The 5 best community matchmaking tools

In community management, fostering meaningful connections among members is not just a goal; it's the lifeblood that sustains the vibrancy and dynamism of any group.

One often overlooked yet critical aspect of community building is facilitating one-on-one interactions between members. Why is this so important? Firstly, 1:1 matches can dramatically deepen personal connections, breaking down the anonymity and passivity that can plague larger groups. When members form individual relationships, their commitment to the community strengthens, driven by a sense of personal investment and belonging.

Moreover, tailored one-on-one interactions pave the way for a supportive environment where members feel valued and understood. This personalized approach not only helps in retaining members but also in empowering them to contribute more actively. Each interaction adds a layer of trust and collaboration, which is essential for a robust community network.

Additionally, 1:1 matching encourages diversity of thought and experience by connecting individuals who may not typically interact within larger group settings. This diversity can lead to innovation, problem-solving, and an inclusive community culture that respects and cherishes varied perspectives.

So, integrating effective 1:1 member matching tools is not just about creating connections; it’s about nurturing a community's heart and soul, fostering a network where every member can thrive both personally and collectively.

Let’s explore some of the best tools available that can help achieve this objective, ensuring your community not only grows in numbers but also in strength and unity.

1. Matcha

Matcha allows you to design matching programs that connect members based on shared interests, experiences, location, or any other criteria you set. Once established, Matcha handles the logistics, from scheduling to facilitating interactions, bolstered by its analytics capabilities.

How Matcha works:

Step 1. Setting the stage: Create your connection program.

Build a special program to connect your people based on detailed factors like their job, team, where they are, what they like, their experience, and their goals. You can even add their favorite color if you want! Choose when and how often they should meet, and give them ideas for their meetings, or let them decide for themselves.

Step 2. Bringing your people together: Invite members to join the connection program.

When you invite them, members will get a link by email or Slack to join. They can then set up their profiles and answer some networking questions you’ve set. It’ll only take a few minutes!

Step 3. Members meet directly on Matcha.

Community members can step away from their daily grind and embrace the opportunity to learn from each other, share insights on new projects, or simply get to know one another better.

Key features:

• Matcha syncs calendars to automatically find meeting times that work for everyone, eliminating the hassle of manual coordination.
• You can arrange either one-time chats or recurring meetings at your chosen frequency, adapting to the needs of your community.
• Matcha supports decentralized peer-to-peer video calling with advanced compression technology, ensuring low latency that provides crystal-clear, high-speed video calls.
• You can gain insights into member interactions through Matcha's analytics, helping you optimize community engagement.
• You’re able to use Matcha's library of over 200 conversation starters or create your own to facilitate deeper and more meaningful discussions.
• Matcha integrates seamlessly with Slack, enabling easy and familiar communication within your community.
• Matcha’s monitoring tools allow you to track who is connecting and how often, giving you a clear picture of the community’s health and connectivity.

Pricing:

• Matcha has a Freemium.
• Matcha pricing is based on active participants and active networking programs count.
• Their Growth plan starts from $24/month and includes 24 active participants. The more active participants, the higher the price.

Additional notes:

• Matcha goes for groups from 20 to 2500.

2. Intros AI

Intros AI is a platform designed to enhance community engagement by facilitating meaningful connections among members. It focuses on automating and personalizing the process of making introductions within a community, enhancing the overall community experience.

How Intros AI works:

Step 1: Sign Up and Integration

You as a community admin signs up for Intros AI and connect it with platforms your community commonly uses, such as Slack, Discord, or via Email. This integration allows Intros AI to send introductions and communications through these channels.

Step 2: Customize matching algorithm

Define what factors will be used to match community members. These could include interests, industry, skills, location, and more. Use the tools provided by Intros AI to create a custom matching algorithm that considers the selected criteria.

Step 3: Invite members

Share a unique link with community members to invite them to join the Intros AI platform.

As part of the sign-up process, members are asked to fill out a matching form. If additional data about members is available and relevant, it can be imported to supplement the information gathered from the matching form, providing a more comprehensive base for making connections.

