I want to start a forum for a small Group, of course I'm cheap and it has to be free. Any recomdendations?

[donttouchmethere]

Hi LL ?

A Question for the IT specialists:

 

Just wanted to create a (free) little forum and I'm surprised that there are multiple choices online. After testing one or two providers I quickly recognized that there are great differences in quality.

I also now can say we get very spoiled with the quality of the Loverslab here ?

 

Alternatives to a forum I think about:

> Discord (safe? means other member might see where else you're registered)

> Telegram (too much personal data I guess)

 

I thought about longevity and the option that users that will join the forum don't need to give too many personal information.

Also important is that it is as invisible from the outside as possible, means only members can see what is going on in that forum.

 

Thanks for food for thought! ??️ ??

 

 

EDIT I:

Experiences with forum pages would help. ?

 

EDIT II:

Adds are okay! ?

 

EDIT III:

Yes, yes, me looking for the Egg-laying Wooly Pig ?‍♂️

Edited August 6, 2021 by donttouchmethere

[Ramses]

Like you said, there's a pile of free options. As for customizing invites and so on, you should be able to customize those settings, same for what is required at signup. Longevity? Only way to guarantee that is by shelling out for a paid host that does backups.

 

Edit: To add a couple of points, your main costs with any provider are going to be bandwidth and storage - in that order - higher to lower. Other things like support and server allocations (things like RAM, CPU cores, etc.) are also going to be a factor. $10/mo should get you a decent starter plan that would support 1-500 people.

Edited August 6, 2021 by Ramses

[Tiruil]

Only option I can think of, which is btw, free {with ads, unless you got adblock} asre two options outside of Discord

 

In this case, Probards, 100% free {including ad free} for the first 30 days of board creation, it includes full customising ability, and insane expandablity entirely 100% free, again the first 30 days thing is "Ad Free hosting" after the inital 30 days you can pay as low as 2.99 I believe, get a custom website address, 100% add free browsing, and again insane expandability.

 

But if you want t obe cheap, I'd personally go with free with ads. Proboards does not use intrusive ads

[donttouchmethere]

21 minutes ago, Ramses said:

Like you said, there's a pile of free options. As for customizing invites and so on, you should be able to customize those settings, same for what is required at signup. Longevity? Only way to guarantee that is by shelling out for a paid host that does backups.

Yes, that's why I try to reduce the possible options via experiences from users. I'm working on one atm, but I see some limitations. Might need to learn a bit more about html/css/php options.

 

I miss some options that are normal on LL, for example to post Code (without loosing all the formatting).

 

20 minutes ago, Tiruil said:

In this case, Probards, 100% free {including ad free} for the first 30 days of board creation, it includes full customising ability, and insane expandablity entirely 100% free, again the first 30 days thing is "Ad Free hosting" after the inital 30 days you can pay as low as 2.99 I believe, get a custom website address, 100% add free browsing, and again insane expandability.

 

But if you want t obe cheap, I'd personally go with free with ads. Proboards does not use intrusive ads

Hey thanks, I look into it.

 

I liked this one already:

 

Simple Admin Tools — With our super simple admin tools, managing a forum has never been easier! You'll like the clean organization of our easy to use admin area with clear language and a simple layout.

 ?

Edited August 6, 2021 by donttouchmethere

[̖̪.]

Uhh... srsl... u can buy hosting and its rly cheap...

When i was running my website i got 500GB Disc space, and unlimited transfer just for 50$ / Year 

 

Well for forum 500GB may not be enough... for example just look at me... who uploaded like few GB with my pictures and GIFs ( some of them are 50/100Mb each xD )

but u can always buy more space for some extra $$$... but its cheap AF anywaa :x... and u dont have to fuck with ADs etc.

 

 

I don't know any hosting that gives you it for free and WITH NO ADs... 

 remember that u make 0$ from those ADs... they can put as many ADs they want and they take all $$$ from that...

 

And if u pay those 50 or 100$ / year ( or more if u want more speed / disc etc. )

 if ur website become more active... u can make more $$$ from ADs

 

im 99% sure that LL makes more $$$ than they pay for running that Forum...

@Ashal How about u tell us how much $$$ LL makes? ( btw. im using ADBlocker xD but on Phone i dont have it... so sometimes i generate u money )

 

 

 

 

in my opinion there are only two options:

 

1) Paid option -> Pay for good Machine with no forced ADs

2) Free option -> Use Discord... 

 

 

 

Even small but very active Forum can make $$$ :x...

Edited August 6, 2021 by -̒̈́̕?̖̪̼?̒̈́̕??̒̈́̕?-

[donttouchmethere]

49 minutes ago, -̒̈́̕?̖̪̼?̒̈́̕??̒̈́̕?- said:

I don't know any hosting that gives you it for free and WITH NO ADs..

Adds are okay, users can decide for themselves if they use add-blockers.

 

49 minutes ago, -̒̈́̕?̖̪̼?̒̈́̕??̒̈́̕?- said:

2) Free option -> Use Discord... 

lol yes Discord seems pretty easy.

