What is Heartbeat?
Heartbeat is a community platform that lets creators, coaches and businesses run an online community with chat channels, discussion threads, courses, events and paid access in one branded space. It aims to give the real-time feel of a chat app together with the structure of a forum and a course host, so members do not need to move between several tools.
Heartbeat Chat sells the product on monthly or annual subscriptions with a 14-day free trial that needs no credit card. Plans are mainly separated by member limits, automation workflows, landing pages and video hosting hours, and each tier lowers the platform fee taken on member payments. iOS and Android apps are available, and the top tier includes a white-label branded app.
Heartbeat at a glance
How does Heartbeat work?
- Start a trial
Create a community on the 14-day trial, then add a custom domain and brand colors.
- Set up spaces
Create chat channels, threaded discussions, courses, documents and events for members.
- Add paid access
Connect Stripe and create paid offers, with landing pages that sell access to the community or courses.
- Automate onboarding
Use workflows to welcome members, assign roles and send messages, and connect Zapier, Zoom or Google Calendar.
- Track and grow
Review community and course analytics and, on Grow and above, run an affiliate program.
Heartbeat key features
Chat and threads
Real-time channels sit next to threaded discussions, so quick talk and lasting posts live in the same community.
Courses
Build courses inside the community and track progress with course analytics.
Events
Schedule events with Zoom and calendar integrations so members can join live sessions.
Payments and landing pages
Sell access through Stripe using custom landing pages; Grow allows 15 pages and Scale 50.
Automation workflows
Build has 5 workflows, while Grow and Scale offer unlimited workflows plus auto-responder and DM rules.
Native video hosting
Grow includes 50 hours and Scale 200 hours of hosted video, with an add-on for Build.
Mobile and branded apps
Members can use iOS and Android apps, and Scale adds a white-label branded app.
Why use Heartbeat?
- It blends chat, forum threads and courses so communities feel active and organized.
- Built-in payments and landing pages let you sell memberships without a separate checkout tool.
- Workflows automate repetitive onboarding and moderation tasks.
- The Build plan offers an affordable entry point for small communities.
- A no-credit-card trial makes it easy to test with a few members first.
Who is Heartbeat best for?
A good fit for
- Coaches and creators running small to mid-size paid communities
- Course creators who want discussion next to lessons
- Teams moving from Slack or Discord to a branded space
- Membership businesses that want automation without extra tools
Less suited to
- Very large free communities on a tight budget, since Build caps members at 350
- Sellers who want to avoid platform transaction fees on lower tiers
- Organizations needing a self-hosted or open-source forum
Heartbeat pricing
| Pricing model | Subscription |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | 14 days |
| Starting price | $49/month (Build), or $40/month billed annually |
Grow is $149/month and Scale is $849/month, with discounts on annual billing. Platform fees on payments drop from 5% on Build to 2.5% on Grow and 1.25% on Scale, on top of Stripe processing.
Prices checked October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official Heartbeat pricing page before you buy.
Heartbeat pros and cons
Pros
- Combines chat, threads, courses and events
- Affordable entry tier
- Strong automation options
- Trial requires no credit card
Cons
- 5% platform fee on payments on the Build plan
- Member caps on lower tiers
- Large jump in price to the Scale tier
Heartbeat integrations and platforms
Works with
Available on
Heartbeat alternatives
See the full shortlist in Best Online Community Platforms.
Heartbeat FAQ
Is Heartbeat free?
No. Heartbeat does not have a free plan, but it offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. After the trial, the Build plan costs $49 per month or $490 per year. If you do not upgrade, the community is deactivated, and inactive communities are deleted after 30 days.
What is Heartbeat used for?
Heartbeat is used to run online communities for creators, coaches and businesses. Owners use it to host chat channels and discussions, deliver courses, schedule events and sell paid access through Stripe, with automation workflows to handle onboarding and member messaging.
Heartbeat vs Circle: what's the difference?
Both combine community, courses, events and payments. Heartbeat has a lower starting price and leans on chat-style channels plus automation workflows, but charges higher platform fees on its entry plan. Circle starts higher, offers more admin seats, AI tools and lower fees. Budget and expected sales volume often decide between them.
Does Heartbeat charge transaction fees?
Yes. Heartbeat adds a platform fee on member payments: 5% on Build, 2.5% on Grow and 1.25% on Scale. These fees come on top of Stripe's own processing fee. Communities with significant revenue can save money by moving to a higher tier.
Does Heartbeat have a mobile app?
Yes. Heartbeat offers iOS and Android apps that members can use to chat, read threads and join events. The Scale plan also includes a white-label branded mobile app, and a branded app can be bought separately on other plans.
Sources
This overview is based on Heartbeat's official website and documentation, checked October 2026.