Source-backed analysis8
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
8 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 11, 2026
How we review
XenForo Review
Commercial forum software, one-time license or managed Cloud
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- Web
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
XenForo suits organisations that want their own forum, control of their data and deep customisation through add-ons and the REST API. The trade-off is that self-hosting needs a server and an administrator, while Cloud plans are priced by page views.
Best for: Sites and brands that want a self-owned forum and control of their data
Skip it if: People who want a free community or do not want to handle hosting and maintenance
Pros
- One-time $195 self-hosted license with lifetime use and no monthly fee
- Offers both a self-hosted license and a fully managed Cloud service; annual Cloud billing saves 10%
- Extensible through add-ons and a REST API; XenForo says its community has released over 1,000 add-ons
Cons
- No free plan; the cheapest Cloud plan is $60/month and removing branding adds $30/month
- Self-hosted licenses include only the first year of support and updates; renewal is paid
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
More pros
- Version 2.3 added dark-mode style variants, OAuth2 SSO and passkey support
More cons
- Frequent security releases (four between July 2025 and September 2026) that self-hosters must apply themselves
- Trustpilot score of 3.3/5 from 139 reviews, with some reviewers complaining about support and migrations
Best for
- Teams with PHP developers who want to build add-ons or integrate via the API
Experience & key features
XenForo is commercial forum software developed by XenForo Ltd. According to Wikipedia, a public beta came out in October 2010 and the first stable release, 1.0, followed on 8 March 2011. Its original developers were Kier Darby and Mike Sullivan, both former vBulletin lead developers.
The software comprises the core forum plus three first-party add-ons: Media Gallery, Resource Manager and Enhanced Search. The homepage lists push notifications, reactions, granular permissions, control-panel theming and a REST API. Version 2.3 (July 2024) added dark-mode style variants, OAuth2 SSO and passkeys.
The self-hosted license costs $195 one-time (plus VAT for UK and EU customers) and includes one year of support and updates. Managed Cloud plans are $60 (Starter), $100 (Standard) and $250 (Business) per month, or $648, $1,080 and $2,700 a year, a 10% saving. Plans are capped by page views and storage; Enterprise is quoted individually.
XenForo fits organisations that need their own forum and can accept license or subscription costs. Those who only need a small, free community may look at open-source options such as phpBB or Discourse. When comparing prices, note that both the Cloud plans and the self-hosted license target organisations, and self-hosted server and maintenance costs sit outside the license price.
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 11, 2026
Self-hosted license
BusinessContact sales
$195 one-time license; VAT is added for UK and EU customers. Software only; you provide the hosting. Lifetime use with one year of support and updates, after which a one-year extension must be purchased. Discount for multiple licenses.
Cloud Starter
Business$60/mo
$54/mo billed yearly
$60/month, or $648/year ($54/month). 400K monthly page views, 50GB storage, unlimited members and staff, daily backups, choice of data center. Removing the XenForo copyright costs an extra $30/month or $360/year.
Cloud Standard
Business$100/mo
$90/mo billed yearly
$100/month, or $1,080/year ($90/month). 1M monthly page views, 100GB storage, unlimited members, choice of data center.
Cloud Business
Business$250/mo
$225/mo billed yearly
$250/month, or $2,700/year ($225/month). 4M monthly page views, 240GB storage, priority support.
Cloud Enterprise
BusinessContact sales
Contact for pricing. 5M+ monthly page views, unlimited storage, live online support, migration and import service.
- Free plan limits
- No free plan; an admin demo is available to try.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
The pricing page only states that self-hosted software can be downloaded immediately if you waive your right to cancel; to keep that right you must wait until the cancellation period ends. No separate refund policy for Cloud plans was found.
Privacy
XenForo Limited's policy says it collects name, address, email, phone, payment information and the domain where the software is installed, plus IP address and browsing data on xenforo.com. It states it will not sell, distribute or lease personal information without permission unless required by law. With the self-hosted license, community data stays on your own infrastructure.
XenForo alternatives
Controversies & incidents
Issues documented by the press, regulators, courts or the vendor itself. Every item is sourced; unproven claims are labelled as allegations. Last researched: Nov 11, 2026
- Medium impactResolvedSecurity ·
Security fixes for all versions from 2.2.0 to 2.3.12
On 7 September 2026 XenForo released security fixes for all versions from 2.2.0 to 2.3.12 and Media Gallery, alongside version 2.3.13. It is one of several security releases across 2025 and 2026.
