Gather Socially and Facebook Groups both host communities, but on Gather Socially the creator owns the audience and on Facebook the platform does. Facebook Groups are free and reach an audience that is already there; Gather Socially is also free to join, but adds courses, live rooms, and direct monetization, and does not put an algorithm between a post and the members who asked to see it.
| Feature | Gather Socially | Facebook Groups |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run | Free to join | Free |
| Who controls reach | The creator — members see posts | The algorithm |
| Member list ownership | The creator | |
| Sell courses natively | Yes | No |
| Paid community access | Yes | Limited — subscriptions only |
| Live audio/video rooms | Yes | Live video only |
| Ads in the experience | No | Yes |
Stay on Facebook Groups if your members are already there, you have no intention of selling anything, and the convenience of an app everyone has installed outweighs owning the relationship. Facebook's distribution is real, and a community that only ever chats does not need more than a group.