Where to start with a forum or community site and what should I expect it to cost? - eviltoast

I would like to create a site that that allows people to select a category and/or a sub-category and invite people to join and partake in something for a limited time period determined by the OP, but also allowing other users to suggest alternative options as a votable option.

I have no idea where to start with any of this.

Is it just forum software that I should be looking at, and could anyone recommend one if it is. Also how much should I be looking at to begin with?

EDIT - Thanks everyone, all good options to look at. I am going to try a Lemmy Sub, as that seems to be the most favoured answer by users. Hopefully I will get to grips with it. 🙂

  • RonSijm@programming.dev
    3·
    3 months ago

    I agree with @remotelove@lemmy.ca - since you "don’t know where to start“ - just start simple. Maybe lemmy will be fine for now.

    Otherwise, to at least pitch some alternative: you can Google for a vbulletin host. A lot of hosting providers offer a “managed vbulletin” solution. Meaning you don’t have to get a bare metal machine and don’t have to be bothered with installing all the software yourself.

    I don’t know if there are free solutions, but with a quick Google, it doesn’t seem like it’s more than a couple $ a month for a small server