I'm thinking about launching a forum as part of my business and I want to pick the right forum software. I've been looking into options and so far, I really like XenForo for its look and feel, even though there's a cost involved (but it's not too bad). Discourse also seems like a modern choice, but I've heard it requires Docker to host. PhpBB feels a bit dated to me, but I'm open to opinions. What are your thoughts on the best options available?
5 Answers
It’s Jatra for our community. We built it after facing frustrations with other forum platforms. It has been a game-changer for us!
I’d suggest MyBB if you’re looking for a free, open-source alternative. It has a modern aesthetic, is easy to customize, and pretty user-friendly from the get-go. PhpBB is solid too, but I find MyBB more approachable for newcomers. If you want a paid option, I lean towards Invision Community since I’ve been familiar with it for years.
I hadn't heard of MyBB before, but it sounds interesting; I’ll check it out!
For me, XenForo and Discourse are definitely the top picks. Go with XenForo if you want nested comments and prefer PHP. Discourse offers a fresh, modern look, but just remember you need Docker to set it up. At least it’s free!
I've been using XenForo for five years and I truly recommend it; no issues for me.
Those are the two I’m currently considering as well. XenForo’s UI is really nice!
Flarum is another great choice alongside Discourse. Both are well-maintained and offer plenty of features. Personally, I prefer Flarum since I’m well-versed in PHP.
I haven't heard of Flarum, but it looks nice! I’ll look into it.
I wrote a guide on setting up Discourse! If you decide to go with it, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!
https://eyeofmidas.wordpress.com/2023/06/21/how-to-set-up-a-discourse-forum-using-namecheap-and-digitalocean/
Thanks for sharing the link!
Yeah, it’s unfortunate that MyBB 2.0 has been stuck in development for so long; it could have really taken off.