TL;DR - Invision Community
- Self-hosted and cloud community platform with forums, blogs, galleries, clubs, and commerce
- Self-hosted from $19/mo or $199/year; cloud and enterprise plans custom-priced
- Best for organizations wanting a full-featured, self-hosted community with built-in monetization
Pricing: Paid only
Best for: Enterprises & pros
3.8/5 across review platforms
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Full community suite: forums, blogs, galleries, clubs, and commerce in one platform
- Self-hosted option gives complete control over data and customization
- Mature, battle-tested platform with 15+ years of development
- Built-in monetization eliminates need for third-party payment plugins
- Gamification features drive engagement without additional tools
- Active marketplace of themes and plugins extends functionality
Cons
- Self-hosted requires PHP/MySQL server administration skills
- Design feels dated compared to modern community platforms like Circle
- Self-hosted licensing requires annual renewal at $199/year
- Limited modern features like real-time chat or video compared to newer tools
- Smaller developer community than open-source alternatives like Discourse
Ratings Across the Web
3.8(18 reviews)
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Discussion forums with WYSIWYG editor and topic managementBlogs, galleries, and file sharing applicationsClubs for member-created sub-communitiesGamification with ranks, badges, and leaderboardsBuilt-in ecommerce and member subscription monetizationSocial login (Facebook, Google, Twitter) and SSO supportAdvanced moderation tools with automated content filteringCustomizable themes with drag-and-drop layout editorSelf-hosted and cloud-hosted deployment optionsREST API and third-party marketplace for plugins
Pricing
Paid
Invision Community offers paid plans. Visit their website for current pricing details.
About Invision Community
By Toolradar Team·
Invision Community (IPS) is a self-hosted and cloud-hosted community platform combining forums, blogs, galleries, clubs, and commerce in a single suite. It powers discussion forums with rich WYSIWYG editing, moderation tools, and gamification features like ranks, badges, and leaderboards. Built-in monetization through member subscriptions and ecommerce, plus social login support for Facebook, Google, and Twitter, make it a complete solution for organizations building branded online communities. With 15+ years of development, IPS serves everything from gaming communities to enterprise support forums.
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Invision Community FAQ
What is Invision Community?
Invision Community (IPS) is a community platform that includes forums, blogs, galleries, clubs, and ecommerce in a single suite. It can be self-hosted on your own server or cloud-hosted by IPS, and has been in active development for over 15 years.
How much does Invision Community cost?
Self-hosted plans start at $19/month or $199/year for the full suite. Enterprise cloud-hosted plans have custom pricing based on traffic and support requirements. A 30-day free trial is available.
Is Invision Community self-hosted or cloud?
Both. You can download and install it on your own PHP/MySQL server (self-hosted) or use IPS's managed cloud hosting (Enterprise plan). Self-hosted gives you full control; cloud hosting eliminates server management.
How does Invision Community compare to Discourse?
Discourse is open-source and free to self-host, with a modern interface and strong developer community. Invision Community is a commercial product with more built-in features (blogs, galleries, commerce, clubs) but requires a paid license. Discourse is better for pure discussion; IPS is better for all-in-one community suites.
Can I monetize my Invision Community forum?
Yes. Invision Community includes built-in ecommerce and member subscription features. You can sell digital products, charge for premium memberships, restrict content to paying members, and manage transactions without third-party plugins.
Source: invisioncommunity.com