Flarum vs vBulletin : Which is Better?

Flarum icon

Flarum

Flarum is the next-generation forum software that makes online discussion fun. Developed by Toby Zerner

License: Open Source

Categories: Development Social & Communications

Apps available for Self-Hosted PHP

VS
VS
vBulletin icon

vBulletin

vBulletin (vB) is an Internet forum software package written in PHP and uses a MySQL database server. Developed by Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.

License: Commercial

Categories: Social & Communications

Apps available for Mac OS X Windows Linux Android iPhone

Flarum VS vBulletin

vBulletin is a long-standing forum software with extensive features geared towards monetization and security but lacks a modern interface. In contrast, Flarum offers a contemporary, mobile-friendly experience focused on user engagement, though it may fall short in monetization capabilities.

Flarum

Pros:

  • Modern and user-friendly interface
  • Highly customizable and extendable
  • Mobile responsive design
  • Strong focus on user engagement
  • Active community-driven support
  • SEO-friendly out of the box
  • Lightweight and fast performance
  • Multi-language support
  • Frequent updates and improvements
  • Simplified installation process

Cons:

  • Limited monetization features
  • Fewer plugins/add-ons compared to older platforms
  • May have less robust user management features
  • Less established compared to vBulletin
  • Documentation is less comprehensive
  • Older community resources may be outdated
  • Some features may require additional extensions
  • Less support for analytics integration
  • May not be suitable for very large forums
  • Initial setup may require technical knowledge

vBulletin

Pros:

  • Established platform with a long history
  • Robust monetization options
  • Comprehensive user management features
  • Strong security features
  • Good performance and scalability
  • Wide range of plugins/add-ons available
  • Detailed documentation for users
  • Customizable themes
  • Active community support
  • Variety of content moderation tools

Cons:

  • Can be expensive due to licensing fees
  • Less modern user interface
  • Limited mobile responsiveness
  • Complex installation and maintenance
  • Less flexible in customization compared to newer platforms
  • Documentation can be overwhelming
  • Fewer updates compared to competitors
  • Limited community-driven development
  • Higher resource consumption
  • Less focus on user engagement tools

Compare Flarum

vs
bbPress vs Flarum
Compare bbPress and Flarum and decide which is most suitable for you.
vs
Discourse vs Flarum
Compare Discourse and Flarum and decide which is most suitable for you.
vs
FluxBB vs Flarum
Compare FluxBB and Flarum and decide which is most suitable for you.
vs
IP.Board vs Flarum
Compare IP.Board and Flarum and decide which is most suitable for you.
vs
MyBB vs Flarum
Compare MyBB and Flarum and decide which is most suitable for you.
vs
NodeBB vs Flarum
Compare NodeBB and Flarum and decide which is most suitable for you.
vs
phpBB vs Flarum
Compare phpBB and Flarum and decide which is most suitable for you.
vs
Simple Machines Forum vs Flarum
Compare Simple Machines Forum and Flarum and decide which is most suitable for you.
vs
Vanilla vs Flarum
Compare Vanilla and Flarum and decide which is most suitable for you.
vs
XenForo vs Flarum
Compare XenForo and Flarum and decide which is most suitable for you.