Difference between public vs private communities in Knorish (free, paid, memberships, subscriptions, tiered memberships)
When creating a community in Knorish, you can choose between public communities and private communities. The main difference lies in who can join and how access is managed—whether it’s free and open to all or restricted through payments, memberships, or tiered subscriptions.
Public communities
Public communities are free and open-for-all spaces where anyone can join without restrictions. They are best suited for:
- Building an open group where members can freely participate
- Driving engagement and visibility at scale
- Attracting a wide audience before offering premium upgrades
Example: A free Marketing Tips Community where anyone can join to share insights and resources.
Private communities
Private communities are gated spaces where access is controlled. They can be invite-only or paid communities that require members to purchase a course, bundle, or subscription.
Private communities can be structured in three ways:
1. One-time payment
- Members pay once for long-term or lifetime access
- Works well for exclusive VIP spaces or premium cohorts
- Example: A $499 Entrepreneur Mastermind Group that offers lifetime access after a single payment
- Learn how to create a one time paid group here: Create a paid group on Knorish with a one time payment option
2. Memberships or subscriptions
- Members pay a recurring fee (monthly, quarterly, or annually)
- All members receive the same benefits and access
- Example: A $29/month Yoga & Wellness Community where subscribers access live classes and recordings
- Learn how to create a subscription or membership based groups on Knorish
3. Tiered memberships
- Multiple pricing tiers offering different benefits at each level
- Combines free groups + memberships + premium VIP tiers in one community
- Example: A Stock Trading Community with:
- Free Tier → Market discussions and updates
- Pro Tier ($99/month) → Access to strategy webinars
- VIP Tier ($999/year) → Private mentorship and exclusive tools
- Learn how to create subscription or membership based groups on Knorish.
Quick Comparison
| Type | Access | Best for | Example |
Public community | Free, open to all | Audience growth, engagement | Free Marketing Tips Community |
Private – One-time payment | Paid once, lifetime access | VIP groups, exclusive cohorts | $499 Mastermind Group |
Private – Memberships/Subscriptions | Recurring fee, same benefits for all | Ongoing value and learning | $29/month Yoga Community |
Private – Tiered memberships | Multiple pricing levels, different perks | Monetization + segmentation | Free tier + Pro ($99/mo) + VIP ($999/yr) |
- Public communities = Free, open-for-all, great for reach and engagement
- Private communities = Controlled entry, often paid, structured as one-time payments, memberships or subscriptions, or tiered memberships
This flexibility allows you to start with a free community for reach, then grow into a paid community model with recurring subscriptions or tiered membership levels for long-term monetization.
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