January 24, 2026
Heartbeat and Facebook Groups are both popular choices for building online communities, but they serve different needs. Facebook Groups offers a familiar, free, and accessible environment ideal for casual, interest-based groups. Heartbeat, on the other hand, is purpose-built for creators and organizations who want to own their community, leverage advanced automation, and monetize with ease. If you want to grow a community business, keep control of your data, and deliver a premium member experience, Heartbeat stands out as the best choice.
The world of online communities has rapidly expanded, with creators, educators, and businesses seeking tools that go beyond simple discussion threads. While Facebook Groups has long been the default for gathering people online, dedicated platforms like Heartbeat have emerged to meet the needs of those who want more ownership, customization, and business potential.
Facebook Groups excels at accessibility and network effects, leveraging the existing Facebook user base and built-in social features. However, this comes at the cost of limited customization, privacy concerns, and lack of direct monetization options. In contrast, Heartbeat is designed from the ground up for community-led businesses. It brings together discussion, events, courses, payments, and automation in a single, branded hub—free from ads and algorithmic interference. This shift reflects a broader trend: communities increasingly want to own their audience and experience, not just rent space on someone else’s platform.
Heartbeat’s pricing is transparent and designed for growth. The Starter plan is $40 per month (when billed annually) and covers up to 1,000 members, offering all core features including unlimited channels, courses, events, and advanced automations. The Growth plan unlocks unlimited members, priority support, and enhanced customization for $108 per month. Optional add-ons, such as native video hosting, are available for an additional monthly fee.
Facebook Groups is free to use for all members and admins. There are no direct costs, but monetization options are limited. Facebook does not natively support paid memberships, subscriptions, or event ticketing within Groups. Any attempts to monetize typically require third-party tools or manual processes, and Facebook may restrict or shut down groups that violate its terms of service.
Heartbeat is a mission-driven platform built for creators, educators, and businesses who want to own and scale their communities. Its all-in-one approach brings together chat, events, courses, payments, and automations in a single, beautifully branded hub. Heartbeat’s standout feature is its automation engine: workflows can be triggered by almost any member action, from joining the community to completing a course or RSVPing to an event. These automations can send personalized emails, DMs, pop-ups, and notifications, making onboarding and engagement effortless.
Heartbeat’s Pulse AI sidekick helps community leaders launch and manage their spaces with AI-powered suggestions, content generation, and engagement insights. The platform supports paid memberships, event ticketing, and affiliate programs natively, so you can build a real business around your community. Heartbeat also offers deep integrations with tools like Zapier, Google Calendar, and Notion, plus an open API for custom connections.
User feedback consistently highlights Heartbeat’s responsive support, intuitive design, and rapid pace of feature development. Community leaders praise the ability to segment members, automate repetitive tasks, and deliver a premium experience without being at the mercy of algorithms or ads. Heartbeat is trusted by thousands of communities worldwide, from small masterminds to large-scale education businesses.
Facebook Groups is the world’s most widely used community platform, thanks to its integration with the broader Facebook ecosystem. It offers a familiar, accessible space for members to connect, share updates, ask questions, and organize events. Group privacy can be set to public or private, and admins can approve new members, moderate posts, and view basic analytics through Group Insights.
However, Facebook Groups is fundamentally a social media product, not a purpose-built community platform. Admins have limited control over branding, data, and member experience. Posts are governed by Facebook’s algorithm, which decides what content members see and when. There are no built-in tools for monetization, course delivery, advanced segmentation, or automation. Integrations with external tools are minimal, and the platform is subject to frequent changes in Facebook’s policies and interface.
For businesses, Facebook Groups can be a double-edged sword. While it’s easy to launch and grow a group quickly, you do not own your audience or content. Members must have Facebook accounts, which can exclude those who avoid social media. Privacy concerns, distractions, and lack of control are common pain points for community leaders who want to build a business or deliver a premium experience.
Facebook Groups is a great starting point for casual, interest-based communities or those looking to tap into Facebook’s vast user base with minimal setup. However, for creators, educators, and entrepreneurs who want to build a sustainable community business, Heartbeat is in a league of its own. Its advanced features, automations, and AI-driven tools empower you to create a thriving, branded, and monetizable community—all while keeping you in control. Heartbeat is the platform for those who want to lead, grow, and own their community for the long term.
