
From a forum engine older than the iPhone to a fresh crop of venture-backed startups, a whole industry now sells institutions the same promise - a home for their people that no algorithm can take away overnight.

Gravyty, Podia, Khoros, Bevy, Personify and a crowd of rivals all sell the same promise - that your audience is an asset you control. The platforms making that promise keep getting bought, merged and switched off.

Almabase, Hivebrite, Gravyty, Zapnito, Threado, Khoros and a pack of forum-software veterans are all selling one promise - a place your people gather that you actually own. The market got crowded, then it started eating itself.

Zapnito, Almabase, Disciple, XenForo, Gainsight and CMNTY are quietly selling brands a way to own their audience instead of renting it from a feed. Here is how one market splits into six very different bets.

Kajabi, Discourse, Disciple and a pack of rivals are selling creators and brands the same promise - leave the algorithm behind and own the people who show up. Here is who is actually fighting for the private community, and what they are betting on.