Own the community you built on Circle.so.
We move your members and posts off Circle.so and rebuild your community in BuddyNext, on a WordPress site you own, keeping the same Stripe account you already use.
- Scoping
- Free
- Since
- 2013
- Client projects
- 600+
- Trustpilot
- 4.8 from 93 reviews
When switching off Circle.so makes sense
The monthly platform fee is the problem
Circle.so bills you every month regardless of your revenue. On your own WordPress site, there is no platform fee sitting between you and your members.
You want your posts and threads to actually move
Circle.so's post export is a support-requested CSV, not a self-serve button. We handle that request and rebuild the content on your new site.
You need real course infrastructure
Circle.so has no documented course export and limited course tooling. Learnomy adds quizzes, certificates, cohorts and instructor payouts.
You want to keep growing without a plan-tier ceiling
A WordPress community scales with your hosting, not with which Circle.so pricing tier you are on.
Circle.so vs. WordPress with BuddyNext
An honest comparison, including where Circle.so genuinely wins.
Circle.so | WordPress (BuddyNext + Learnomy) | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting and setup | Nothing to manage, live in minutes | You or we manage hosting; more setup up front |
| Monthly platform fee | Billed every month regardless of revenue | No platform fee or revenue share; you pay hosting and your payment processor |
| Payment processor | Your own connected Stripe account | Your own Stripe account, unchanged |
| Post and thread export | Support-requested CSV, no bulk media | Always available, you own the database |
| Course tools | Basic course/lesson creation, no documented export | Course builder, quizzes, certificates, cohorts, drip scheduling |
| Design and branding | Fixed Circle.so layout | Full control of theme, layout and branding |
What moves and what gets rebuilt
Circle.so gives you a self-serve CSV export of your members, including email addresses, from the Audience page. We import that list directly into your new WordPress community.
Circle.so does not offer a self-serve content export. Getting your posts and comments out requires emailing Circle.so support, who deliver four CSV files (Members, Spaces, Posts, Comments). Uploaded images and files are not included, only links. We request this export on your behalf and rebuild the content, re-hosting the media separately.
Circle.so has no documented export path for course or lesson content. We rebuild your courses in Learnomy, which adds quizzes, certificates and drip scheduling Circle.so does not offer.
Circle.so's paywall runs on your own connected Stripe account, not one Circle.so provisions for you, so your billing relationship with your subscribers is genuinely portable. We help you reconnect the same Stripe account to your new site.
Passwords never move, from Circle.so or from any other platform. Members set a new password (or use a magic link) the first time they sign in to your new WordPress community.
Built on our own products
BuddyNext
One community engine instead of stitching together forums, courses, events and messaging from different vendors.
See the live demoLearnomy
Run a full paid-course business on your own WordPress site, with no platform taking a share of your revenue.
See LearnomyJetonomy
A self-hosted forum you own outright, no monthly platform fees, with a straight import path off bbPress or wpForo.
See JetonomyWPMediaVerse
A member photo/video community that runs itself: members upload, tag and share, the owner sets privacy rules and moderates.
See WPMediaVerse4.8 out of 5 from 93+ reviews on Trustpilot
What community owners say
WBComDesigns is amazing. The WP plugins and themes are of top notch quality with lots of features and updated very frequently. Supports are very responsive and helpful. I use Reign with TutorLMS, and the experience is surprisingly smooth. The recently launched BuddyNext Pro and MediaShield Pro are like game changers for LMS + community. Very happy purchases and happy to be a loyal customer of WBComDesigns.
Hoang PhanTrustpilot review, VietnamI highly recommend anyone in need of a website solution, whether for a community website, online store, or courses website, to choose wbcomdesigns.
Tushar GargTrustpilot review, IndiaWbcom Designs was methodical, reliable, innovative, and knowledgeable. They communicated with us every step of the way and delivered on time and on budget.
Verified Upwork clientUpwork review, Forum setup projectChoosing Wbcom Designs for our WordPress project was a game-changer. Their expertise in BuddyPress and LearnDash plugins transformed our vision into a reality, creating a seamless and engaging eLearning and community platform. The team's professionalism, responsiveness, and innovative solutions stood out, ensuring a smooth development process and a product that exceeded our expectations. The result? A stunning, user-friendly website that has propelled our business forward. For anyone in need of top-tier WordPress development, especially for eLearning and community sites, Wbcom Designs is the go-to agency. Highly recommended for their skill, dedication, and customer-first approach.
ESBO LTDTrustpilot review, BulgariaFrom the moment we partnered with Wbcom Designs in 2016, they have been nothing short of phenomenal, becoming not just our go-to website developers but also treasured friends. Their team, led by the incredibly kind and competent Varun, has saved our operations on more occasions than we can count, proving their indispensability time and again. Honestly, we would not be where we are without Varun! What sets Wbcom Designs apart is not just their exceptional coding and website building skills, which are indeed the best we've ever encountered, but also their remarkable work ethic and dedication. They are always there when we need them, no matter the request or time. This level of availability and commitment is rare and has been instrumental in our company's growth and smooth digital operations. Their expertise is vast, covering all the bases and then some, ensuring that every solution is not just effective but also innovative. Varun and his team have a way of making complex technical solutions understandable and accessible, which has been a huge relief and support to us over the years. We are endlessly impressed by how Wbcom Designs not only meets but consistently exceeds our expectations. They go above and beyond in every project, large or small, demonstrating a genuine care for our success and well-being. Their knowledgeable guidance and friendly support have been pivotal in our journey, and it's clear they invest not just their time but their hearts into their work. In a world where genuine, reliable, and high-quality web development services can be hard to find, Wbcom Designs shines as a beacon of excellence. We cannot imagine going anywhere else for our web development needs. To Varun and the entire Wbcom Designs team: thank you for being such an integral part of our story. Your work ethic, expertise, and kindness have made all the difference.
Tresne MiddletonTrustpilot review, AustraliaWe were having a critical issue with our website. We were able to quickly get through to WBcom Designs and they worked with us to give them what they needed to find the problem and correct it. I highly recommend their team and especially Pallavi.
Sandy EllingsonTrustpilot review, United States