Step 4: Introductions

Customize the look and feel of the introduction messages that members will receive. This can include adding your community’s logo, changing the color scheme, and tweaking the message text to fit your community’s voice.

Once everything is set up, Intros AI will begin making introductions among members based on the matching algorithm.

Once matches are made the introductions can be sent out through integrated communication tools. For example:

• Slack: Intros AI can use a Slack integration to send a direct message to each member involved in a match, introducing them to each other within their familiar Slack environment.
• Email: Similarly, introductions can be sent via email, using the email addresses provided by the members during their sign-up process.
• Discord: Introductions can also be facilitated through private Discord channels, ensuring members meet in a private and focused setting.
• Text messages: Intros AI sends an SMS to each member’s phone, introducing them to each other and possibly including a brief description or reason for the match.

Step 5: Meetings

Once members receive their introduction, it is up to them to reach out to each other to continue the conversation. Intros AI may facilitate the initial contact, but the actual communication and meeting setup are handled directly between the members.

Members can use the information provided in the introduction to contact each other. They might decide to meet virtually through video calls or chat further on the platform they were introduced (like continuing the conversation in a private Slack channel or a Discord server). If local, they might even arrange a face-to-face meeting.

Step 6: Feedback collection

After their interaction or meeting, members may be prompted by Intros AI to provide feedback about the quality of the match and the outcome of their meeting. This feedback can be used to refine future matches. Intros AI’s dashboard allows you to track how often members engage with each other and the overall success of the introductions.

Step 7: Re-match

Based on the feedback and analytics, make necessary adjustments to the matching criteria, introduction templates, and overall strategy to continually improve member satisfaction and engagement.

Once you are satisfied with the setup, you can choose to automate the process, allowing Intros AI to handle future introductions without manual intervention.

Periodically check in to ensure everything is running smoothly and make updates as your community evolves or grows.

Key features:

• Community managers create the matching form for members with the questions that fit their community’s needs. They can choose factors like job industry, personality, skills, and hobbies to help find the best matches between members.
• Communities can change how their introductions look to match their style. This includes changing colors, logos, and the design of messages.
• Once set up, Intros AI manages the process of introducing members automatically. This saves time for those managing the community.
• Introductions can happen through email, text messages, or private Discord channels, depending on what members prefer.
• There is a built-in scheduling tool that makes it easy to find the right time.
• Intros AI helps track how well members are connecting and engaging with each other. It also allows for collecting feedback through custom questions to understand member satisfaction.
• The platform is easy to set up and manage.

Pricing:

• Intros AI has a Freemium that includes up to 50 members.
• Intros AI pricing is based on members count.
• Their Starter plan starts from $199/month and includes 100 active members.

Additional notes:

• In comparison with other tools the price is significantly higher. So Intros AI is probably not a good fit for low-budget communities. On the other hand, Freemium includes up to 50 people, which is at least 2x more than competitors propose.

3. RandomCoffee

The whole process of matching takes place on the RandomCoffee platform. Here, the community manager plans the programs, customizes the matching itself, compiles invites, analyzes feedback analytics, and adjusts the programs. The members also have their own accounts where they can see all their programs and can set their matching preferences for the upcoming randomcoffees.

RandomCoffee has a lot of integrations to make it easy for people to interact with the platform and use (when it’s possible) already familiar tools. For example, you can book sessions through Google Calendar, or send invitations in direct message in Slack, etc.

How RandomCoffee works:

Step 1. Import your data.

Import members using CSV/Excel file or invite them by sharing a sign-up link.

Step 2. Choose a template.

Browse through dozens of templates that have been already designed. Pick the one that meets your needs.

Step 3. Create matching rules for targeted connections.

Set rules to choose who, when, and how people should connect and meet.

Step 4. Customize your emails.

Use the drag & drop email editor to add your logo, banners & images to follow the style and tone of your community.

Step 5. Schedule the meeting.

Plan sessions ahead of time, pause, and reschedule.

Step 6. Notification.

Once pairs are created, notify each participant via email or through integrated platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Discord about their match and the meeting details.

