Best Forum Software Compared 2024

Forums provide a platform for discussions, knowledge sharing, and community building on the internet. Choosing the right forum software is a critical step for administrators looking to build an engaged and active community. In this article, we aim to compare the best forum software solutions in the UK and their individual features.

What is Forum Software?

Forum software, also known as bulletin board software, enables the creation and management of online forums where users can post messages, discuss, and exchange information. These platforms provide a structured environment for discussions by organising posts into different categories or topics, promoting an orderly and easily accessible way of communication. Good forum software offers a variety of features, including user registration, profile management, private messaging, as well as customisation options for the layout and functionality of the forum to meet the specific needs of communities. Through this technology, online communities can effectively grow and thrive by providing an open forum for the exchange of thoughts, ideas, and support.

What is the Best Software for Your Own Forum?

Choosing the best forum software depends on a variety of factors that should be carefully weighed to meet the specific needs and goals of the community.

• Target Audience and Purpose: Crucial to the selection are the target audience and the purpose of the forum. Different software solutions are suitable for different types of communities or discussion topics.
• User-Friendliness: Intuitive and easy-to-use software is important for both administrators and end-users to not deter potential members.
• Customisability: The ability to customise design and functionality is crucial to create a unique community experience and meet specific needs.
• Scalability: The software's ability to grow with the community and ensure good performance even with increasing user numbers is a critical factor.
• Expandability: The ability to add additional features through plugins or add-ons without altering the core code enhances the platform's flexibility.
• Security: A robust security system is essential to protect user data and safeguard the forum from attacks.
• Support and Community: An active developer and user community, along with regular updates and prompt responses to security issues, provide valuable support.
• Cost: The budget, including initial setup costs and ongoing expenses for web hosting, maintenance, and extensions, should be taken into account. Both free open-source options and paid proprietary solutions have their individual pros and cons.

Ultimately, the best choice is the one that best fits the specific requirements and goals of the forum. Thorough research and possibly trying out trial versions can help in making the right decision.

Most Popular Forum Software in the UK

The following graph shows the market share distribution among the 6 most popular forum software solutions in the UK. With 42%, WoltLab Burning Board leads by a large margin. Sharing the second to fourth places with 9% each are phpBB, Simple Machines Forum (SMF), and Discourse. Ranking fifth and sixth with 7% each are vBulletin and the decentralised social network Mastodon.

WoltLab Burning Board

WoltLab Burning Board (often abbreviated as WBB) is a comprehensive proprietary forum software known for its performance and customizability. Developed by the German company WoltLab GmbH, it provides a professional platform for creating and managing online communities. With an intuitive user interface, extensive design options through themes and templates, and a wide range of plugins for extending functionality, WoltLab Burning Board caters to both professional users and hobby administrators who value quality, security, and a modern community experience. The software also stands out for its strong security concept, regular updates, and dedicated support, making it a popular choice for forums of all sizes.

phpBB

phpBB is a widely-used open-source forum software known for its extensive customizability and strong user community. Since its initial release in 2000, it has become one of the preferred solutions for creating and managing online discussion forums. phpBB offers a variety of features, including flexible permission systems, private messaging, extensive customization options through themes and extensions, as well as moderation and management tools. The platform supports an active developer and user community that constantly produces new extensions and themes, making it a customizable and dynamic solution for forum operators. Despite its age, phpBB remains a relevant and respected choice for creating online forums due to its robustness, extensibility, and strong support from a global community.

Simple Machines Forum (SMF)

Simple Machines Forum (SMF) is a free open-source forum software appreciated for its efficiency, ease of use, and flexibility. SMF provides a user-friendly platform that allows administrators to create and manage online communities without deep technical knowledge. The software stands out for its simple installation, intuitive user interface, as well as the ability to customise through a variety of themes and modifications. Despite its sleek design, SMF offers powerful features such as advanced permission settings, support for multiple languages, and an efficient database structure that ensures fast performance even on large forums. The active community and support through regular updates make SMF an attractive solution for forum owners looking for robust yet simple forum software.

Discourse

Discourse is a modern open-source forum software that stands out for its innovative approach to online discussions and community management. Developed with a focus on user-friendliness, interactivity, and mobile usability, Discourse provides a fresh and dynamic platform that combines traditional forum elements with social networking features. The software supports real-time discussions, advanced notification systems, and seamless integration into existing websites and social media. Due to its responsive design philosophy, extensive customization options, and a strong emphasis on user engagement and moderation, Discourse is particularly popular among new and emerging online communities. With an active developer community and regular updates, Discourse sets standards in terms of security, scalability, and user experience in the world of forum software.

vBulletin

vBulletin is a popular proprietary forum software known for its comprehensive features and high scalability, making it a popular choice for large online communities and professional website owners. Designed to provide a robust and flexible platform for discussions, social networking, and content management, vBulletin combines a powerful forum system with blog and article management features. The software is distinguished by its customizable user interface, a deep permission system, advanced search capabilities, and support for a variety of multimedia content. vBulletin is also known for its security features and regular updates, ensuring a stable and secure environment for online discussions. Despite the cost of a license, many operators consider the value of professional support, regular updates, and extensive customization and integration options that vBulletin offers.

Other software solutions for creating a forum include the proprietary forum software Xenforo, the Wordpress plugin bbPress, or the open-source software MyBB.

Best Forum Software Compared

Below is an overview of the features of the best forum software solutions:

Choose one of the best forum software solutions and find the right forum web hosting for your online community.

Our article is based on our own experiences and research, as well as information from external sources.

Article update:
Update 18.06.24: Content and statistics updated

Sources & further links on the topic:
https://trends.builtwith.com/cms/forum-software/country/Germany (Forum Software distribution statistics)

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