Read the full account
XenForo's official announcements list releases with security fixes on 15 July 2025 (2.3.7), 5 February 2026 (2.3.9), 6 March 2026 (2.3.10) and 7 September 2026 (2.3.13), plus a cumulative security update on 9 September 2026. The individual patch notes block automated access, so AppDuo does not state the severity of each vulnerability. No related data breach has been announced by XenForo. Self-hosted customers must install the updates themselves.
Vendor response
XenForo published the fixes through the Announcements forum on its community site.
Sources:XenForo community: AnnouncementsXenForo homepage (recent highlights)
- Low impactResolvedLawsuit ·
Internet Brands sued the XenForo developers
In 2010 Internet Brands, owner of vBulletin, sued XenForo's founders in the UK and then in the US. The parties settled in 2013 and both suits were withdrawn.
Read the full account
According to The Register, vBulletin filed the UK suit a day before XenForo's planned beta, naming Kier Darby, Mike Sullivan, Ashley Busby and XenForo, and alleging copyright infringement, breach of contract and unfair business practices. Per Wikipedia, Internet Brands also sued in a California federal court in November 2010, alleging Darby had not returned confidential vBulletin information. The XenForo team denied the claims; Darby had said XenForo was built from scratch on the Zend framework. On 28 February 2013 XenForo announced a confidential settlement, Internet Brands withdrew both suits, and valid license holders received 255 extra days of support.
Vendor response
The XenForo team denied the claims and later announced a settlement.
Sources:The Register: vBulletin sues ex-employees (2010)Wikipedia: XenForo
Frequently asked questions
Is XenForo free?
No. The self-hosted license is $195 one-time and Cloud starts at $60/month ($54/month billed annually). An admin demo is available.
Do I pay yearly after buying a license?
The license is for lifetime use but includes one year of support and updates. After that, a one-year extension must be purchased to keep receiving them.
Can XenForo be extended?
Yes. It supports add-ons and a REST API, and the homepage says the community has released over 1,000 add-ons.
Review evidence & sources8
Scores
- Ease of use
- 6.5
- Features
- 8.0
- Value for money
- 7.0
- Performance
- 7.5
- Support
- 6.5
- Privacy & security
- 7.0
Why this score
Self-hosting needs a PHP server and manual upgrades; Cloud takes much of that work off your hands. The software ships in English only, with other languages installed separately. An admin manual and a demo help with onboarding.
Why this score
Includes forums, Media Gallery, Resource Manager, Enhanced Search, push notifications, reactions, granular permissions, a REST API and an add-on system.
Why this score
A one-time $195 license is reasonable for self-hosters, though support renewal is extra. Cloud is priced by page views and starts at $54/month on annual billing, which is costly for small sites.
Why this score
XenForo says Enhanced Search stays fast with many millions of posts, and lists AnandTech, IGN, MSI and Future Plc among its clients. No independent benchmark was reviewed.
Why this score
Offers community forums, a manual, developer docs and ticket support for customers with an active license or Cloud subscription; self-hosters lose ticket access after year one unless they renew. Trustpilot sits at 3.3/5, with some complaints about slow responses.
Why this score
Self-hosting keeps data on your own server and the policy says personal data is not sold. XenForo shipped several security releases in 2025–2026, though, so self-hosters must update promptly.
What users say
- Trustpilot3.3/5 · 139
Sources
- Vendor-providedXenForo pricing and licensesNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedXenForo homepageNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedXenForo privacy policyNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedXenForo help pageNov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedXenForo community: AnnouncementsNov 11, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: XenForoNov 11, 2026
- review-siteTrustpilot: XenForo reviewsNov 11, 2026
- pressThe Register: vBulletin sues ex-employees (2010)Nov 11, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- XenForo Ltd.
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Launched
- 2011
- Category
- Community
Capabilities
- Self-hostable
- Public API
- Integrations
- Real-time collaboration
Platforms
- Web
Interface languages
- English
Integrations
- REST API
- Add-ons
- OAuth2 SSO
Support
- Community forum
- Help center
Change history
- Update.XenForo 2.3.13 released along with security fixes for versions 2.2.0 to 2.3.12.
- Feature.XenForo 2.3 ships with dark-mode style variants, OAuth2 SSO and passkey support.
- Feature.XenForo 2.2 adds a Progressive Web App plus question, suggestion and article thread types.
Full change history (8)
- Feature.XenForo 2.1 adds push notifications, emoji reactions and the REST API.
- Feature.XenForo 2.0 released with a new interface and emoji support.
- Company.XenForo announces a settlement; Internet Brands withdraws both lawsuits.
- Launch.XenForo 1.0 stable is released.
- Launch.XenForo's first public beta is released.
About the author
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