides full control over data, hosting, and user privacy | ❌ Documentation can be unclear or insufficient, leading to trial-and-error setup |
✅ Scalable for potentially millions of users | ❌ Reported issues with customer service responsiveness and helpfulness |
✅ Includes essential features like GDPR compliance, white label, and CNAME support | ❌ Users have encountered bugs affecting basic features (e.g., posts not visible, anonymous mode) |
✅ Suitable for those who prefer to build from a robust skeleton rather than a restrictive template | ❌ Finding settings can be challenging due to a lack of intuitive UI/search features |
❌ No easy way to export/import settings or create sandbox environments for testing updates | |
❌ Concerns about the long-term development strategy and future AI integration |
What People Say
Users share a really mixed but insightful view of UNA CMS. On one hand, many are impressed by its sheer power and flexibility, noting that it’s a ‘full-fledged’ platform capable of building almost any kind of community or social site.
They appreciate the deep customization potential and the ability to control their own data. However, there’s a strong consensus that this isn’t a ‘plug-and-play’ solution.
You’ll likely need to get comfortable with coding, or have a developer on hand, as advanced customization requires it. Some users also report significant challenges with installation, finding settings, and encountering bugs, suggesting the platform can be quite demanding and might have a steep learning curve.
Customer support responsiveness also appears to be a concern for some.
Overall Sentiment: Mixed
🗣️ GFunnel
This product is absolutely amazing, but it is not made for the Karen’s of the world. You may have to get your hands a little dirty with code and customize the functionality, but this is like WordPress before wordpress was big. It’s absolutely amazing.
🗣️ Madamies
This product is full fledge for developing your own social media platform community, website or pretty much any kind of site. It has so many features and customization. Of course since it’s so flexible and capable, it has clearly a learning curve but if you are looking a platform to build your community, course platform etc without limitations – UNA.CMS can do it!
Getting Around UNA CMS
Aspect | Ease Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Installation | Difficult | The step-by-step installation tutorial could be more detailed, leading many users to struggle with initial setup. |
Basic Configuration | Moderate | Setting up a basic configuration can take considerable time, even without deep customization. |
Advanced Customization | Difficult | Beyond basic setup, you’ll need coding knowledge as the platform isn’t designed for no-code advanced tweaks. |
Finding Settings | Difficult | Users report difficulty locating settings due to a lack of search bars and intuitive organization. |
Playing Nicely With Others
Software | Integration Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Custom Modules/Marketplace | High Potential | The platform is built on a modular system, allowing you to extend functionality by purchasing or developing custom modules from its marketplace. |
External Hosting Environments | Seamless | You can successfully launch and host your UNA CMS instance on various external services like AWS Lightsail, giving you full control over your server environment. |
Developer-Driven Integrations | Unlimited | As it’s highly customizable at the code level, you have the flexibility to integrate with virtually any third-party software if you have the development resources. |
Keeping Things Safe
Feature | Protection Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
GDPR Compliance | Strong | The platform is built with GDPR compliance in mind, helping you meet essential data protection regulations for your community. |
Self-Hosting & Data Control | Strong | You have complete control over your data and hosting environment, enhancing your overall security posture and privacy measures. |
White Label & CNAME | High | The white-label and CNAME features allow you to fully brand your platform, maintaining a professional and controlled environment for your users. |
Always There For You
While the founder’s dedication to the platform is clear through numerous updates over the years, user experiences with UNA CMS’s reliability are quite mixed. Some report significant bugs, like content not displaying properly or features failing to work, which can be frustrating.
There’s a sense that the frequent, major revisions might have created some complexities, potentially impacting stability and making it challenging to maintain a perfectly smooth operation. It feels like a powerful, evolving platform, but one that sometimes requires patience and troubleshooting.
Working Together
UNA CMS is designed from the ground up to be a robust community builders software. You can create a fully functional social network where users can post, discuss, and interact, much like on major social media platforms. It’s set up for extensive community engagement, allowing for forums, discussions, and shared content.
