Brandwave

Discourse vs Slack:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Slack had more branded searches than Discourse among online community platforms worldwide. Slack had about 4.1 million branded searches, while Discourse had 10,800. Slack made up 11.8% of all online community platform searches we track, and Discourse accounted for 0.03%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about online community platforms, Discourse appeared in four of the five answers and Slack in three. Slack was mentioned before Discourse in three out of five answers.

Among online community platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Slack, about 380 searches for every 1 for Discourse

Slack 4.1M searchesDiscourse 10.8K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Discourse, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Slack in 3

Discourse in 4 of 5Slack in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Slack, named ahead of Discourse in 3 of 5 answers

Slack first in 3Discourse first in 2

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Top online community platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Discourse was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Slack was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Slack was listed before Discourse in three out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Circle1st
  2. Mighty Networks2nd
  3. Discord3rd
  4. Skool4th
  5. Discourse5th
  6. Slack6th
  7. Hivebrite7th
  8. Bettermode8th
  9. Kajabi9th
  10. Heartbeat10th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Mighty Networks5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Circle5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Discord4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Discourse4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Slack3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Skool3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Hivebrite3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Bettermode2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Kajabi1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Heartbeat1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about online community platforms

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is Discourse or Slack more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Discourse and Slack by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten online community platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Discourse and Slack among online community platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Slack, Discourse. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthDiscordSlackSkoolMighty NetworksCircleDiscourseBettermodeHivebriteKajabiHeartbeat
Oct 202589.9%9.9%0.04%0.08%0.04%0.02%0.01%0.01%<0.01%<0.01%
Nov 202591.6%8.2%0.05%0.07%0.04%0.02%0.01%0.01%<0.01%<0.01%
Dec 202591.6%8.2%0.04%0.07%0.03%0.01%0.01%<0.01%<0.01%<0.01%
Jan 202691.5%8.2%0.05%0.08%0.04%0.02%0.01%0.01%<0.01%<0.01%
Feb 202689.8%9.9%0.07%0.08%0.05%0.03%0.01%0.01%<0.01%<0.01%
Mar 202689.9%9.9%0.05%0.07%0.04%0.02%0.01%0.01%<0.01%<0.01%
Apr 202689.9%9.9%0.07%0.08%0.05%0.02%0.01%0.01%<0.01%<0.01%
May 202691.6%8.2%0.05%0.05%0.04%0.01%<0.01%<0.01%<0.01%<0.01%
Jun 202689.9%9.9%0.07%0.07%0.04%0.01%0.01%0.01%<0.01%<0.01%
Jul 202689.9%9.9%0.07%0.07%0.04%0.01%0.01%0.01%<0.01%<0.01%
Aug 202691.6%8.2%0.05%0.04%0.04%0.01%0.01%<0.01%<0.01%<0.01%
Sep 202688%11.8%0.06%0.05%0.04%0.03%0.01%<0.01%<0.01%<0.01%

How has the Discourse and Slack comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Slack was ahead of Discourse in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Discourse’s share of searches among online community platforms worldwide moved from 0.02% to 0.03%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 9.3K to 10.8K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Slack’s share of searches among online community platforms worldwide moved from 9.9% to 11.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 4.1M.

How did search popularity change for online community platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Slack gained share of searches among online community platforms worldwide, from 8.2% to 11.8%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Discourse worldwide rose 15.1% over 12 measured months, from 9.3K to 10.8K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Discourse’s and Slack’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Discourse

5 branded search terms

  • discourse community
  • discourse forum
  • discourse management
  • discourse online
  • discourse online community

Slack

1 branded search term

  • slack

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among online community platforms

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