---
title: "Customer community platforms: Which brands are most popular in search?"
description: "Compare the platforms brands host customer communities on. Share of Search among Circle, Discourse, Khoros, Higher Logic and Vanilla Forums, the customer community platforms Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/customer-community-platforms"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Customer community platforms: Which brands are most popular in search?

Compare the platforms brands host customer communities on. Share of Search among Circle, Discourse, Khoros, Higher Logic and Vanilla Forums, the customer community platforms Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Competitive set**: Customer community platforms
- **Market**: Global
- **Brands compared**: 5
- **Month measured**: Aug 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: Circle, 62.1%

## Which brand is most popular in search among customer community platforms worldwide?

- In August 2026, Circle was the most searched among customer community platforms worldwide, with an estimated 14.4K branded searches and 62.1% estimated Share of Search within this set.
- Discourse is in 2nd place, 49.6 percentage points behind at 12.5% Share of Search.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Circle’s estimated Share of Search among customer community platforms worldwide increased from 55.7% to 62.1%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Discourse’s estimated Share of Search among customer community platforms worldwide increased from 8.1% to 12.5%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Khoros’ estimated Share of Search among customer community platforms worldwide decreased from 22.1% to 12.5%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Higher Logic’s estimated Share of Search among customer community platforms worldwide increased from 9.7% to 10.3%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Vanilla Forums’ estimated Share of Search among customer community platforms worldwide decreased from 4.4% to 2.5%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Circle’s estimated Share of Search among customer community platforms worldwide peaked at 62.3% in January 2026 and was lowest at 55.7% in October 2025.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Discourse’s estimated Share of Search among customer community platforms worldwide peaked at 12.9% in February 2026 and was lowest at 8.1% in October 2025.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Higher Logic’s estimated Share of Search among customer community platforms worldwide peaked at 11.1% in April 2026 and was lowest at 8.5% in January 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Vanilla Forums’ estimated Share of Search among customer community platforms worldwide peaked at 5% in November 2025 and was lowest at 2.5% in August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Discourse rose from 4th to 2nd among customer community platforms worldwide.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Khoros fell from 2nd to 3rd among customer community platforms worldwide.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Higher Logic fell from 3rd to 4th among customer community platforms worldwide.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [Circle vs Discourse: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/circle-vs-discourse): 62.1% against 12.5% Share of Search.
- [Circle vs Khoros: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/circle-vs-khoros): 62.1% against 12.5% Share of Search.
- [Circle vs Higher Logic: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/circle-vs-higher-logic): 62.1% against 10.3% Share of Search.
- [Circle vs Vanilla Forums: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/circle-vs-vanilla-forums): 62.1% against 2.5% Share of Search.
- [Discourse vs Khoros: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/discourse-vs-khoros): 12.5% Share of Search each.
- [Discourse vs Higher Logic: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/discourse-vs-higher-logic): 12.5% against 10.3% Share of Search.
- [Discourse vs Vanilla Forums: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/discourse-vs-vanilla-forums): 12.5% against 2.5% Share of Search.
- [Khoros vs Higher Logic: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/higher-logic-vs-khoros): 12.5% against 10.3% Share of Search.
- [Khoros vs Vanilla Forums: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/khoros-vs-vanilla-forums): 12.5% against 2.5% Share of Search.
- [Higher Logic vs Vanilla Forums: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/higher-logic-vs-vanilla-forums): 10.3% against 2.5% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for customer community platforms worldwide in August 2026?

- In August 2026, Discourse overtook Khoros to rank 2nd among customer community platforms worldwide, at 12.5%.
- In August 2026, Circle gained estimated Share of Search among customer community platforms worldwide, from 61.1% to 62.1%.
- In August 2026, Khoros lost estimated Share of Search among customer community platforms worldwide, from 15.6% to 12.5%.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Vanilla Forums worldwide fell 54.6% over 11 measured months, from 1.3K to 590 in August 2026.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Higher Logic worldwide fell 17.2% over 11 measured months, from 2.9K to 2.4K in August 2026.

