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. 🙂

  • Babalugats@lemmy.worldOP
    1·
    3 months ago

    Thanks, is it possible to create sub categories. I haven’t ever seen a mod api, I might try one out this evening. Thanks again.

    • remotelove@lemmy.ca
      1·
      3 months ago

      Well, you might need to do a bit of creative hacking with pinning/unpinning multiple posts. You would have a community with “sub categories” of a pinned posts. Each comment under that post could be voted on.