Heartbeat review
Discord-like chat with course structure bolted on properly.
On this page
My verdict
Heartbeat is the answer to 'my community lives in Discord but I need to sell something'. Real-time chat is the centre of gravity, with events and courses arranged around it. Weaker than Teachable on curriculum, better than any of them on live feel.
Score breakdown
Scores are weighted using my published method. The overall figure is set by the reviewer and does not have to match the arithmetic mean. A serious flaw in one area can outweigh good marks elsewhere.
Pros and cons
What works
- Real-time chat that people actually use, unlike forum-style feeds
- Events, threads and courses in the same space
- Free tier is enough to validate demand
What doesn't
- Course features are basic
- Smaller ecosystem, so fewer integrations
- Mobile app lags the web experience
Who it's for
Choose Heartbeat if…
Communities that are chat-first and want to keep that energy behind a paywall.
Look elsewhere if…
Asynchronous cohorts or anything needing serious curriculum tooling.
Pricing
Listed prices are the vendor's published rates at the time of my last update. Free tier.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Core chat, limited members |
| StandardBest value | $49/mo | Courses, events, custom branding |
| Business | $149/mo | Automations, priority support |
Features in detail
Live chat
Channels, threads, DMs, presence.
Must be captured from your own paid account, showing the date and your workspace name.
Events
Native scheduling with reminders.
Must be captured from your own paid account, showing the date and your workspace name.
Courses
Simple module structure alongside chat.
Automations
Trigger DMs and access changes on events.
How I tested Heartbeat
This is where the account details, dates and measurements go once testing is done. Internal note, delete before publishing: record the plan you paid for, the dates, the hours, the tasks you ran, and at least three numbers you measured yourself.
Affiliate programme note (internal, remove before publishing): This programme's terms do not state a PPC policy. Treat as not permitted until you have written confirmation.
Alternatives
| Product | Score | Price | Why consider it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skool | 8.0 | $99 a month, flat | One flat price, community and courses in the same product. |
| Whop | 8.1 | $0 plus 3% per transaction | A marketplace and a checkout, not just a community host. |
Frequently asked questions
Is Heartbeat worth the money?
Heartbeat is the answer to 'my community lives in Discord but I need to sell something'. Whether it is worth it depends on the fit described above, so read the 'who it's for' section before committing to an annual plan.
Is there a free version?
Free tier Check the vendor's page for current terms; trial lengths change.
How did you score this product?
Six weighted criteria, published in full on my how-we-test page. The overall figure is set by the reviewer, not calculated automatically.
Do you earn a commission if I sign up?
Yes, on some products. It does not change the score. My editorial independence policy explains the separation.