Why should I buy this?

[cherrysodastar]

So.. I have been looking around the forum here and I've seen some really nice themes created by people, but the pricetag is a bit intense.

I was hoping maybe some people could give me some reasons they decided to take the plunge and buy XenForo.

What was the deciding factor for you?

 

[Oblivion Knight]

I trust in the development team.

 

[amsaal]

what was my decision to make a forum was using those free one there was lots of issues with scripts and themes and by using xenforo now my forum is just doing what it should be. i am satisfied by my decision.

 

[KensonPlays]

You don't necessarily have to buy a new theme. I am using a copy of the default theme and I just changed the colors and the background image and stuff.

Another benefit of using the default theme with color changes? 99% of add-ons will work with it without any custom tweaks needed. That's one reason I do it.

 

[Davyc]

Quality, Quality, Quality

• Quality Software
• Quality Developers
• Quality Third Party Base

Quality always sells. Been using this software since 2011, tried all the others and some are not bad, some have horrible developers and some are not interested in the small people. But Xenforo always delivers, is solid and reliable, and is super easy to customise. It's the best of the best and I will always choose quality over substance - Xenforo has both!

 

[Paul B]

I believe they are referring to IPS.

 

[cherrysodastar]

Intense compared to what?

People invested in xenforo for different reasons - why have you got a forum? What are you looking for?

I understand people have different reasons, I'm asking what those reasons were.
I'm looking to understand what deciding factor caused people to buy this forum rather than using one of the free options like MyBB, SMF, etc. or even IPB, which does cost more but has more features.

I landed here on my path to find a nice theme for the board I'm setting up on MyBB, but it seems like all the ones I like are for this script. And they're not free, so on top of the $200 for Xen, it's $50 per theme.. the board is for a hobby, not a business.

 

[Paul B]

Yet it was worse when realizing certain members of this XF community were already well aware, deliberately concealing this—and then actively attempted to silence me after I found out the truth.

I would advise caution here, as not all is as is presented.

Can you provide some more details regarding this?

You can submit a ticket.

BTW, I have finally merged this account with your original one - we don't allow multiple accounts here.

 

[grabacontroller]

Xenfocus has themes that are 30 to 49 bucks. As long as Xenforo doesn't get rid of the resources area I'll be happy. Ipb got rid of the resources area and they charge $500. Vb is just greedy even though they lowered the license fee.

 

[Mr Lucky]

What was the deciding factor for you?

Apart from not getting on with the previous forum software I was using (vBulletin and IPS) (or is it IPB?) It was very much due to the fact that creating your own custom style was very easy - so not necessary to pay lots of money to a 3rd party off the peg style. So this kind of directly addresses your initial point about the cost of themes.

 

[Mark87]

So.. I have been looking around the forum here and I've seen some really nice themes created by people, but the pricetag is a bit intense.

I was hoping maybe some people could give me some reasons they decided to take the plunge and buy XenForo.

What was the deciding factor for you?

Honestly, I looked at all the options and Xenforo gave me the most bang for my buck. It's very flexible and if you work with the right developer like Pixel Exit you can get outstanding custom work done for a fair price.

While there are two other options close to xenforo caliber, they don't have the reputation of consistency that X has nor did their addons give me the features I needed. Two cents

 

[DohTheme]

xenForo software is great for many reasons you can find by some deep searching, comparing, and testing. As I get notified that you love one of our themes, so If you decide to choose xenForo and get a license I will give you that theme for free.

 

[DohTheme]

Are you for real?! I am so deeply in love with your Retro theme I can't even stand it. It's one of the main reasons I'm considering XenForo!

Yes it’s real, just DM me after you get your xenForo license.

 

[DohTheme]

i am your customer but did not got the free [Theme]

We had hundreds of customers who paid for this theme, some situations require special attention like this post.
We can make you happy by extending your license for 6 months more for free

 

[DohTheme]

your themes has made my forum so much better that my users love it. appreciate your dedicated work that has been done.

thank you for your kind words and your license has been extended.

