Distinction between Public and Private communities
A private community is a restricted-access community in which the visibility of content and members is limited to only those who are part of the community. On the other hand, a public community allows unrestricted visibility to both community members and non-members.
Let's see their differences in detail!
Community Settings
Public Community:
- Community Settings >> General Settings >> Community Info >> System Settings >> Private Community should be OFF.
Help article on General settings
Private Community:
- Community Settings >> General Settings >> Community Info >> System Settings >> Private Community should be ON.
Note: If a public community is made private, users can't view the content without logging in. Search engines will still display the community content until Google reindexes it, which is beyond IdeaScale's control.
Registration page
Public Community:
- Register directly to the community with community URL eg: https://{workspace-url}/a/community/{community-key}/register.
- Member is automatically added to Workspace as well.
- Community's Member profile questions marked Show on Registration Form or Required for Joining appear on the registration form along with Workspace.
Help Article on Community Member Profile Questions
Private Community:
- Direct community registration is not possible.
- Member will need to register to the Workspace first.
- They can join community only after logging in to Workspace.
- Community's Member profile questions marked Show on Registration Form or Required for Joining appear only on the community page after the workspace login and community joining.
Login Page
Public Community:
- Community homepage is visible without login.
- Users can see public ideas, comments, leaderboard and public campaign pages.
Private Community:
- Community homepage is NOT visible without login.
- Users cannot access any community pages.
Email Idea
Public Community:
- Members can email community ideas with any email address even if they are not community members if permitted by the Community Administrator.
Help article on Email ideas to IdeaScale and non-IdeaScale members
Private Community:
- Members cannot email community ideas to non-community members' email addresses.