## Share of Search ranking

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Circle | 62.1% | 14.4K | +2.1% | Circle |
| 2 | Discourse | 12.5% | 2.9K | +20.8% | Discourse |
| 3 | Khoros | 12.5% | 2.9K | -19.4% | Khoros |
| 4 | Higher Logic | 10.3% | 2.4K | 0.0% | Higher Logic |
| 5 | Vanilla Forums | 2.5% | 590 | 0.0% | Vanilla Forums |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | Circle | 16.6K | 55.7% | 1 |
| Oct 2025 | Khoros | 6.6K | 22.1% | 2 |
| Oct 2025 | Higher Logic | 2.9K | 9.7% | 3 |
| Oct 2025 | Discourse | 2.4K | 8.1% | 4 |
| Oct 2025 | Vanilla Forums | 1.3K | 4.4% | 5 |
| Nov 2025 | Circle | 15.4K | 59.5% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | Khoros | 4.4K | 17% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | Discourse | 2.4K | 9.3% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | Higher Logic | 2.4K | 9.3% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | Vanilla Forums | 1.3K | 5% | 5 |
| Dec 2025 | Circle | 12.6K | 56.5% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | Khoros | 4.4K | 19.7% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | Discourse | 2.4K | 10.8% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | Higher Logic | 1.9K | 8.5% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | Vanilla Forums | 1K | 4.5% | 5 |
| Jan 2026 | Circle | 17.7K | 62.3% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | Khoros | 4.4K | 15.5% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | Discourse | 2.9K | 10.2% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | Higher Logic | 2.4K | 8.5% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | Vanilla Forums | 1K | 3.5% | 5 |
| Feb 2026 | Circle | 15.9K | 57.2% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | Khoros | 4.4K | 15.8% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | Discourse | 3.6K | 12.9% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | Higher Logic | 2.9K | 10.4% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | Vanilla Forums | 1K | 3.6% | 5 |
| Mar 2026 | Circle | 16.4K | 59.4% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | Khoros | 4.4K | 15.9% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | Discourse | 2.9K | 10.5% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | Higher Logic | 2.9K | 10.5% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | Vanilla Forums | 1K | 3.6% | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | Circle | 15.9K | 60.7% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | Khoros | 3.6K | 13.8% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | Discourse | 2.9K | 11.1% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | Higher Logic | 2.9K | 11.1% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | Vanilla Forums | 880 | 3.4% | 5 |
| May 2026 | Circle | 14.9K | 60.8% | 1 |
| May 2026 | Khoros | 3.6K | 14.7% | 2 |
| May 2026 | Discourse | 2.9K | 11.8% | 3 |
| May 2026 | Higher Logic | 2.4K | 9.8% | 4 |
| May 2026 | Vanilla Forums | 720 | 2.9% | 5 |
| Jun 2026 | Circle | 14.9K | 62% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | Khoros | 3.6K | 15% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | Discourse | 2.4K | 10% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | Higher Logic | 2.4K | 10% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | Vanilla Forums | 720 | 3% | 5 |
| Jul 2026 | Circle | 14.1K | 61.1% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | Khoros | 3.6K | 15.6% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | Discourse | 2.4K | 10.4% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | Higher Logic | 2.4K | 10.4% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | Vanilla Forums | 590 | 2.6% | 5 |
| Aug 2026 | Circle | 14.4K | 62.1% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | Discourse | 2.9K | 12.5% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | Khoros | 2.9K | 12.5% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | Higher Logic | 2.4K | 10.3% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | Vanilla Forums | 590 | 2.5% | 5 |
| Sep 2026 | Circle | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Discourse | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Higher Logic | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Khoros | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Vanilla Forums | — | — | — |

## What is being compared

- **Circle**: Measured on the search terms “circle community”, “circle community platform” and “circle.so”, summed into one figure.
- **Discourse**: Measured on the search term “discourse forum”.
- **Higher Logic**: Measured on the search term “higher logic”.
- **Khoros**: Measured on the search term “khoros”.
- **Vanilla Forums**: Measured on the search term “vanilla forums”.

- [Circle](/demand/global-en/brands/circle)
- [Discourse](/demand/global-en/brands/discourse)
- [Higher Logic](/demand/global-en/brands/higher-logic)
- [Khoros](/demand/global-en/brands/khoros)
- [Vanilla Forums](/demand/global-en/brands/vanilla-forums)

## Methodology

- [How is branded search demand measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which brand is most popular in search among customer community platforms worldwide?

In August 2026, Circle was the most searched among customer community platforms worldwide, with an estimated 14.4K branded searches and 62.1% estimated Share of Search within this set. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Customer community platforms: Which brands are most popular in search?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/customer-community-platforms

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/customer-community-platforms. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.