Can I open-source Circle?
YES · mature open-source replacementYes. Discourse (44k stars), Moodle (7k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Circle — self-host with docker and stop paying $89/mo.
They pay because communities need engagement mechanics and member operations, not just threads.
xpolished member UX
xmobile apps
xpayments
xcourse/events integration
xautomations
xmigrations
xcommunity admin
These projects already replace it, free.
MMoodleA school wearing work boots: courses, forums, calendars, badges and paid enrolment, without Circle's polished creator clubhouse.open source↗DDiscourseThe internet's civilized discussion platform — modern forums with trust levels and rich moderation.open source↗What each one is, in full: Discourse
no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
Circle pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| professional | $89/workspace | — | Unlimited members; 3 admins; 10 moderators; 20 spaces; 200 GB storage; 100 live-stream attendees; 15 live-room participants; 10 live hours/month; 20 workflows; 2,500 AI actions/month; 5,000 Admin API calls/month; 2% transaction fee |
| business | $199/workspace | — | Unlimited members; 5 admins; 15 moderators; 30 spaces; 500 GB storage; 200 live-stream attendees; 20 live-room participants; 15 live hours/month; unlimited workflows; 2,500 AI actions/month; 30,000 Admin API calls/month; 1% transaction fee |
| plus | custom | — | Unlimited admins and moderators; flexible spaces/live limits; 1 TB storage; 10,000 Email Hub contacts; 0.5% transaction fee |
free tierno free tier; 14-day trial with no credit card and a 30-day money-back guarantee
billingmonthly prices published; annual billing is offered, but public annual-equivalent prices were not verified
hidden costsCircle adds 2%/1%/0.5% transaction fees on top of payment-processor fees. Overage/add-on examples: $10 per 1,000 AI actions; Admin API overages at $0.005/$0.002 per call; Headless MAU overages at $0.50/$0.30; extra admin $10/month; 10 extra moderators $20/month; 10 extra spaces $20/month; +100 live attendees $20/month; +10 live hours $50/month; Email Hub 10,000 contacts starts at +$99/month.
verified 2026-08-12 · source ↗
Can I open-source Circle?
Yes. Moodle replaces Circle today — self-host it on your own server or machine with no subscription. The full list of open-source alternatives is on this page.
How much does Circle cost?
Circle costs about $89/month (Professional, checked 2026-08-12), which is $1068 per year. That's what you save by replacing it with open source.
What do I lose by replacing Circle?
Honestly: polished member UX; mobile apps; payments; course/events integration; automations; migrations; community admin. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Circle?
Yes: Moodle (A school wearing work boots: courses, forums, calendars, badges and paid enrolment, without Circle's polished creator clubhouse.) Discourse (The internet's civilized discussion platform — modern forums with trust levels and rich moderation.)