Heartbeat is a community platform that brings discussions, real-time chat, courses, events and payments together under one roof. It’s built for creators and organisations who run paid communities and want courses inside them, rather than a course platform with a community bolted on. You can run evergreen courses that students take at their own pace or cohort-based courses with fixed start and end dates.
At a glance
| What it is | A community platform with courses and events |
| Features | Discussions, chat, voice and video rooms, courses, events, documents |
| Courses | Evergreen or cohort-based |
| Payments | Paid memberships, tiers and course sales |
| Entry plan | Reported around $49 a month |
| Top tier | Raised sharply in September 2026; branded apps on the top tier |
| Free plan | No; free trial available |
How it works
You create a community space with channels, threads and chat, then add courses, events and documents. Members can join free or paid tiers, and you control what each tier sees. Heartbeat includes voice and video rooms for live sessions, event management and automation workflows.
Courses can be dripped over time or run as cohorts, which suits bootcamps, fellowships and group programmes.
Pricing and fees
Pricing trackers in 2026 report an entry plan around $49 a month and a mid-tier around $149, with annual discounts. Heartbeat’s top tier, which includes branded mobile apps, rose sharply in September 2026 to several hundred dollars a month. Some plans carry transaction fees on payments. Check Heartbeat’s pricing page for current figures.
Who should use it
Heartbeat suits creators whose main product is a community, with courses and events as part of membership. If you mainly sell standalone courses, a course platform may be simpler.
Building a paid community
Start with a clear purpose and a small group of founding members. Plan regular events and discussions so members have reasons to return. Add courses that support the community’s goals rather than replacing interaction.
Common mistakes
Some creators launch many channels with little activity, making the community feel empty. Start with a few active spaces and grow as members join.
Heartbeat versus course platforms
Course platforms like Teachable and Thinkific put the course first and add community features. Heartbeat puts the community first and adds courses. If members pay mainly for connection, live sessions and peer support, Heartbeat fits naturally. If they pay mainly for structured content, a course platform is often simpler and cheaper.
Running cohort courses
Cohort courses work well on Heartbeat because students move through content together, meet in live rooms and discuss each week’s lessons. Set clear start dates, a weekly rhythm and simple assignments. Group energy often leads to higher completion rates than self-paced courses.
Quick checklist
Before subscribing, decide whether community or courses are your core product, check current plan prices and transaction fees, and plan your first month of events and discussions so early members stay active.
Using the trial well
Invite a few friendly members during the trial to test channels, events and a short course, so you see how the platform feels with real people before paying.
Common questions
Many creators ask whether Heartbeat replaces Discord or Slack. For paid communities, it can, because it adds payments, courses and member tiers that chat tools lack. Others ask about mobile access: third-party reviews say native branded mobile apps are tied to Heartbeat’s top tier, so check what members get on lower plans. Check the current plan details, since features and limits by tier change over time. Before migrating an existing community, plan how you’ll invite members and explain the move, since a smooth switch keeps people active and avoids losing your most engaged members along the way to other spaces.
Owen’s take
Heartbeat is a good fit if community is your product and courses are part of the value. Watch the pricing on higher tiers, which rose sharply in 2026.
Who it suits
It suits creators running paid communities, cohorts and memberships. It suits less well people who just want to sell a single course cheaply.
Similar options
- Teachable focuses on courses.
- Thinkific adds communities to courses.
- Kajabi bundles courses, communities and marketing.
- Patreon suits membership income.
More options are in Resources.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Community, courses and events together
- Cohort and evergreen courses
- Voice and video rooms
Cons
- No free plan
- Top tier price rose sharply
- Transaction fees on some plans
FAQ
What is Heartbeat?
A community platform that combines chat, courses, events and payments.
Does Heartbeat support cohort courses?
Yes, alongside evergreen courses.
How much does Heartbeat cost?
Trackers report an entry plan around $49 a month; check the pricing page.
Does Heartbeat have a free plan?
No, it offers a free trial.
Does Heartbeat offer branded apps?
On its top tier.
