Heartbeat review
All-in-one platform to build, manage, and monetize online communities and courses
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The verdict
Heartbeat scores 3.8/5 in our review. It's best for creators and coaches monetizing memberships and courses and consultants running branded client communities. All-in-one: community, courses, events, and payments. The main trade-offs: no permanent free plan; transaction fees on top of stripe fees on lower tiers; higher entry price than lightweight community tools. Pricing starts at $49/mo.
Pros & cons
- All-in-one: community, courses, events, and payments
- Custom domain and white-label branding included
- Native mobile apps and built-in monetization
- No permanent free plan
- Transaction fees on top of Stripe fees on lower tiers
- Higher entry price than lightweight community tools
Key features
- Custom-branded community on your own domain
- Discussions, threads, and group chat
- Built-in courses and digital products
- Events, calendars, and live video calls
- Payments, memberships, and subscriptions
- Automations, matchmaking, and analytics
Pricing
Three flat monthly tiers with ~17% annual discount; transaction fee decreases on higher plans.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per mo) | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | $49 | $40 | 5% transaction fee |
| Grow | $149 | $124 | 2.5% transaction fee; more features |
| Scale | $849 | $766 | 1.25% fee; large communities |
Transaction fees: 5% (Build), 2.5% (Grow), 1.25% (Scale) + processor. Prices verified against Heartbeat's pricing page; verify current pricing ↗.
Who should use Heartbeat?
Good fit: Creators and coaches monetizing memberships and courses; Consultants running branded client communities.
Look elsewhere if: Hobbyists or small free communities on zero budget — see Heartbeat alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Heartbeat cost?
Heartbeat starts at $49/mo. Three flat monthly tiers with ~17% annual discount; transaction fee decreases on higher plans.
Does Heartbeat charge transaction fees?
Transaction fees: 5% (Build), 2.5% (Grow), 1.25% (Scale) + processor. Factor this in — it often costs more than the monthly fee at volume.
Who is Heartbeat best for?
Heartbeat is best for creators and coaches monetizing memberships and courses and consultants running branded client communities. It's less ideal for hobbyists or small free communities on zero budget.