TL;DR: Choose Discord for large, feature-rich communities with automated member management; Slack for professional/business teams up to several thousand members; Telegram for global, privacy-focused communities up to 200,000 members. Already have a community? LaunchPass supports all three—stick with what you've built.
Understanding the Three Platforms LaunchPass Supports
LaunchPass integrates with three major communication platforms, each with distinct strengths. Your choice depends on your community size, member engagement style, automation needs, and business requirements. Below is a comprehensive comparison to help you decide.
Discord: Best for Large-Scale Communities with Advanced Automation
Ideal for: Gaming communities, expert networks, creators, large membership groups, affiliate networks
Quick Stats:
Maximum member capacity: 1 million members
Cost: Free to create and run; optional premium features available
Setup time: 15-30 minutes with LaunchPass integration
Best for community size: All sizes, from 50 to 500,000+ members
Why Choose Discord?
Discord was originally built for gaming but has evolved into one of the most popular platforms for paid communities. It specializes in real-time text, image, video, and audio communication with minimal latency.
Discord Strengths:
Automated member management: Members who cancel subscriptions are automatically removed from the entire server (not just paid channels) or removed from their role if you prefer to keep them in your server for later reengagement
Role-based access control: Assign different access levels to different channels using Roles, giving you granular control over who sees what
Channel organization: Create unlimited channels for different topics, creating a sophisticated content structure
Bot ecosystem: Thousands of moderation, engagement, and automation bots available
Custom branding: Custom emojis, server banners, and extensive customization options
Real-time synchronization: Members are instantly added to your server after signup
Discord Limitations:
Steeper learning curve initially (though LaunchPass provides extensive guides and support)
Requires members to download the Discord app or use web browser
Moderation can be complex at scale (though definitely bots help!)
LaunchPass Support for Discord
Automated server management with full Role and permission control
Instant member provisioning to servers after payment
Complete automation of member removal upon subscription cancellation (server-wide)
Integration with LaunchPass roles for multi-channel access control
Unlimited member capacity with LaunchPass
See our Discord setup guide and Discord troubleshooting
Additional resources and information are available on Discord’s help center
Telegram: Best for Global Communities Prioritizing Privacy
Ideal for: International communities, privacy-conscious groups, large-scale engagement, crypto and financial communities
Quick Stats:
Maximum member capacity: 200,000 members
Cost: Free to use; no premium required for community features
Setup time: 10-20 minutes with LaunchPass
Best for community size: 1,000 to 200,000+ members
Global reach: Available in 180+ countries
Why Choose Telegram?
Telegram has become increasingly popular for paid communities, especially internationally. It's known for end-to-end encryption, minimal moderation overhead, and robust bot capabilities.
Telegram Strengths:
Maximum privacy: Messages can use end-to-end encryption; no data tracking
Ease of use: Minimal learning curve; more intuitive for non-tech-savvy members
Large member capacity: Supports up to 200,000 members in Groups and Channels
Unlimited media: Upload unlimited videos, documents, and media files
Active bot ecosystem: Powerful automation through Telegram bots
Mobile-first design: Optimized for mobile users (strong in emerging markets)
Low storage: Messages don't create heavy server loads
Telegram Limitations:
Less sophisticated channel organization than Discord (Topics are more limited than Discord channels)
Can become noisy in high-engagement communities (single thread conversations can be overwhelming)
Smaller ecosystem compared to Discord
Member management slightly less granular than Discord
LaunchPass Support for Telegram
Deep integration with Telegram Groups and Channels
Automated member provisioning and removal
Community analytics and engagement tracking
Automated member management for both Group and Channel configurations
Flexible group structure to match your content organization
See our Telegram setup guide
Additional resources and information are available on Telegram’s help center
Slack: Best for Professional & Business Communities
Ideal for: Corporate teams, professional networks, business consulting groups, startup ecosystems, remote teams
Quick Stats:
Maximum member capacity: Several thousand members (practical limit: 2,000-5,000)
Best member size: 50-3,000 members
Cost: Free tier available; premium plans for advanced features ($8-15/user/month)
Setup time: 20-30 minutes with LaunchPass integration
Channel capacity: Support for up to 50 paid channels via LaunchPass
Why Choose Slack?
Slack dominates in professional and business communities. Its email-like interface and deep integration with business tools make it ideal for teams and professional networks.
Slack Strengths:
Professional interface: Familiar to most business users; minimal learning curve
Business tool integrations: Native integrations with 2,000+ business apps (Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Workspace, etc.)
