The forum without the ops
phpBB is powerful, but running it means managing servers, updates, and security. Forumera handles all that for you.
Focus on community, not infrastructure
Both platforms give you a full-featured forum. The difference is who manages the technical side.
About phpBB
phpBB is a free, open-source forum software that you install on your own server. It's highly customizable with thousands of extensions available.
Feature comparison
A side-by-side look at what each platform offers.
| Feature | Forumera | phpBB |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | 2 minutes, no technical skills | Requires server, PHP, MySQL setup |
| Hosting | Fully managed by us | You manage your own server |
| Maintenance | Automatic updates, zero effort | Manual updates required |
| Security | Managed security, SSL included | Your responsibility to patch |
| Design | Modern, clean, mobile-first | Traditional, customizable with themes |
| Total cost | Free tier, paid plans available | Free software + hosting costs |
Why choose hosted over self-hosted
Zero ops burden
No servers to provision, no software to install, no late-night emergency patches. We handle everything.
Always up to date
New features and security fixes deploy automatically. Your forum stays current without any effort.
Modern by default
A clean, fast experience out of the box. No hunting for themes or plugins to make it look modern.
Which should you choose?
Choose Forumera if…
You want to focus on your community, not server administration. You value simplicity and modern design. You prefer a managed solution with predictable costs.
Choose phpBB if…
You need maximum customization and control. You have technical resources to manage servers. You require specific phpBB extensions.