Circle, a popular online community platform, is known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features that support community building.
One standout feature is its mobile app.
Can you explain how the Circle.so app works and what the user experience is like?
This overview of the Circle.so app provides a comprehensive look at its functionality and key features, drawing on both firsthand experience and extensive research.
Let’s begin.
What Is Circle?
Circle is a software platform designed for creators and brands to build and grow an engaged online community directly on their websites.
The objective is to provide you with the necessary tools to create a platform for audience engagement and interaction.
The platform offers a range of community-building features including posts, articles, online courses, events, live streaming, member directories, messaging, personalized notifications, and moderation tools.
The platform offers design customization options, monetization tools, and integration with existing technology.
Circle operates on a cloud-based platform, which removes the need for software installation or technical setups. To get started, all you need to do is create a Circle account, set up your community, and direct your domain to it.
Circle and Facebook Groups have different features, with Circle allowing you to create a customized community and maintain full control over it. This includes owning the community audience and engaging with them according to your preferences.
Having familiarized ourselves with the Circle community platform, let’s delve into the details.
What Is the Circle App?
The Circle app is a mobile application compatible with iOS and Android devices that enables owners and members to engage with their communities while on the move.
The objectives include boosting community involvement, enhancing mobile user experience, and increasing engagement levels.
Using the mobile app, your members can:
- create new discussions,
- react to existing posts,
- watch online courses,
- attend livestreams,
- message other members, etc.
The app enables community owners to engage in discussions and contribute content while on the move. It is primarily focused on enhancing the experience for community members, as opposed to content owners, resulting in limited admin settings.
The app provides the function of sending push notifications to keep community members informed about upcoming activities.
Mobile apps are available to all Circle communities at no additional cost. The app can be used by you and your members as long as you are subscribed to one of the platform’s pricing plans.
Let’s delve deeper into the app’s features.
Circle’s Plus plan offers the additional feature of creating white-labeled mobile apps for your community, along with the included free mobile apps.
These apps offer the same features as the free versions, but allow for customization with your own logo and colors, as well as the ability send branded push notifications.
The apps will be displayed under your brand name in the app store, even though Circle will be responsible for their development and upkeep.
How Does the Circle App Interface Look?
The Circle mobile app features a streamlined interface and user-friendly navigation.
The app’s homepage provides a list of all spaces in the community for easy access by members. It also displays spaces and space groups in the same order as the web version.
Additionally, the app includes an actions menu located at the bottom of the user interface, which improves its user-friendliness.
Members have the ability to add a new post, view notifications, search for posts and comments, and initiate a chat from this page.
The experience of Circle’s iOS app differs slightly from that of the Android app. This is due to the iOS app being available since the beginning of 2021, while the Android version was released at the end of 2022.
In the iOS app, users have the ability to start and join live streams, delete chat messages, and edit posts. These features are currently not available in Circle’s Android app, resulting in a different user experience between the two platforms.
Circle’s mobile app, available on both iOS and Android, has a clean and intuitive design that is easier to use than the web platform due to its simpler interface.
How Does the Circle App Work?
The app feature must be enabled in your Circle account before members can use it.
To enable this feature, navigate to Settings → Defaults in your admin account, and ensure that the option “Allow my members to access my community from Circle’s iOS and Android app” is enabled.
Circle provides the option to display banners with download links for Circle apps in both the web app and emails, in addition to messaging members to direct them to download the app.
How Does It Work for Members?
In order to begin engaging with the community through the mobile app, members will need to download the Circle app from either the App Store or Google Play Store.
Upon installation of the app, users will be prompted to input the email address associated with their community sign-up.
The login process is seamless, as users are not required to enter a password. Additionally, Circle’s feature of remembering the user eliminates the need to repeatedly enter their email address.
When the app is opened, members will be able to easily access all community spaces, serving as a homepage. The platform has succeeded in making engagement with the community simple and convenient.
Users have the option to access discussions within a specific space by clicking on it. To initiate a new discussion, they can click on the Plus icon located at the bottom of the screen and select “Create a Post.”
Users can access their conversations by clicking on the Chat bubble icon, which will take them to the Messages page. From there, they can initiate new chats with community members by clicking on the Pencil icon at the top.
The Circle app offers members the ability to view and control their notifications.
To access the notifications page, users can click the Bell icon at the bottom, which allows them to view their notifications. By clicking the Gear icon at the top, they can navigate to the Manage screen to choose the activities and content they want to receive notifications for.
Members have the option to view Circle courses through the app.
Course spaces are listed on the app’s homepage, allowing users to access the course player for watching videos, downloading lesson files, and adding comments.
Additionally, the app is synchronized with the web version, allowing members to seamlessly transition from one device to another when watching videos.
How Does It Work for Admins?
Circle’s iOS and Android mobile apps primarily cater to community members, with limited functionality for managing administrative tasks.
Circle’s web app is essential for managing tasks such as adjusting space settings, scheduling posts, and editing member profiles.
