Can a new forum software still break into the market?

[Heatman]

Some of the biggest forum softwares out there which webmasters are using for their forums needs are MyBB, phpBB, XenForo and IPB. vBulletin doesn't seem like it's making any serious headlines which I don't think it's still being massively used.

With the big guns forum softwares in business, do you think there is room in the market for a new forum software to make a serious break in? How would the new forum software fare in face of tough competition from XenForo, WordPress, Invision and the rest?

 

[Tracy]

Paid, doubtful.
Free, if it offered many of the features that the paid does, possible.
But in the long run, the package would have to be a more fully encompassing package than just a forum. It would need to be more a community suite like Invision is trying to be. Our users have gone past the day of a forum being sufficient. On my site, the majority of the traffic is that which goes to my reviews, link directory, articles, gallery and resources. The actual forum is not that big of a draw.

 

[Ravenfreak]

Honestly I don't see a new forum software really going anywhere these days. Other than the big ones, I know of Fork BB which is a branch of the PunBB software being worked on by this guy named Visman. I think this might be the newest forum software I came across. https://forkbb.ru/

 

[Jason]

A new paid forum software might make big waves - only if it is significantly cheaper than the other brands. However, a software cheaper in price than Wolt Lab would have difficulty surviving I would think. I mean, developers gotta be paid.

As for free software, if one could be made like MyBB and have all of the free add-ons working well, then that would be an advantage. With MyBB, the MyAlerts system is too difficult to deal with, if it even works at all.

 

[Nomad]

If forum software incorporates the elements of social networking sites, including broadcasting content, I think a new forum software can survive. I think video and audio feature on forums will help forum sites grow well.