Circle.so vs. Join It
A smarter alternative to Circle
Circle runs online communities and courses, from $89 a month billed annually. Join It runs your membership: membership types, payments, automated renewals, member emails, event registration and Wallet cards with check-in, from $29 a month, month to month. If members join for the community, choose Circle. If they join for the membership, choose Join It.
Clean, modern interface
Transparent pricing
Integrates with the tools you already use
Here’s what happens when Circle users switch to Join It
Built to support your workflow, not replace it
Join It offers all the essential membership tools, without forcing you into a closed ecosystem.
Member Timeline
Track key actions across each member’s lifecycle (no CRM degree required).
Useful Integrations
Join It integrates directly with the tools associations use most, Mailchimp, Eventbrite, QuickBooks, plus thousands more through Zapier on every plan.
Custom Checkout Options
Add optional donations, create flexible membership types, and set up one‑time or recurring payments.
Quick, Easy Setup
Get started in minutes. Everything’s self-serve, with fast support if you need help.
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Feature by feature, here’s how it compares
From integrations to support to how pricing actually works, see what sets Join It apart.
Join It
Use with your existing website
Join It
Alternative
Custom membership types
Join It
Alternative
Multiple admin access
Join It
Alternative
Custom fields on member profiles
Join It
Alternative
Digital membership cards
Join It
Alternative
Automated renewal emails
Join It
Alternative
Member activity timeline
Join It
Alternative
Event management
Join It
Alternative
Public and private directories
Join It
Alternative
Mailchimp and Zapier integration
Join It
Alternative
Transparent pricing
Join It
Alternative
No onboarding fees
Join It
Alternative
Fast, human support
Join It
Alternative
What sets Join It apart
Clean, membership-first experience
Join It
Clean and tailored to membership needs.
Circle
Powerful, but can feel overwhelming and unfocused.
No hidden fees or tiers
Join It
Starts at $29/month—clear, predictable.
Circle
Higher base cost plus transaction fees and add-ons.
Digital membership cards included
Join It
Built-in branding with QR access.
Circle
No such feature.
Seamless, practical integrations
Join It
Plug into tools you already use, right away.
Circle
Integrations complicated and gated by tier.
How Circle & Join It are alike
Both provide community tools like posts, events, member profiles, and directories.
Both provide community tools like posts, events, member profiles, and directories.
Both support monetisation via paid access and automation workflows.
Both support monetisation via paid access and automation workflows.
Both offer mobile access and have support—but Join It delivers faster, leaner onboarding.
Both offer mobile access and have support—but Join It delivers faster, leaner onboarding.
Join It vs Circle pricing
Join It
Starting at
$29
/mo
Transparent, per-member pricing
No onboarding or implementation fees
Includes digital membership cards and essential integrations
30-day free trial, no credit card required
Starting at
$89
/mo
/yr
Paid tiers range up to $419+/month for Enterprise
Broad feature set including apps, workflows, and livestreams
Add-ons may include transaction fees (1–2%), Email Hub, extra admins, and storage
Onboarding often involves planning, migration, or sales-led rollout
What is the best Circle.so alternative if I need membership management as well as community?
Join It is a strong Circle.so alternative for organizations that need to manage member records, dues, renewals, events, and member status in addition to any online community activity.
How does Join It compare to Circle.so for community-led membership programs?
Circle.so is built for online community engagement, while Join It is built for managing the membership system that supports a community.
Can I migrate from Circle.so to Join It?
Yes. Organizations can move membership operations from Circle.so to Join It by exporting member data and importing it into Join It, with bulk import included for free on every Join It plan.
Real people. Exceptional support.
Clubs, associations and nonprofits in 40+ countries run their membership on Join It — and tell us about it in public.
“We have tripled our membership since using Join It. All our records are in one place, while automated emails, renewals, payments and receipts save us so much time.”
“I now know of only 2 membership management companies — Join It and others. I'm normally reserved on reviews but this one deserves more than my normal polite comments. Exceptional experience.”
