Has anyone here ever explored WoltLab Suite as an alternative platform for your community? If not, you might be missing out! Personally, I think WoltLab Suite is an underrated gem in the world of community software. It offers some really cool features that make setting up and running a forum very easy. I think compared to 2023, they've made some great improvements. What's also obvious to me is that their plugin store offers some awesome themes and plugins.

 

Alexander: It's much different to what competitors have to offer because we process all payments and thoroughly review every plugin and every update.

 

I've had a good talk with one of the developers, Alexander and it's clear to me that they certainly put their customers on the highest priority. Their development rate is great, even though there's only 3 developers.

 

 

Here are a few highlights:

 

• Seamless Customization: The theme customization tools are top-notch! It’s incredibly user-friendly to tweak and adjust the look and feel of your site without the need to be a developer.
  
• Built-In Apps: WoltLab Suite comes with modules like forums, blogs, galleries, and calendars.
  
• Performance: The software is lightweight and runs smoothly, which is a huge plus if you’re focused on providing a fast, hassle-free experience for your users.
  

[HEADING=2]Pricing[/HEADING]

WoltLab Suite is priced competitively imo, with the Core license starting at €129.99 and add-ons like the gallery module costing €74.99. While the costs can add up depending on the modules you choose, the value you get for the price is hard to beat. €429.95 for all add-ons: Forum, Gallery, Calendar, Filebase, and Blog.

[HEADING=2][/HEADING]

Some questions:

• Have you used WoltLab Suite for your community? If so, what was your experience like?
  
• How do you think WoltLab compares to other platforms like XenForo or Invision Community?
  
• What’s your favorite feature of WoltLab Suite?
  
• Considering a switch?: What features would convince you to give WoltLab a try?
  

I have to say, WoltLab Suite really nails (theme) customization and ease of setup. These are areas where I feel XenForo could learn a thing or two. What’s your take on it? Let’s discuss!

https://www.woltlab.com/

I bought a license when I had Admin Talk. I would install forum software so the users could play around with it. Sort of try before you buy. I had Burning Board and all the modules installed. Most that asked for admin access liked it. Some said it wasn't easy to work with. Others said it was too easy.

 

I had a site on it for a while. Never got much more into it. It is good.

Hmmm, been wondering if I should maybe give my Woltlab licence a spin.

 

I’ve been putting off the community I planned to start under an auspice of “organising my articles and other stuff” but I suspect if I don’t start I won’t ever actually get going.

 

It’d be interesting to actually properly try WBB since I only encountered once in the wild and it was such a poor fit for the community in question (not WBB’s fault - going from a heavily customised SMF to a lightly customised WBB was not good for that community)

I always thought the admin panel was a little cartoonish. It had a weird feel and look to it. Unlike other software which looks more professional. Maybe it's me.

 

It did work well. Everything in the admin was well organized. The look was off.

I always thought the admin panel was a little cartoonish. It had a weird feel and look to it. Unlike other software which looks more professional. Maybe it's me.

 

It did work well. Everything in the admin was well organized. The look was off.

Considering what SMF 2.1’s admin home looks like, I’m in no state whatsoever to complain.

I had looked into WoltLab before but, I was already fully invested in with XF and IC. On the whole ecosystem looks quite nice and is a bit cheaper for the self-hosted and even for the cloud hosted options as well.

It would be a killer deal for someone not wanting a blog or gallery. I mean, to get the forum alone for XenForo, you're dishing out nearly $200.

I do not think it is as simple as just looking at the price tag.

I do not think it is as simple as just looking at the price tag.

That would be the case when considering you're not getting a blog or gallery for the starting price.

That would be the case when considering you're not getting a blog or gallery for the starting price.

No. Trying to compare XF to WBB is a fair comparison - no blog or gallery by default. But if your only criteria is the price tag, you will surely find yourself disappointed without looking at the entire package and making a decision about the totality of functionality.

No. Trying to compare XF to WBB is a fair comparison - no blog or gallery by default. But if your only criteria is the price tag, you will surely find yourself disappointed without looking at the entire package and making a decision about the totality of functionality.

What are some other things to look at, in more detail?

There's the different functionality between the two, which is a long and detailed breakdown; functionality that matters to you can be investigated by either platform's free demo.

 

But it's the less obviously tangible things. One must consider the costs of renewals - XF lets you lapse for a bit between renewals, WBB has the ability to lapse the licence and not permit a renewal if lapsed too long.

 

Then there is the small matter of the plugin and theme ecosystem. I don't think anyone is going to suggest that WBB's ecosystem is competitive with XF's on any criteria. It's present, it has a lot of interesting options, but the sheer scale of choice available for XF is simply that much larger.

 

I will point out that WBB comes with a CMS out of the box but you may well find it far more limiting than helpful.

I really enjoy Woltlab Suite. Out of all the different software I've used throughout the years I have to say the theme editor is the easiest one I've used. As someone who's a complete noob when it comes to the design aspect, it's nice having a system that guides you through what exactly each part of the theme you're editing in real time. The support is okay, it's much better now than it was when it was first hitting the scene at least for English speaking customers since it's a German company.