XenForo
English forum software sold as managed cloud with a choice of data centre, or as a $195 licence
Quick Overview
| Company | XenForo Limited |
|---|---|
| Category | Community Platform Software |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2010 |
| EU Presence | United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA) |
| Data Location | Cloud customers choose the data centre location; self-hosted runs wherever you install it |
| Open Source | No |
| Pricing | Cloud Starter $60/month, Standard $100/month, Business $250/month, Enterprise on request; optional branding removal +$30/month; self-hosted licence $195 with one year of support and updates; prices exclude VAT |
| Replaces | Discourse, Invision Community, Vanilla Forums |
Detailed Review
XenForo is forum and community software from XenForo Limited, a company registered at Companies House in England since June 2010 (company number 07294282). Its licence agreement is governed by English law. It sells a managed cloud service and a self-hosted licence, and its software suite includes a media gallery, a resource manager and enhanced search alongside the core forum.
Cloud plans are priced by page views and storage: Starter $60 a month for 400,000 page views and 50 GB, Standard $100 for 1 million and 100 GB, Business $250 for 4 million and 240 GB, and Enterprise on request. Removing the XenForo copyright costs $30 a month extra. All cloud plans let you choose the data centre location. A self-hosted licence is $195, with one year of support and updates and a paid extension after that. Prices exclude VAT.
The practical limits are currency and jurisdiction. It prices in US dollars, and as a UK company it sits outside the EEA under an adequacy decision. It is not open source, though the licence gives access to the source code. Compared with WoltLab it is dearer at entry level and more flexible about where the cloud runs.
What XenForo does well
- UK company with a Companies House entry and English governing law
- Choice of data centre location on every cloud plan
- Self-hosted licence at $195 with source code access
- Full suite including media gallery and resource manager
- Add-ons and a REST API for extension
Where XenForo falls short
- Priced in US dollars, with VAT added at checkout
- UK company, outside the EEA under an adequacy decision
- Not open source
- Ongoing support and updates after the first year need a paid extension
Standout feature. Cloud plans that let you pick the data centre, and a lifetime self-hosted licence for $195.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- UK company with a Companies House entry and English governing law
- Choice of data centre location on every cloud plan
- Self-hosted licence at $195 with source code access
- Full suite including media gallery and resource manager
- Add-ons and a REST API for extension
Cons
- Priced in US dollars, with VAT added at checkout
- UK company, outside the EEA under an adequacy decision
- Not open source
- Ongoing support and updates after the first year need a paid extension
Alternatives to XenForo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is XenForo?
XenForo is forum and community software from XenForo Limited, a company registered at Companies House in England since June 2010 (company number 07294282). Its licence agreement is governed by English law. It sells a managed cloud service and a self-hosted licence, and its software suite includes a media gallery, a resource manager and enhanced search alongside the core forum.
Where is XenForo based?
XenForo operates from London, United Kingdom, which places it under United Kingdom (adequacy decision, outside the EEA).
What does XenForo cost?
Cloud Starter $60/month, Standard $100/month, Business $250/month, Enterprise on request; optional branding removal +$30/month; self-hosted licence $195 with one year of support and updates; prices exclude VAT.
Who is XenForo best for?
Forum operators who want mature software and a choice of data centre. Cloud plans that let you pick the data centre, and a lifetime self-hosted licence for $195.
What are the drawbacks of XenForo?
Priced in US dollars, with VAT added at checkout. UK company, outside the EEA under an adequacy decision. Not open source. Ongoing support and updates after the first year need a paid extension.
Is XenForo a good alternative to Discourse?
XenForo is built as a European alternative to Discourse: English forum software sold as managed cloud with a choice of data centre, or as a $195 licence. It will not be a like-for-like feature match in every respect, so check the review above for where the two genuinely differ before switching.
How does XenForo compare to other Community Platform Software?
XenForo is one of several European Community Platform Software we cover. It is most often compared with Discourse, Invision Community, Vanilla Forums.