Powerful search: Find specific conversations, files, and information quickly
Email-based invite system: Members receive formal invite emails they can review before joining
Intuitive user experience: Less steep learning curve than Discord
Enterprise-grade: Built for security and compliance requirements
Slack Limitations:
Limited scalability: Not recommended for communities larger than 5,000 members
More expensive at scale (premium plans required for all users)
Less customization than Discord (member access is workspace-level or channel-specific)
Member management constraints: Members can't be automatically kicked from entire workspace (only from specific paid channels)
Advanced features require paid plans
LaunchPass Support for Slack
Workspace and channel setup assistance
Managed access to up to 50 paid channels per workspace
Automated member management (with Slack limitations on workspace-wide removal)
Email-based invite workflows with LaunchPass tracking
Integration capabilities with other business tools you're already using
Engagement analytics and member activity tracking
See our Slack setup guide
Additional resources and information are available on Slack’s help center
Detailed Feature Comparison Table
Feature | Discord | Telegram | Slack |
Maximum Members | 1,000,000+ | 200,000 | 5,000 (practical) |
Auto-kick System | Full server removal, removal from private channels | Full removal | Channel-only (not workspace-wide) |
Channel Organization | Unlimited channels with Roles | Groups and Topics | Unlimited channels |
Setup Complexity | Moderate | Simple | Simple |
Cost | Free | Free | Free + Premium options |
Member Invite Process | Instant server access | Instant access | Email-based invite |
Customization | Highest | Medium | Medium |
International Reach | Excellent | Excellent (180+ countries) | Good (business-focused) |
Privacy Features | Standard | End-to-end encryption | Standard + SSO available |
Bot Ecosystem | Extensive (10,000+) | Powerful | Large (2,000+ integrations) |
Mobile Experience | Excellent | Excellent (native design) | Very Good |
Learning Curve | Moderate | Easy | Easy |
Best For | Large communities, creators | Global, privacy-conscious | Professional, business teams |
Platform Comparison: Discord vs. Slack vs. Telegram Side-by-Side
Member Management & Access Control
Discord:
Members are automatically removed from the entire server when subscription is canceled, or can be configured to remove users from private channels via role gated access
Role-based access control allows one invite page to grant access to multiple channels
Full LaunchPass automation without Slack limitations
Telegram:
Members removed automatically upon subscription cancellation
Access can be managed at Group or Channel level
Simple, automatic provisioning
Slack:
Important limitation: Members can only be auto-kicked from private or paid channels, NOT from the entire workspace
Single invite page provides access to all public channels
Members retain access to workspace even if paid subscription ends (unless manually managed)
When Member Retention is Important
If you need to ensure non-paying members have zero access to your community, Discord is the only platform that automatically removes them from your entire server.
How to Choose: Decision Framework
Choose Discord if you:
Plan to scale beyond 5,000 members
Need automatic, comprehensive member removal upon cancellation
Want maximum customization and branding options
Serve creators, communities, or membership-based businesses
Require advanced moderation and bot capabilities
Don't mind a slightly steeper learning curve
Choose Telegram if you:
Have a globally distributed community (especially outside North America)
Prioritize user privacy and encryption
Want a platform that's intuitive for non-technical members
Plan to grow to 50,000-200,000 members
Prefer lower operational overhead
Have international members (better adoption in emerging markets)
Choose Slack if you:
Are building a professional or business-focused community
Need integration with business tools (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.)
Serve a smaller, more selective audience (under 5,000 members)
Value a familiar, professional interface
Prioritize enterprise-grade security and compliance
Team is already using Slack for operations
Important Platform Switching Limitations
Can I switch platforms later?
Currently, platform switching requires starting over:
You must create a new Slack/Discord/Telegram workspace
Create a new LaunchPass account for the new platform
All existing members must be invited to join the new community
There is no automated migration process
Recommendation: Choose your platform carefully, as switching has operational costs. However, all three platforms are feature-complete with LaunchPass, so any choice can work for long-term growth.
Common LaunchPass Configurations by Platform
Discord:
Most common for: Coaching programs, membership sites, creator communities, financial alert groups, non-profit fundraising
Typical scale: 100-50,000+ members
Growth pattern: Rapid scaling due to viral potential
Telegram:
Most common for: International communities, privacy-focused groups, crypto/financial communities, global networks
Typical scale: 5,000-200,000 members
Growth pattern: Steady, international expansion
Slack:
Most common for: Professional networks, business consulting, startup ecosystems, expert groups
Typical scale: 100-3,000 members
Growth pattern: Slow, high-quality member acquisition
Need Help Choosing?
If you're still unsure which platform fits your community's needs, contact LaunchPass support at [email protected]. Our team can:
Analyze your specific community requirements
Discuss growth projections and scalability needs
Review automation and member management constraints
Help you set up your chosen platform in minutes
Provide guidance on best practices for your use case
The right platform becomes clear when you understand your community's size goals, member experience preferences, and management requirements.