There are several different plugins for WordPress that one can use to create a message and discussion forums for community conversation. Also, plugins are useful to add functions and styling to these forums. The three plugins that will be discussed in this article are bbPress, BuddyPress, and WPForo.
bbPress
bbPress is a plugin that adds forum functions so the developer can create a forum on their WordPress site. The plugin lets the user create a full-featured forum either as an entire WordPress site or in small parts of the website. Some of the things bbPress can be used to build are a discussion forum, a message board, and a community forum. Since bbpress is a newer software, it is not clunky and does not take up several resources. It is an open-sourced and lightweight plug-in. This means that the plugin will not slow the functionality of your site. These features make it a preferred plugin to build forums on WordPress websites.
Other benefits are that the plugin is free and easy to use. This makes it an excellent plugin for inexperienced web developers. The plugin is also fully integrated with popular WordPress themes, making web design very simple. Also, because of the plugins' popularity, bbPress has a dedicated and knowledgeable support team that can assist with troubleshooting.
While it is simple to use, styling is not as customizable as more complex plugins. This makes a message board designed with this plugin look dull and simplistic. The default styling also looks dated when compared to more complex plugins. However, it is still a great plugin for new developers or websites that only need a basic forum.
Another common plugin users utilize in combination with bbPress is BuddyPress. A website developer can use one or the other, but it is best to use both bbPress and BuddyPress together to reap the benefits of both plugins.
Site: https://bbpress.org/
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BuddyPress
BuddyPress helps the user create social networking type of features. Along with creating a discussion forum, message board, and community forum with bbPress, BuddyPress can help create detailed member profiles. BuddyPress can also help the user send private messages, join groups, and receive notifications. These additional functions are very helpful in creating a community-focused WordPress website and are necessary to create a forum that is engaging.
BuddyPress themes are easy to use, as they are simply WordPress themes with additional templates. A developer can even make their own template if they have the knowledge of WordPress website development. If the developer does not want to make their own template, then there are BuddyPress specific themes that can be downloaded from wordpress.org. Or they can be downloaded from third-party sellers.
While BuddyPress is a popular plugin, there are some cons. WordPress developers cannot add photos, that requires a separate plugin. Also, a separate plugin is needed to follow users. Technical support is not as good for BuddyPress as it is for bbpress. Many BuddyPress users complain about the lack of support and long wait times to get questions answered. Although there are some cons, BuddyPress is still a great plugin to use with many great features.
Site: https://buddypress.org/
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WPForo
WPForo is the best WordPress plugin for forums. The plugin is equipped with both modern and responsive layouts and styles, plus it can be used in conjunction with other plugins like BuddyPress. With WPForo, the user can choose between four different forum designs and layouts, and six sets of color styles. This makes it easy to create a stylish, modern forum that is pleasing to the eye. Also with WPForo, the developer can integrate social network share buttons onto their forums. This increases engagement and makes it easier for users to share the web site's content with others. WPForo is also integrated with SEO, XML sitemaps, and specific cache features.
The biggest con of WPForo is that it is more complex to use in comparison to other plugins. Those WordPress developers that have less experience may find WPForo difficult to use, as it requires more in-depth knowledge of web development. Also, this plugin might be too complex if all that is needed is a simple discussion forum.
Site: https://wpforo.com/
Mywebforum
Mywebforum is the best cloud platform to build your own forum. Unfortunately, they do not have a plugin for wordpress but you can make it as subdomain for your website. For example you can absolutely free create a subdomain and connect with a platform. It's really simple: you can open website and select option "My own domain" and put in the domain field your subdomain name whatever you prefer more, for example it might be: forum.{yoursitename}.com.
Site: https://mywebforum.com/
