<p>You could do it yourself (Craft is quite capable of it), but I wouldn't recommend it. It's a decent bit of work to do a forum properly, especially things like moderation, spam handling, etc. Instead, I'd use off-the-shelf forum software, and an SSO with Craft.</p>
<p>Vanilla Forums is one I've used successfully in the past, and I wrote a free plugin to do the SSO part of it: <a href="https://plugins.craftcms.com/vanillaforums?craft4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vanilla Forums</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-11-10T12:55:31.653Z
Thanks, it seems like I have to implement it as a custom plugin. The issue with Vanilla Forums that backend panel is not compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (when Craft CMS 4 is), which is in my case a requirement. Also it is better to have one admin panel for everything, and not additional one for forums.
Alex Kuzmin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-02-27T15:33:24.610Z
Is there meanwhile a better solution?
Dave Driesmans
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-11-09T17:24:36.610Z
2022-11-09T17:24:36.610Z
andrew.welch
<p>I'm currently develop a website using CraftCMS 4 and one part of it is forum, where users can ask and answer questions. What is the best way to create it? I've found a plugin &quot;Website Toolbox Forum&quot;, but it uses some third-party service which does not suit my requirements.
Frontend part is not a big deal, the main thing is how it should be managed on backend panel. I thought to use Structure Channel, and from the first view it looks appropriate, but has some stopping points:</p>
<ul>
<li>The first structure level should have only entry type &quot;Themes&quot;, and editing of this level should be blocked for non-admins</li>
<li>2 and 3 structure level should have only entry type &quot;Messages&quot; (2nd level are initial messages, and 3rd level are answers)</li>
<li>2 level can have 1000+ entries, so it should be paginated</li>
</ul>
<p>Is it possible to create such with native Craft functionality? Or I should use other way e.g. create own plugin/module? Thanks.</p>

<plugin-development>
Best way to create forum using CraftCMS 4
# Best way to create forum using CraftCMS 4

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-11-09)

I'm currently develop a website using CraftCMS 4 and one part of it is forum, where users can ask and answer questions. What is the best way to create it? I've found a plugin "Website Toolbox Forum", but it uses some third-party service which does not suit my requirements.
Frontend part is not a big deal, the main thing is how it should be managed on backend panel. I thought to use Structure Channel, and from the first view it looks appropriate, but has some stopping points:

* The first structure level should have only entry type "Themes", and editing of this level should be blocked for non-admins
* 2 and 3 structure level should have only entry type "Messages" (2nd level are initial messages, and 3rd level are answers)
* 2 level can have 1000+ entries, so it should be paginated

Is it possible to create such with native Craft functionality? Or I should use other way e.g. create own plugin/module? Thanks.

**Tags:** plugin-development

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-11-09. Score: 2

You could do it yourself (Craft is quite capable of it), but I wouldn't recommend it. It's a decent bit of work to do a forum properly, especially things like moderation, spam handling, etc. Instead, I'd use off-the-shelf forum software, and an SSO with Craft.

Vanilla Forums is one I've used successfully in the past, and I wrote a free plugin to do the SSO part of it: [Vanilla Forums](https://plugins.craftcms.com/vanillaforums?craft4)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks, it seems like I have to implement it as a custom plugin. The issue with Vanilla Forums that backend panel is not compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (when Craft CMS 4 is), which is in my case a requirement. Also it is better to have one admin panel for everything, and not additional one for forums.  
> **username_2**: Is there meanwhile a better solution?  

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