Step 7. Track results.

Measure the program's success from RandomCoffee’s dashboard, and improve participation rates over time.

Key features:

You as a community manager can:

• Use pre-made templates that are designed for common activities and gatherings, making it easier to start connecting people.
• Customize the matching rules to fit your community's needs. You can choose who meets who based on their interests, where they live, and what they like to do. personalize emails: add pictures, change the design, and write in a way that speaks to your members.
• Arrange meetings and events at times that work for everyone. You can easily change dates or pause and restart activities as needed.
• Track success keeping an eye on how well your activities are doing with a dashboard that shows you who's participating and how often.
• Connect RandomCoffee to the tools you already use for managing your community. This makes everything work smoothly together.
• Make meetings fun with ice-breaker ideas and options to create small groups, perfect for friendly gatherings or working on projects together.
• Let members tell you who they'd like to meet next, and make it easy for new people to join in.
• Make sure only you can see messages and information, keeping everything private and secure.

Pricing:

• RandomCoffee has a Freemium with up to 20 members and 1 admin seat.
• RandomCoffee pricing is based on member and admin seat count.
• Their Pro plan starts from $23 /month ($19 /month if paid annually) and includes up to 25 active members and 3 admin seats.

Additional notes:

• RandomCoffee is a separate standalone platform that can run independently. It is possible to integrate with tools that are already in use, but this is optional.
• There is a personal account for the user, in which members can join interesting programs themselves if they wish or adjust the data to match the process.
• The price increases strongly depending on the number of active members. For example, with a maximum of 1000 active members, it costs $911 / month, which not all communities can afford.

4. Donut

Donut is a tool designed to help communities thrive by simplifying and automating the way they manage and enhance interactions. It integrates seamlessly with communication platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams, making it easier to organize activities such as welcoming new members, facilitating mentorships, networking, and keeping conversations lively and engaging.

How Donut's Introductions work in Slack:

Step 1: Choose your template

Start by browsing through a variety of ready-to-use templates provided by Donut. These templates are designed to cater to different networking and team-building needs.

If the available options do not perfectly fit your needs, you can create a custom template. Modify the introductory message, decide on the group size for introductions (pairs, small groups, etc.), and set the frequency of introductions (e.g., weekly, monthly).

Step 2: Create a Donut channel

In Slack, create a new channel specifically for your Donut interactions. This helps in keeping all related activities organized in one place. Choose a descriptive name for the channel that reflects its purpose, such as #cross-functional--meetup, #cofee-chats, or #code-pals, to make it clear to potential participants what the channel is about.

Step 3: Establish Connections

Ask members to join the Donut channel. Once they join, Donut will begin to make introductions between members based on the parameters set in your template.

Members who have been matched by Donut will receive an automated introductory message directly in the Slack channel or through a private message. This message will include details about their match, such as the other member’s name, interests, and any other relevant information that could help kickstart a conversation.

Then they are encouraged to arrange a first meeting, which could be a virtual coffee chat, a brief video call, or even a face-to-face meeting if possible. The purpose of this meeting is to get to know each other better and discuss common interests or potential areas of collaboration.

Step 4: Provide ongoing engagement

To keep the channel lively and engaging, incorporate interactive elements that encourage continuous interaction among team members.

After each introduction round, Donut provides statistics and feedback within the channel. This data helps in measuring engagement levels and the effectiveness of the networking efforts, motivating the team to participate actively.

In Microsoft Team the matchmaking process is quite similar.

Key features:

• Donut automatically pairs team members based on predefined criteria. Introductions can be scheduled at regular intervals (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) to ensure continuous networking and relationship-building.
• Community managers can customize the introductory messages sent to participants, making them align with the community-specific objectives.
• While typically used for one-on-one introductions, Donut also allows for creating small groups, making it versatile for different types of networking and social activities.
• Integrations with calendar applications (like Google Calendar and Outlook) facilitate easy scheduling of meetups and reminders.
• Donut provides analytics on participation rates, frequency of interactions, and other relevant metrics to help measure the impact of the networking program.
• After introductions, Donut can collect feedback from participants to assess the quality of matches and gather suggestions for improvement.
• Donut is scalable, which means it can be used for small teams or deployed across a large organization to include hundreds or thousands of employees.
• Donut encourages ongoing engagement by prompting follow-up meetings or suggesting topics for discussion, helping to maintain the connection long after the initial introduction.

