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NodeBB Forum

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Modern, mobile-ready forum software for building engaging online communities.

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TL;DR - NodeBB Forum

  • Modern, mobile-first forum software for building online communities.
  • Offers real-time features, extensive customization, and robust moderation tools.
  • Available as open-source for self-hosting, managed cloud hosting, and enterprise solutions.
Pricing: Paid only
Best for: Enterprises & pros
4.5/5 across review platforms

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Highly customizable with themes, plugins, and direct code access.
  • Excellent performance and scalability for active communities.
  • Strong focus on real-time interaction and user engagement.
  • Open-source option provides flexibility for developers and self-hosters.
  • Comprehensive moderation and administration tools.

Cons

  • Self-hosting requires technical expertise.
  • Managed hosting plans can become expensive for very large communities.
  • Credit card required for free trial on hosted plans.

Ratings Across the Web

4.5(82 reviews)

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Responsive and mobile-first designReal-time streaming of topics, posts, and notificationsBuilt-in chat and instant messagingInternationalization and multilingual supportSEO-friendly with human-readable URLs and microdataGDPR complianceActivityPub support for fediverse integrationSingle Sign-On (SSO)

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Starter

$20/month

  • 50,000 Pageviews
  • 5gb Storage
  • Unlimited Staff Users
  • Weekly backups
  • SSL
  • Custom Plugins
  • Custom Domain
  • Priority Support

Hamlet

$100/month

  • 500,000 Pageviews
  • 20gb Storage
  • Unlimited Staff Users
  • Daily backups
  • SSL
  • Custom Plugins
  • Custom Domain
  • Priority Support

Village

$250/month

  • 2,000,000 Pageviews
  • 100gb Storage
  • Unlimited Staff Users
  • Daily backups
  • SSL
  • Custom Plugins
  • Custom Domain
  • Priority Support

City

$750/month

  • 10,000,000 Pageviews
  • 300gb Storage
  • Unlimited Staff Users
  • Daily backups
  • SSL
  • Custom Plugins
  • Custom Domain
  • Priority Support

Enterprise Solutions

Contact us

  • Custom feature development to integrate with your current systems
  • Theme customization to match your brand identity perfectly
  • Single Sign-On with your existing services to provide your users with a seamless experience
  • Migration services from existing forums
  • Premium hosting or self-hosting options

What is NodeBB Forum?

Editorial review
NodeBB Forum is a next-generation community forum software designed to help businesses and groups create vibrant online communities. It offers a powerful, mobile-ready, and easy-to-use platform that allows users to engage in conversations away from the distractions of traditional social media. NodeBB focuses on providing a modern forum experience with features like real-time streaming, responsive design, and extensive customization options. This platform is ideal for self-starters, developers, growing businesses, and large corporations looking for a robust and scalable solution for their community needs. It offers flexible deployment options, including open-source self-hosting, managed cloud hosting plans, and custom enterprise solutions. NodeBB aims to boost user engagement, provide a secure environment, and integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure through its API and various integrations.

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NodeBB Forum FAQ

What is NodeBB Forum?

NodeBB Forum is a modern, next-generation community forum software designed to help individuals, businesses, and organizations create and manage engaging online discussion platforms. It offers real-time features, mobile responsiveness, and extensive customization options.

How much does NodeBB Forum cost?

NodeBB Forum offers several pricing tiers for its managed hosting: Starter at $20/month, Hamlet at $100/month, Village at $250/month, and City at $750/month. Enterprise solutions are custom-quoted. The software is also available as open-source for free self-hosting under the GNU General Public License (GPLv3).

Is NodeBB Forum free?

Yes, NodeBB Forum can be used for free by self-hosting the open-source software on your own server. For their managed cloud hosting plans, they offer a 14-day free trial, though a credit card is required to start the trial. Special pricing and free hosting accounts are also available for non-profits, startups, and popular open-source projects.

Who is NodeBB Forum for?

NodeBB Forum is for anyone looking to build and manage an online community. This includes self-starters and developers who want to self-host, growing businesses and groups needing managed hosting, and large corporations requiring tailored enterprise solutions with custom integrations and support. It's also suitable for educational institutions and organizations prioritizing safety, security, and high user engagement.

Source: nodebb.org