 

I'm experimenting around with a free forum (with a very very consequent "retro look") and discord.

Discord is also easier on the eyes.

 

Edited August 6, 2021 by donttouchmethere

[27X]

44 minutes ago, -̒̈́̕?̖̪̼?̒̈́̕??̒̈́̕?- said:

Uhh... srsl... u can buy hosting and its rly cheap...

When i was running my website i got 500GB Disc space, and unlimited transfer just for 50$ / Year 

 

Well for forum 500GB may not be enough... for example just look at me... who uploaded like few GB with my pictures and GIFs ( some of them are 50/100Mb each xD )

but u can always buy more space for some extra $$$... but its cheap AF anywaa :x... and u dont have to fuck with ADs etc.

 

 

I don't know any hosting that gives you it for free and WITH NO ADs... 

 remember that u make 0$ from those ADs... they can put as many ADs they want and they take all $$$ from that...

 

And if u pay those 50 or 100$ / year ( or more if u want more speed / disc etc. )

 if ur website become more active... u can make more $$$ from ADs

 

im 99% sure that LL makes more $$$ than they pay for running that Forum...

@Ashal How about u tell us how much $$$ LL makes? ( btw. im using ADBlocker xD but on Phone i dont have it... so sometimes i generate u money )

 

 

 

 

in my opinion there are only two options:

 

1) Paid option -> Pay for good Machine with no forced ADs

2) Free option -> Use Discord... 

 

 

 

Even small but very active Forum can make $$$ :x...

 

1. Please stop posting, ever.

2. Ashal has publicly stated the ballpark that LL takes in and requires.

3. See 1.

[jfraser]

at this point, i don't know why you wouldn't just use Discord. Super quick and easy to set up, full functionality even free, no ads. But ProBoards has been around forever and is very stable - there is one site i was on over a decade ago that no one ever visits anymore that is still chugging along. XD

[myuhinny]

You could also just make a club set it to closed club and only let in ones that you want in your club I believe no one can enter a closed club or see anything unless they are allowed into the club the only exception to that would be the site admin and moderators.

[donttouchmethere]

4 minutes ago, myuhinny said:

You could also just make a club set it to closed club and only let in ones that you want in your club I believe no one can enter a closed club or see anything unless they are allowed into the club the only exception to that would be the site admin and moderators.

*cough* hahaha that would be fun to bring Work colleagues to LL for a club.

Should I feel bad if I thought about that already ?

 

27 minutes ago, jfraser said:

at this point, i don't know why you wouldn't just use Discord.

I agree.

Still I have to learn a bit more about options to decide. I'm nearly clueless.

 

28 minutes ago, jfraser said:

here is one site i was on over a decade ago that no one ever visits anymore that is still chugging along. XD

lol yes I hoped for something like that.

I thought a forum would be great to keep contact over a longer time, while I learn something in the progress.

[worik]

8 hours ago, donttouchmethere said:

Also important is that it is as invisible from the outside as possible, means only members can see what is going on in that forum.

That's the most simple of all. ?

AFAIK, LL could go to that mode with a simple on/off tick in the configuration of the software.

 

8 hours ago, donttouchmethere said:

and the option that users that will join the forum don't need to give too many personal information.

That translates to setting up and operating your own server. Otherwise it's out of your control.

(and likely be made illegal at your location soon, unless you remember who to vote for in September and the years to come. And to tell as many others as possible about it)

 

My recommendation:

Set up a private club in LL, as long as it's topics are about the mission of LL.

AND if you're OK with your work collegegues to know what you do around here in your off-job time.

 

 

Your other choices:

Discord - If your topics drift away from LL's mission, why not. Though it's unguaranteed

Telegram - fails your concerns about privacy

[jfraser]

If this group is work related, LL is likely a poor choice. It is a "not safe for work" site, and that has never been more a propos than this discussion. XD

[donttouchmethere]

3 hours ago, jfraser said:

If this group is work related, LL is likely a poor choice. It is a "not safe for work" site, and that has never been more a propos than this discussion. XD

Would be a great conversation starter tho ?

Maybe a bit distracting or even disturbing ?

 

3 hours ago, worik said:

AND if you're OK with your work collegegues to know what you do around here in your off-job time.

NOOOO! ?

Although I'm sure they doubt I mod Skyrim fanatically just for the landscape ??

[donttouchmethere]

On 8/7/2021 at 7:58 AM, worik said:

Your other choices:

Discord - If your topics drift away from LL's mission, why not. Though it's unguaranteed

At least that explains why so many Mod Creators choose Discord for a place to feel home.

Edited August 8, 2021 by donttouchmethere

[Tiruil]

On 8/6/2021 at 6:13 PM, donttouchmethere said:

Hey thanks, I look into it.

 

I liked this one already:

 

Simple Admin Tools — With our super simple admin tools, managing a forum has never been easier! You'll like the clean organization of our easy to use admin area with clear language and a simple layout.

 ?

I am a Simple Lothcat, glad to be of help

 

Also post code, for example code brackets to reveal the coding, is in Proboards posts too just like here on LL