However, keep in mind that customizing these collaboration aspects to fit your exact vision might require some technical effort, as the platform is more of a skeleton that you build upon, rather than a pre-packaged solution with all collaboration features immediately ready to go.
Why You’ll Love It
- Build a custom online social network scalable for millions of users
- Gain full control over hosting, data, and user privacy
- Utilize hundreds of no-code modules for foundational building
- Leverage features like GDPR compliance, white label, and CNAME support
- Ideal for developers and agencies seeking deep customization
Rating: 4.27 (total: 15+)
FAQ
GoBrunch Versus UNA CMS: What Are the Key Differences and Which Is Right for You?
When choosing community builders software, GoBrunch and UNA CMS offer distinct approaches. GoBrunch focuses on creating highly interactive, engaging, and customizable virtual meeting spaces and webinars. Think of it as a creative online environment where you can host events, conduct one-on-one meetings, or deliver webinars in unique ‘worlds’ that you design.
It is generally user-friendly for hosting and participating in live interactions. UNA CMS, on the other hand, is a robust platform for building a complete, independent social network or community website from the ground up.
It gives you deep control over your data and allows for extensive customization, acting as a foundation for your own social media platform. If you need a dynamic, engaging space for live interaction and events, GoBrunch is a great fit. If your goal is to own and manage a scalable, feature-rich social network or directory, UNA CMS provides the powerful framework.
How Can GoBrunch Help You Build an Engaging Online Community Through Its Features?
GoBrunch is designed to make your online interactions truly stand out. You can create unique virtual ‘rooms’ or ‘worlds’ that go beyond standard video calls, offering a more immersive experience for your community.
It provides features like customizable backgrounds, the ability to embed videos, documents, and other useful content directly into your rooms, and options for breakout sessions. This allows you to design diverse environments for different purposes, whether it is a casual networking lounge, a formal training session, or a large-scale webinar. You can set up both public and private rooms, giving you control over access.
Many users find it a fun and intuitive platform that helps you foster a lively and memorable online community.
What Should You Know About the Customization and Technical Requirements of UNA CMS?
If you are considering UNA CMS for your community builders software, it is important to understand its nature. UNA CMS is incredibly flexible and powerful, enabling you to build a highly customized social network tailored to your specific needs. However, it’s not a plug-and-play solution. While it offers many no-code modules, setting it up to your exact specifications often requires a significant learning curve and, for advanced customization, you might need to get your hands dirty with code.
It provides a skeleton for your platform, meaning you will need to invest time and effort in configuration, module installation, and fine-tuning. This makes it an ideal choice for developers, product managers, or web design agencies who desire deep control and are comfortable with a more hands-on approach to building a unique online community.
Community App Choices
When youre choosing a community app like GoBrunch or UNA CMS, you typically prioritize a balance between ease of use and deep customization. You might lean towards GoBrunch for a simpler, event-centric experience, while UNA CMS offers more robust tools for building a highly tailored and comprehensive community platform.
Wrapping Up
Building a thriving online community is a strategic investment that can significantly benefit your organization or personal brand. You now have insights into two distinct approaches to community building software. GoBrunch stands out as an exceptional choice for those seeking an engaging, intuitive, and highly customizable platform for virtual meetings, webinars, and dynamic online interactions.
Its focus on user experience and innovative features makes it ideal for fostering active participation. Conversely, UNA CMS offers unparalleled flexibility for developers and tech-savvy users who require the ability to build a highly customized, self-hosted social network from the ground up.
While it demands a greater technical commitment, it provides ultimate control over your data and platform. Ultimately, your choice depends on your specific needs, technical comfort level, and the vision you hold for your community.
By selecting the right platform, you are empowering you to connect and grow your community effectively.
| GoBrunch | UNA CMS | |
|---|---|---|
| | |
| Rating | 4.89/5 (296 reviews) | 4.27/5 (15 reviews) |
| Pricing | $89 | $69 |
| Ease of Use | Easy to set up with a simple UI; suitable for various meeting formats like webinars and one-on-ones. | Requires technical expertise for setup; not user-friendly for beginners. |
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