Premium forum software?

[Keranov]

Do you think the paid premium forum software like XenForo, IPB and other are necessary when starting out a new community in 2019?

I don't think that you necessary have to use a premium software when just starting a forum. Yes, it's great and overall better and will make your site look more professional which might make more users to join and post. But a free option like MyBB should be good enough at least in the beginning.

 

[Soulwatcher]

I know it's not necessary. even though I only use premium forum software. I have seen many free software forums look as good or better than premium forum software. To me, a forum skin says a thousand words and if I could I would pay for a custom skin for both of my forums. But I am on a fixed income and the best I can do is a $40 forum skin.

 

[Ravenfreak]

It's never necessary no matter the year you decide to start a forum! Sure premium forum software is great, and it comes with a bunch of amazing features out of the box but you can still have a great forum using free software too. I currently use both paid and free software for my two forums, I use Woltlab on one and Simple Machines on the other. I had to install extra plugins to get the same features that Woltlab had out of the box for my SMF, but it really wasn't too big of a deal. At the end of the day, in order to have a successful forum you need to add content, the actual software doesn't matter too much.

 

[Nomad]

I have never used premium software for myself so my answer is it is not necessary to use a premium software to start a forum. Free software, or let's say open source software, have everything you need to create a thriving community.

 

[Spartan]

Although there are some excellent paid options the free options available are incredible as well!

 

[Shortie]

Paid forum software is for sure not necessary when starting a forum but it is something you can work towards if your forum takes off and you see it being a success.

I would always suggest to someone who is starting a forum to start with free software first and then move up to paid if the forum starts to take off.