Your dream XenForo

[alfaNova]

I've seen many users share ideas about features they wish XenForo offered by default—but often in unrelated threads, where those discussions end up getting locked for going off-topic.

So I thought it would be helpful to start a dedicated thread just for that.

If you could design your ideal version of XenForo, what would it include?
What default features do you think should be built in, and why would they make a difference?

Share your vision for the XenForo of your dreams — who knows, maybe the developers will consider it for future updates!

 

[alfaNova]

I think the real issue with forums today isn’t about missing features—it’s about how we present and position them to our users. Forums have stayed more or less the same for years, while user expectations have shifted dramatically thanks to social media.

What if we reimagined forums a bit? Imagine hiding traditional nodes and shifting more of the interaction to profile messages and user feeds. Suddenly, the forum starts to feel more like a modern social network. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing.

Social networks are popular for a reason—they’re easy to use, casual, fun, and built around shared interests. Forums were actually the foundation of that idea. Before social media, forums were the go-to place for communities to connect. The only difference is that social platforms evolved, and forums, for the most part, didn’t.

XenForo made a big step forward by introducing features like alerts, reactions, and a cleaner UI—things that vBulletin never quite nailed. That’s why so many communities made the switch. But the evolution can’t stop there.

If XenForo wants to stay ahead, it needs to lean even more into what makes social platforms successful:

Feeds that feel alive and dynamic

Easier ways for users to interact and follow each other

Smart ways to surface interesting content and drive discovery

We shouldn’t be afraid to learn from social media. It’s not about copying it—it’s about adapting to how people actually use the internet today. At the end of the day, it’s all about one thing: keeping communities active and connected.

If forums want to stay relevant, they need to evolve—not just technically, but conceptually. And XenForo has the tools and the potential to lead that change.