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Compare the top 10 developer advocacy platforms in 2024 based on community engagement, content creation, social media management, event hosting, analytics, and collaboration. Find the best platform for your developer advocacy needs.
This article compares the top 10 developer advocacy platforms in 2024 based on community engagement, content creation, social media management, event hosting, analytics, and collaboration.
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Quick Comparison
| Platform | Community Engagement | Content Creation | Social Media | Event Hosting | Analytics | Collaboration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DevHunt | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Advocu | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| GitHub | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| GitLab | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Discourse | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Circle.so | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Buffer | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Hootsuite | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Common Room | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Slack | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
The article provides an in-depth comparison of these platforms, highlighting their features, usability, community support, and pricing. It also summarizes the pros and cons of each platform to help you make an informed decision.
1. DevHunt
DevHunt is a platform for developers to showcase their projects and connect with the community. It's an open-source launchpad for dev tools.
Features
DevHunt lets developers list and showcase various tools, including:
- Open source tools
- APIs
- Frameworks
- Libraries
- IDEs
- Testing tools
- Monitoring tools
- Version control systems
- Package managers
- Build tools
- Deployment tools
- Analytics services
- Database systems
- Container orchestration tools
- Collaboration platforms
The platform promotes these tools through voting, comments, newsletters, social media, and profile badges. Popular launches get featured prominently.
Usability
DevHunt has a user-friendly interface and a large collection of projects. The search function is strong, making it easy to find specific resources. Users can customize their feed based on interests for personalized content.
Community Support
DevHunt has an active community of developers who share resources, tools, and projects. Users can engage by upvoting, bookmarking, and commenting on posts. They can also follow other developers and industry experts.
Pricing
DevHunt is free to use. Users can access and browse all reviews, feature comparisons, and discussions at no cost. Signing up and contributing reviews and insights is also free.
2. Advocu
Features
Advocu is a tool for developer relations teams to manage and grow their advocacy programs. Key features include:
- Centralized application process
- Custom workflows for operations
- Unified data source
- Searchable advocate profiles
- Unified format for advocate activities
- Platform for members to share contributions
- Scalable interactions and ROI tracking
Usability
Advocu has an easy-to-use interface that helps teams manage their tasks and focus on community growth. It automates manual work, allowing more time for planning and understanding growth drivers.
Community Support
Advocu tracks contributions and builds an activity stream. It helps ambassadors connect, collaborate, and get inspired. The platform also automates onboarding and maintains consistent communication with candidates.
3. GitHub
Features
GitHub is a well-known platform for developers, offering various features to support developer advocacy:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Open-source repository | Manage and share open-source projects. |
| Collaboration tools | Pull requests, code reviews, and issue tracking for easy project collaboration. |
| Community engagement | Engage with other developers through comments, issues, and pull requests. |
Usability
GitHub has a user-friendly interface, making it easy for developers to navigate and use its features. The platform offers tutorials and guides to help new users get started.
Community Support
GitHub has a large, active community of developers. It provides features like GitHub Discussions, allowing developers to talk about specific topics or projects.
4. GitLab
Features
GitLab is a popular platform for developers, offering a range of features to support developer advocacy:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Developer Advocacy Calendar | Manage and track upcoming events and speaking engagements. |
| Release Day | Stay updated on the latest releases and features. |
| Community Office Hours | Engage with the community through regular office hours. |
Usability
GitLab has a user-friendly interface, making it easy for developers to navigate and use its features. The platform provides a calendar view to visualize upcoming events and speaking engagements.
Community Support
GitLab has an active community of developers, with features like Release Day and Community Office Hours that facilitate engagement and collaboration. The platform also supports open-source projects and provides a space for developers to share their experiences and knowledge.
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5. Discourse
Features
Discourse is an open-source community platform with features to support developer advocacy:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Customizable categories and tags | Organize discussions for easy content discovery. |
| Moderation tools | Manage the community with flagging, muting, and filters. |
| Tool integration | Connect with Slack, WordPress, and more. |
| Rich discussions | Embed multimedia, create polls, use emojis, and message easily. |
| Gamification | Reward active members with increased privileges. |
Usability
Discourse has a user-friendly interface that works well on both desktop and mobile devices. This ensures users can access the forum from anywhere.
Community Support
Discourse focuses on community support with real-time notifications, customizable settings, and a powerful search engine. It also has a large developer community that contributes to its development and offers user support.
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6. Circle.so
Features
Circle.so is a platform for creating private, customizable online communities. It is designed for creators, entrepreneurs, and businesses. Key features include:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Threaded discussions | Organize conversations in a clear, structured way. |
| Member directories | Keep track of community members. |
| Private messaging | Communicate directly with members. |
| Custom spaces | Create unique areas for different topics or groups. |
| Tool integration | Connect with email platforms, payment processors, and website builders. |
Usability
Circle.so is easy to use, with a simple setup process for managing a community. The design is intuitive, making it easy for both managers and members to navigate.
Community Support
Circle.so offers real-time notifications, customizable settings, and a strong search engine. There is also a dedicated support team to help with any issues.
Pricing
Circle.so has five pricing plans:
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39/month | Essential features for small communities. |
| Professional | Varies | Additional tools for growing communities. |
| Business | Varies | Advanced features for larger communities. |
| Enterprise | $399/month | Full suite of features for large organizations. |
| Circle Plus | Varies | Premium support and additional services. |
A free 14-day trial is available to test the platform.