There are multiple ways to interact with members through the app.
- Creating new discussion posts
- Responding to comments and mentions
- Starting a live stream (only for iOS app users)
These options will help promote community involvement and encourage participation in current events.
One of the key features of the Circle.so app is the ability to create new discussion posts. Users can initiate conversations, share their thoughts, ask questions, or seek advice from other members. This feature allows for an open exchange of ideas and experiences within the community.
Additionally, users can respond to comments and mentions on existing posts. This helps facilitate deeper discussions and allows members to engage with each other in a more personalized way.
For iOS users, the app also offers the option to start a live stream, providing an interactive and real-time way to connect with community members. This feature can be particularly useful for hosting events, Q&A sessions, or workshops within the community.
Overall, the Circle.so mobile app provides a user-friendly platform for community members to engage with each other, access course materials, and stay informed about community activities. While admins may find the web app more suited for managing administrative tasks, the mobile app offers a convenient way for members to interact with each other and participate in discussions. With features like creating new posts, responding to comments, and starting live streams, the app promotes community involvement and fosters a sense of connection among its members.
What features are available within the app?
Our apps prioritize delivering the optimal user experience for consuming content and connecting within your community.
We are working on adding more member-focused consumption features. However, at the moment, we do not have plans to support admin-centric actions such as inviting members, managing spaces, adjusting member settings, creating courses, or managing community settings.
Our Circle.so app is designed to prioritize delivering the best possible user experience for consuming content and connecting with others in your community. We understand the importance of creating a seamless and engaging platform for our users to interact and engage with each other.
While we are constantly working on adding new member-focused consumption features to enhance your experience, we do not currently have plans to support admin-centric actions such as inviting members, managing spaces, adjusting member settings, creating courses, or managing community settings within the app. For these administrative tasks, we recommend utilizing the web version of Circle.so for a more robust experience.
Manage your community access on Circle mobile apps
Circle mobile app users can adjust their community access settings at any time by navigating to the community settings.
To control your community access on mobile apps:
- To access settings, click on the dropdown icon next to the community name at the top left corner.
- In the Defaults section, you can control whether your members can access your community from Circle’s iOS and Android app by toggling the option on or off.
Disabling access to your community on mobile apps will prevent members from accessing your community on Circle’s Android and iOS apps.
Circle.so is a popular community platform that allows users to create their own online communities for discussions, collaboration, and networking. One of the key features of Circle.so is its mobile apps for Android and iOS, which allow members to easily access and participate in their communities on the go.
However, there may be instances where community owners need to restrict access to their community on mobile apps. This could be for various reasons, such as ensuring a consistent user experience, controlling membership access, or managing community settings.
To manage community access on Circle mobile apps, users can navigate to the community settings within the app. From there, they can adjust their preferences regarding whether members can access the community from Circle’s iOS and Android apps. By toggling this option on or off in the Defaults section, community owners can control which members are able to access their community on the mobile app.
By disabling access to the community on mobile apps, community owners can prevent members from accessing the community on Circle’s Android and iOS apps. This can be useful for maintaining a certain level of control over who can access the community and ensuring that members are engaging with the content in a way that aligns with the community’s goals and values.
Conclusion
The Circle.so app provides a convenient platform for members to access and engage with your community via mobile devices. Members can easily add content, participate in discussions, and attend live streams through the app.
One of the app’s notable features is its user-friendly interface, enabling members to easily navigate and utilize it efficiently.
As mentioned previously, an active Circle plan is required for members to begin using the app. If you do not have one, you can start a free trial by clicking the button below.
Once members have access to the app, they can start engaging with your community right away. They can post updates, share photos and videos, ask questions, and participate in discussions with other members. The app also allows for easy access to live streams and events hosted within the community.
The Circle.so app is designed to be mobile-friendly, allowing members to stay connected and engaged on the go. Whether they are at home, at work, or on the go, members can easily access and interact with their community through the app.
Overall, Circle.so app offers a streamlined and user-friendly platform for community engagement. With its various features and functionalities, it provides a seamless experience for both members and admins alike. If you’re looking to build a strong and active online community, the Circle.so app is definitely worth considering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an app for Circle.so?
Circle provides a free mobile app for iOS and Android that allows members to access your community.
What are the main differences between Circle’s mobile and web apps?
The key distinction between Circle’s mobile apps and web version lies in accessibility and features. The web platform can be accessed from any device, whereas the mobile apps are limited to iOS and Android. Additionally, admin settings can only be managed through the web version, while the mobile app is geared towards end-users.
How do my members download the Circle.so app?
Members can download the Circle app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store by searching for it and installing it on their mobile devices. Alternatively, they can also be provided with a direct download link.
Can I send push notifications to my members via the Circle.so app?
The Circle mobile app supports push notifications, which can be sent to members who choose to receive them.
Does Circle have an app for Android?
Circle has recently released an Android app in the Google Play Store, which users can download for free. While it currently has fewer features than the iOS app, it is expected to expand its functionalities over time.