“Join It has rescued us from WildApricot. This company understands the modern world. They integrate with the best technologies. And they excel in service, knowing that's the best way to serve their bottom line.”
Try Join It and see the difference
No pressure. No credit card. Just modern membership software that works the way you do.
Circle vs Join It: how to choose
The short answer: Circle suits creators, coaches and digital businesses building a branded online community with courses and live events, with plans from $89 a month billed annually as of October 2026. Join It suits clubs and associations that need membership types, renewals, member records and payments, with plans from $29 a month, month to month, and a 30-day free trial with no credit card.
What is Circle built for?
Circle is a hosted community platform for creators, coaches, course sellers and digital businesses, with discussion spaces, courses, live events, paywalls and workflows.
Every Circle plan includes a member directory, a custom domain, payments and iOS and Android apps. Circle Plus adds branded apps.
How much does Circle cost?
As of October 2026, Circle's Professional plan costs $89 a month with a 2% transaction fee, Business costs $199 a month (1%), and Scale costs $419 a month (1%), all billed annually. Circle Plus is priced on request (0.5%). Circle publishes no month-to-month price. Add-ons include Email Hub at $99 a month. Circle offers a 14-day free trial with no card.
Is Circle cheaper than Join It?
No. Circle starts at $89 a month billed annually, while Join It starts at $29 a month, month to month, with a platform fee of 1.5% to 3% depending on your plan.
Join It publishes all of its pricing. Plans start at $29 a month on Starter (3% platform fee). Total, at $99 a month (2%), adds digital membership cards, member check-in, a member directory and API access, and Extra, at $199 a month (1.5%), adds custom domains and a dedicated account manager. Plans are month to month, Stripe's processing fees apply, and there are no setup fees. Annual billing saves 10%, and nonprofits get an additional 10% off. See full pricing.
When is Join It the better choice?
Join It is the better choice when the job is running a membership rather than hosting an online community. Join It is usually the better fit if:
- You don't want to pay a year up front. Circle bills annually. Join It plans are month to month from $29, with recurring payments and automated renewal reminders on every plan.
- You already have a website. Circle is a standalone hosted platform. With Join It, pages on any website can be gated with a Join It login via OpenID or the API.
- Your members meet in person. On Join It's Total plan and above, members get digital membership cards in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, and staff can check members in at the door with a quick scan. Run member events with Join It's built-in event registration. Registrations sit alongside your member records, so there's no second list to manage.
- You need accounting and CRM tools connected on the entry plan. Circle's API starts on Business. Join It integrates directly with the tools clubs and associations use most, such as QuickBooks, HubSpot, Salesforce, Mailchimp and Eventbrite, plus thousands more through Zapier on every plan.
When Circle may be the better fit
Circle may be a better fit than Join It if:
- Your membership is an online community. Circle is built around discussion spaces and chat.
- You sell courses or paid live sessions. Circle includes courses and live events on every plan.
- You want members on a mobile app. Circle has iOS and Android apps on every plan, and branded apps on Circle Plus.
How do I move from Circle to Join It?
Join It's team will import your members for free on any plan, even during the free trial. Subscriptions in your own Stripe account come across without members re-entering card details; members on other processors set up Stripe at their next renewal.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Do your members post and chat in the community, or do they mainly pay dues and renew?
- Can you commit to a year up front, or do you need month-to-month billing?
- Which Circle add-ons, such as Email Hub, would you need, and what do they add to the annual price?
- At your payment volume, which costs more: Circle's 0.5% to 2% fee or Join It's 1.5% to 3%?
Join It is trusted by more than 4,000 membership organizations in 40 countries and has processed over $100 million in membership payments since 2016.
Comparing other options? See all Join It alternatives and comparisons.
Last reviewed: October 6, 2026. Circle pricing and product details are taken from circle.so and may change. Check their current pricing before making a decision.