7. Buffer
Features
Buffer is a platform for managing scheduled social media campaigns. It allows users to queue URLs from their browser or mobile, add them to the queue, and publish at different times. Users can also upload or override social images for better visuals.
Usability
Buffer has a simple and intuitive interface. It offers helpful extensions and apps, including:
- Chrome extension
- iOS app
- Android app
These tools make it easy to share content and schedule posts.
Community Support
Buffer provides support through its website and social media channels. Users can find resources and tutorials on the platform's website.
Pricing
Buffer offers a Pro tier suitable for Developer Advocates. Pricing details are not publicly disclosed, but users can expect a monthly or annual fee for access to the platform's features.
8. Hootsuite
Features
Hootsuite Amplify is a tool that helps employees share company content on social media. It includes:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Content Recommendations | Suggests content for employees to share. |
| Post Impact Reports | Shows the impact of shared posts. |
| Leaderboard | Tracks employee participation and engagement. |
Usability
Hootsuite has a simple interface, making it easy for everyone to use. It also has a mobile app for sharing content on the go.
Community Support
Hootsuite offers support through its website and social media channels. Users can find resources and tutorials online.
Pricing
Hootsuite has several pricing plans:
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Professional | $49/month | Basic features for individuals. |
| Team | $129/month | Tools for small teams. |
| Business | $739/month | Advanced features for larger teams. |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Full suite of features for large organizations. |
9. Common Room
Features
Common Room is a platform that combines community engagement, product usage, and customer data. It provides insights to help teams understand and engage with their community. Key features include:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Real-time Identity Enrichment | Identify active customers, champions, and influencers with real-time data. |
| Auto-tagging | Automatically tag community members based on their activity. |
| Workflow Automation | Automate tasks with Team Alerts and workflows. |
Usability
Common Room offers a unified view of each member across all channels. It highlights insights and trends to help teams respond to community activity effectively.
Community Support
Common Room provides quick and responsive support. Users appreciate the team's prompt responses and the ability to schedule meetings for issue resolution. The platform also offers detailed community reports to showcase the value of community efforts.
Pricing
Common Room offers a free trial. Pricing plans are available upon request.
10. Slack
Features
Slack is a popular communication platform with various features for community engagement and collaboration:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Multi-Channel Invite | Create tiered offers with different access levels per invite page. |
| Automated Invite | Members receive an email invite after signing up, which they need to accept to join. |
| Number of Owners | One workspace creates one LaunchPass account, with only the primary owner able to link bank/card info for payouts. |
Usability
Slack has a user-friendly interface for community members to engage with each other. It offers public and private channels to organize conversations and content.
Community Support
Slack has a large user and developer community, with extensive documentation and support resources. It also integrates with many other tools and services to enhance community engagement.
Pricing
Slack offers a free plan and several paid plans with different features and pricing. The cost depends on the number of users and features required.
Pros and Cons
Here's a summary of the main advantages and disadvantages of each platform:
Pros
| Platform | Pros |
|---|---|
| DevHunt | Large community, easy to find developers, feature-rich |
| Advocu | User-friendly interface, automated invite system, scalable |
| GitHub | Industry standard, large user base, integrates with many tools |
| GitLab | All-in-one platform, easy project management, self-hosted option |
| Discourse | Highly customizable, large community, easy integration |
| Circle.so | Scalable, automated workflows, integrates with GitHub |
| Buffer | Easy to use, affordable, integrates with many social media platforms |
| Hootsuite | Industry standard, easy to use, integrates with many social media platforms |
| Common Room | Highly customizable, easy to use, integrates with many tools |
| Slack | Large user base, easy to use, integrates with many tools |
Cons
| Platform | Cons |
|---|---|
| DevHunt | Steep learning curve, limited customization options |
| Advocu | Limited scalability, limited integration options |
| GitHub | Can be overwhelming for new users, limited customer support |
| GitLab | Self-hosted option requires technical expertise, limited customization options |
| Discourse | Steep learning curve, limited scalability |
| Circle.so | Limited integration options, limited customization options |
| Buffer | Limited scalability, limited integration options |
| Hootsuite | Limited customization options, limited scalability |
| Common Room | Limited scalability, limited integration options |
| Slack | Limited customization options, can be overwhelming for new users |
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right developer advocacy platform can greatly impact your success. The top 10 platforms we compared each offer unique features and benefits. Here's a quick summary to help you decide:
| Platform | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| DevHunt | Large community, easy to find developers, feature-rich | Steep learning curve, limited customization options |
| Advocu | User-friendly interface, automated invite system, scalable | Limited scalability, limited integration options |
| GitHub | Industry standard, large user base, integrates with many tools | Can be overwhelming for new users, limited customer support |
| GitLab | All-in-one platform, easy project management, self-hosted option | Self-hosted option requires technical expertise, limited customization options |
| Discourse | Highly customizable, large community, easy integration | Steep learning curve, limited scalability |
| Circle.so | Scalable, automated workflows, integrates with GitHub | Limited integration options, limited customization options |
| Buffer | Easy to use, affordable, integrates with many social media platforms | Limited scalability, limited integration options |
| Hootsuite | Industry standard, easy to use, integrates with many social media platforms | Limited customization options, limited scalability |
| Common Room | Highly customizable, easy to use, integrates with many tools | Limited scalability, limited integration options |
| Slack | Large user base, easy to use, integrates with many tools | Limited customization options, can be overwhelming for new users |
Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses. Your choice will depend on your specific needs and goals. Whether you need DevHunt's large community, Advocu's automated system, or GitHub's reputation, there's a platform that can help you succeed in developer advocacy.
