What is your favorite ad-supported forum software?

[Jason]

Do you feel any of it is the best? How do you compare them? Well, there is ProBoards and Jcink. Does anyone know of more of them?

 

[Cory]

I suppose Jcink would be my default answer since it's one of the very few forum software I use and that I currently use.

 

[Ravenfreak]

Forumotion has ads as well, but I have to say Jcink is my favorite of the main ad-supported free hosts. Proboards isn't too bad either, though you're stuck on their platform with no choice to self host.

 

[Arantor]

There are definitely others - SMF has a few (SMF4Free, CreateAForum) - but I'd never actually use any of them because I'd much rather be in control of the data and know that things like backups are my responsibility; I want my data where I can get at it.

 

[Tracy]

I have to agree with @Arantor... I have NO desire to use a platform that decides to punish any possible users of mine with ads.... I run my site (and pay a chunk out of pocket) because I don't like ads... and several of the others in my niche either have ads or they are supported by a related business.
I prefer to be in total control of the platform and the environment.

 

[Shortie]

When it comes to ad-supported forum software I would have to say that Jcink is definitely the one that I prefer over them all.

Jcink has so much to offer for a free forum option that is ad-supported.

 

[Tracy]

Jcink has so much to offer for a free forum option that is ad-supported.

And the ads are the issue for myself and others.
In my time on the interwebz (remember, I started out in the BBS era)... I honestly can say I've gone to a "Jcink" related site exactly.... zero times.
Same with ProBoards... I've never hit a site hosted by them.
I prefer to hit sites that folks are at least willing to expend some financial investment into.
I have found that a couple of astronomy clubs host their discussion sites on ProBoards... but honestly after checking just now... the interface sucks salty male under hanging appendages.

 

[Jason]

Forumotion has caught my eye. I like phpBB anyway. However, Forumotion also uses other software too. You can pick what you like.

 

[Cory]

I prefer to hit sites that folks are at least willing to expend some financial investment into.

What is the reason behind this, out of curiosity? Some people are poor or find better things to spend their finances on but can still create successful forums with free software.

 

[Tracy]

What is the reason behind this, out of curiosity? Some people are poor or find better things to spend their finances on but can still create successful forums with free software.

Generally there are more "options" available from them (dedicated classifieds section, gallery, articles, etc).
Also, generally those that are willing to sink funds into a project have more interest in it than something that only costs them "time"...
Way to many of those "spin up for free" forums are a waste of time. I look at them the similar as I do with Reddit.... way too much chaff to filter through to get to any "wheat".

I can see their use if one has an interest but does not have the funds to get hosting and free scripts or even paid... but as I said, there are simply too many "junk" sites hosted on them... get mad because you got banned on a site? Go spin a free competitor up on "free ad-supported provider".

 

[Cory]

Also, generally those that are willing to sink funds into a project have more interest in it than something that only costs them "time"...

That makes sense. I mean, people that really pursue their hobbies will often find themselves so invested in them that they're willing to spend money on them.

There might be a lot of "junk"/unsuccessful forums on free forum software sites, but I think there are still a handful of ones that are successful through commitment and dedication. You can turn an empty lot into a beautiful home, just like you can create a "web space" for a functional forum, whether free or paid. A lot of people look down on free forum software, but if it has all of the features and utilities you need for a forum you envision, why would you spend the money when you don't necessarily need to?

 

[Arantor]

Note that “free forum software” and “free forum hosting” are far from 100% overlaps.

 

[Jason]

Back in the early 00s I used free web hosting but only for a static site. I had primitive guitar lessons on them. It was fun but it could have been done better

 

[vbgamer45]

I run createaforum.com which based on a modified SMF 2.0 and have some other forum hosting sites. Myself been in forum hosting since phpBB2 since 2005..
We do have social logins, allow custom domains and have a lot of main mods built in

Gallery is free, SEO urls, responsive theme, tapatalk support, portal ssytem.
Paid plans have Classifieds, Store, Downloads system, chat system, Ad Management. Which are also part of my paid addons for SMF https://www.smfhacks.com/community-suite.php

Demo forum: https://demoforum.createaforum.com

 

[Arantor]

And for many they’re a sensible offering. I’d rather people use your service which is sensibly run, than badly do it themselves. It’s not for me personally, but I have recommended people there over the years.

 

[vbgamer45]

Thanks I appreciate it. I am one of the few that didn't sell out when tapatalk came buying a lot of the forum hosting sites and before them crowdgather. They closed many platforms and combined services, lots of old history lost. I did meet with the old owner of proboards, and crowdgather at forumcon years ago by me.
Forum hosting isn't what It used to be but I keep it going. Mainly myself on reddit mostly just browsing seems to have filled the forum role.

 

[Tracy]

I think there are still a handful of ones that are successful through commitment and dedication

And I don't deny that... but ergo my "sifting through the chaff for the wheat" comment.

 

[Jason]

It's tough for a lot of niche forums to make it in this group as well as other groups. It's simply a challenge to find people knowledgeable in the niche.