 

[Forsaken]

that is kind of disingenuous.
when i was pricing both the full package of xenforo was
$195 + $60 + $70 + 70 = $395
renew = $100
ipb was $499
renew = $199
you get more with ipb like a calendar a social groups and something called pages that if you learn it you can create your own interface to relational databases that you create and something called commerce.
if you add paid plug ins from others to get the same ability in xenforo the price is very close if not better for ipb.
i went with xenforo because i got it and several plug ins for $25.
i was told to avoid vb like you would with the latter letter being two letters farther down the alphabet.

Pages are okay as a basic relational database, but it is not really worth using once you start needing to get complex.

Your argument about raising the price of XenForo is also quite disingenuous, because the value proposition of certain add-ons on XenForo offer better functionality than IPB. UBS is by far better than IP.Blogs; DragonByte Tech eCommerce is a better product than commerce, as it still offers physical goods; Ozzy's badge add-on is better than awards on IPB (and is free).

I cannot speak of current status of IPB, as I have not used them since they screwed me over on perpetual licenses, but generally XenForo has had a better value proposition for add-ons, and generally of higher quality.

I also have more trust in XenForo than I do with IPB, primarily because of choices and actions of IPB historically. Even though communication generally sucks, XenForo is more transparent about changes they are making whereas IPB will make decisions and do them without warning. Other than the occasional pushback from developers when people overstep (and Brogan who is the embodiment of sarcasm), the staff here are generally much better than on IPB.

You pick platforms on what the platform offers, and what you need. If you do not need things IPB has, XenForo is the better platform (especially if you're doing custom development). If you just need functionality IPB offers, then use IPB; if the features are available as add-ons on XF, and you can afford it, XF is still generally better.

 

[Paul B]

(and Brogan who is the embodiment of sarcasm)

I resemble that remark!

 

[Forsaken]

you supported exactly what i said and you even emphasized it with your you can afford it comment.
you can not say one is $xxx but indicate the other is cheaper.
the cheaper xenforo offering does not have what the more expensive ipb offering does.
apples and oranges so to say one costs a high number and indicate that the other is cheaper is not a fair comparison.
you took off on a tangent that was not being addressed about quality of what the program offers compared to outside programmers offering.
when you start looking at plug ins to give the same ability, the prices are nearer the same. there is no blog built into xenforo or available from them. there is no pages equivalent built in or available from xenforo.
i have had no first hand experience using ipb but know someone who did use 4.3 and they were fairly happy with the program but did state that xenforo had better plug ins to do what he wanted from xenaddons.
but those plug ins cost more than the time he invested in making a basic offering in pages.
no reference was made to quality of an outside plug in compared to what is built in.
with either program you want more you pay more.
all software offer basic offerings that outside plug ins can do better or improve upon.
ipb just bundles all of their stuff together and xenforo allows you to piece meal it.
xenforo is no different than ipb or any other script when it comes down to if you special ability you will need to pay more for it.
just look at how many plug ins are advertised to extend what is offered in basic program in xenforo.
my friend talked me out of spending the money in ipb.

anyone looking at them need to know what they want to do first.

You made a disingenuous argument to someone you called disingenuous; I responded with a breakdown of the two systems point out that your argument using value proposition was incorrect.

Maybe learn to read a whole post, rather than picking and choosing what you like .

That or do not calls someone disingenuous when you yourself are being disingenuous.

 

[Chris D]

Said person uses Tor Browser which, amongst other things, disguises the real IP address.

I'm sure he doesn't need to communicate with his friend that signing up with an alias to deliberately circumvent a ban does not help their case one iota. I'm sure they're aware of that. Some might even say that insulting our intelligence isn't a smart move either.

 

[Paul B]

next year

This year.

 

[Korsch]

I choose Xenforo because at the time I was looking for something with a responsive design, I’ve always been a fan of Bootstraps responsive design because it allowed you to build your site one way and be displayed on a wide range of devices. I couldn’t stand going to a vb forum and having to zoom in and out everywhere from a mobile device or being prompted to download some other app to use their forum. Xenforo alleviated this issue for me. The community here is another caveat to the license, lots of experience within the forum, it’s rare to have a thead post that goes unanswered which I enjoy.