Pricing:

• Donut has a Freemium.
• Donut pricing is based on member count.
• Their Standard plan starts from $59/month and includes 24 active members. The more active members, the higher the price.

Additional notes:

• Donut is primarily designed for workplace environments and may not offer the same level of customization for non-work-related or casual community settings. The criteria for matching, such as job roles or office locations, might not be as relevant in community groups centered around hobbies, interests, or social activities.
• Donut is added in Slack or Microsoft Teams. That is, the community should be on these two platforms. If you use Slack, matchmaking meetings can be held, for example, at Zoom.

5. Orbiit

Orbiit is yet another platform that facilitates networking and engagement within communities. It automates invites, call scheduling, and reminders, so that you have more time for big-picture tasks.

How Orbiit works:

Step 1: Prepare the Matching Round

Begin by uploading your audience list to Orbiit. This list can be segmented based on specific goals, or you may choose to initiate a community-wide matching round.

With the help of Orbiit, define the criteria for matching. This could be based on interests, professional background, goals, etc., to ensure that the matches are relevant and valuable.

Customize how you will invite your community members to participate. You can use your usual communication channels like newsletters, emails, membership forums, or Slack. Alternatively, Orbiit can manage the communication process for you.

Step 2: Launch the Matching Round

Members can join the matching round by simply filling out a brief form, which takes less than a minute. No need for a separate profile or login.

After members fill out the form, Orbiit automatically finds and schedules calls with the most relevant matches based on the set criteria and sends calendar invites to both parties.

Monitor the opt-in rates and view the matches made. Track which topics are most popular and resonate with your community. This helps in understanding member preferences and adjusting future rounds accordingly.

Step 3: Gather feedback and track results

Use the Orbiit dashboard to review aggregate statistics such as Net Promoter Score (NPS), opt-in rates, number of matches, average match rating, and the most popular topics.

The AI algorithm learns from past matching criteria and outcomes, continuously improving the quality of matches in future rounds.

Leverage insights gained from the feedback and data analytics to develop more personalized and relevant community programming and strategies based on popular topics and member interests.

Key features:

• Orbiit helps connect communities both through e-mail and through Slack, Mobilize, Vanilla, Insided, Hivebrite, Bettermode, Mighty Networks or other community platform.
• Orbiit propose onboarding helping to find the right set of questions for matches and the right setup for your community including integrations with community management platforms and Slack.
• Orbiit has an AI-powered matching engine to learn from previous matching rounds. This continuous learning process helps in refining the matching criteria and improving match quality over time, ensuring that the matches become more relevant to the participants.
• Orbiit works for communities of any size from 500 to 500,000 people
• Members don’t need to set up logins or to create profiles. You can reach your audience where they are.
• Orbiit automates not only the matching process but also the scheduling of calls between matched members. It sends out calendar invites automatically, which helps in reducing the administrative burden and improves the likelihood of successful connections.

Pricing:

• Orbiit doesn’t provide pricing information. In general it is based on the community size, number of custom matching rules and member invites per month.

Additional notes:

• Unlike other tools, the price does not depend on the number of members, but on the number of member invites per month.
• Orbiit is designed specifically for communities, you don't need to adapt it like Donut or RandomCoffee, which are more focused on networking and matchmaking within an organization.

Summary

In conclusion, the tools discussed in this article—Matcha, Intros.ai, RandomCoffee, Donut, and Orbiit —are some of the top choices for helping people in communities connect better. Each one has special features that fit different needs.

Choosing the best tool depends on what your community needs and what you want to achieve with your networking. By using these tools, community leaders can improve how people interact and work together, making the community stronger and more connected. Whether you want to create new work opportunities, build a sense of community, or just make networking more enjoyable, these tools can really help.