Compare
Forum hosting compared, honestly
There are two ways to get a forum online: a hosted forum service that runs it for you, or your own hosting where you install the software. Both are good at different things. These pages compare them fairly, with sources, so you can choose with your eyes open.
The three best-known free forum services, and your own hosting
| Feature | ProBoards | Forumotion | Create A Forum | Traxio.uk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Hosted service | Hosted service | Hosted service (SMF-based) | Your own hosting |
| Free? | Yes, with adverts | Yes, with adverts | Yes, with adverts | 30 days free, then £0.99/month |
| Ad-free | Paid, by pageviews | Paid option | From $7.99/month | Always |
| Own domain | $14/year to link | Paid package | Supported | Required (you bring it) |
| Software | ProBoards v5 | Forumotion platform | Extended SMF | MyBB, phpBB or SMF |
| Full data export | Business plans only | Not provided | Paid, non-standard | Yes, any time |
| Set-up | Seconds | Minutes | Minutes | An afternoon |
| Updates | Done for you | Done for you | Done for you | You apply them |
Read the full comparisons
Free or self-hosted?
The general trade-offs, real costs, and when each model makes sense.
ProBoards vs your own hosting
Adverts, domains, export and effort, compared fairly.
Forumotion vs your own hosting
Classic-style layouts on a hosted platform, or the real software.
Create A Forum vs your own hosting
Hosted SMF-based forums, or standard SMF you run yourself.
Moving from a hosted forum
What you can and can’t export, and a plan that keeps members together.
Choosing forum software
MyBB, phpBB or SMF: a comparison and a two-minute quiz.
How we compare
- Primary sources only: each provider’s own website, terms, help pages or staff statements, linked on every comparison.
- No invented figures: where a price isn’t published (for example traffic-based ad-free pricing), we say so rather than guess.
- Where they’re better, we say so. Permanently free hosting and zero set-up are real advantages, and each page lists them.
- Not affiliated: ProBoards, Forumotion and Create A Forum are trademarks of their respective owners. Traxio.uk isn’t connected with any of them.
- Corrections welcome: if something has changed, tell us and we’ll update the page.
Try your own forum, free for 30 days
The trial is the complete hosting account with no card required. Set up a real forum, invite a few people, and compare with experience rather than a table.
Start your forum free Plan my set-up
Free for 30 days with no card details required. Then £0.99/month if you choose to continue.