The Discord alternative built for group leaders
Discord works for virtual hangouts. Heylo is where you build a real community: events your members show up to, connections they make before they arrive, and payments that fund your group's growth.
Why leaders choose Heylo over Discord
Both platforms offer topic-based chats and roles, but Heylo goes beyond communication.
Real event management
Calendar, RSVPs, attendance tracking, and waitlists. Not a bot plugin.
Members connect before they show up
Profiles, icebreakers, and event-specific chats mean members arrive already knowing someone.
Payments without the workaround
Collect dues, event fees, and donations natively. No third-party bots or external links.
Build a strong, authentic community
On Heylo, members represent their true selves with real names and photos, instead of anonymous handles and avatars. Authenticity drives deeper connections, whether signing up for events, sending messages, or inviting others to join.
How it's different
Discord excels at online gaming and anonymous chat, but if you're a leader who wants to create real-world connections, you need more than a chat server.
Heylo gives you a real community hub, not just a chat server. See who's active, track member growth, manage RSVPs, and collect payments, all from one place designed to help leaders like you build something lasting.
Heylo works for your whole group, including members who don't want to download a new app. Everyone can participate via email, web, or with the app.
Tools Discord doesn't have
Everything you need to build and sustain a thriving real-world community.
Member info & waivers
Request and securely store member data like emergency contacts or addresses, with easy export options. Collect and store liability waivers digitally.
Members connect and grow your group
Your members meet and support one another in person. Happy members tell their friends and colleagues about your community.
Easy sharing tools
QR codes, links, email invites, and Instagram integrations make it easy for your members to promote your community for you.
Feature comparison
See how Heylo stacks up against Discord for managing your community.
 | Discord | |
|---|---|---|
| Group chat by topic | ||
| Group chat search | ||
| Event calendar | ||
| RSVPs & attendance tracking | ||
| Event chat | ||
| Post-event feedback | ||
| Member directory with profiles | ||
| Real names & photos | ||
| Icebreaker prompts | ||
| Email integration | ||
| Waiver collection | ||
| Photo albums | ||
| Member data export | ||
| Free for groups |
Leaders and members love Heylo
Your members are happier when you are well organized
★ 4.9 average rating on the App Store
5x
Increase in member reach
“Using Heylo instead of Groupme is life changing. Before, the group was noisy and people would mute the group. Now, I can organize conversations into topics and still reach everyone with events.”
Eddie Vega
FDNY Tri
4x
Increase in participation
“Super user-friendly. There are even some older players—in their 70s—use Heylo without issue! Heylo has made a tremendous impact on how much the group plays—a great thing for everyone.”
Mike Smith
Ragle Beach Volleyball
$150k
Collected payments in first year
“In our first year on Heylo, paid members increased 3x to over 600. We had to set a cap. I can’t believe how seamless Heylo is.”
Steve Finley
Brooklyn Track Club
Yes. Share your Heylo group link with your Discord server and members can join in seconds. Many groups run both in parallel during the transition.
Heylo is built for real-world groups, not virtual hangouts. It focuses on event management, member profiles, and structured communications.
Heylo organizes conversations by event and topic, so chats stay focused and don’t get buried. There’s no open channel sprawl.
Yes. Events, communications, and payments are all free on Heylo. Paid plans add features for groups ready to scale.