Setting up an online forum can be a great way to engage with your audience, build a community, and share information about your brand or interests. While there are numerous options available for paid bulletin board software, there are also several high-quality free options available as well.

Here are the 6 best free bulletin boards to set up your own forum:

1. phpBB

phpBB is a popular open-source bulletin board software that has been around since 2000. It is user-friendly, customizable, and has an active community of developers and users. The software is easy to install and offers a wide range of features, including forum hierarchies, user control panels, and moderation tools. phpBB also offers a variety of language packs, making it accessible to users around the world.

2. Discourse

Discourse is a modern, open-source forum software that is designed for the needs of modern online communities. It has a clean, intuitive interface and offers features such as real-time notifications, bookmarking, and social media integration. Discourse also has built-in moderation tools and a flexible permission system to help keep your forum safe and under control.

3. Flarum

Flarum is a free, open-source forum software that is designed to be fast, simple, and modern. It has a clean and flexible design that can be customized to fit your needs, and offers features such as tags, notifications, and real-time updates. Flarum also has a responsive design that works well on mobile devices, making it easy to access your forum from anywhere.

4. MyBB

MyBB is a free and open-source forum software that has been around since 2002. It is easy to use and offers a wide range of features, including user profiles, private messaging, and custom themes. MyBB also has a large community of developers and users, as well as a variety of plugins and add-ons to enhance its functionality.

5. Vanilla Forums

Vanilla Forums is a free and open-source forum software that is designed to be customizable and easy to use. It has a clean, modern interface and offers features such as gamification, social media integration, and custom branding. Vanilla Forums also offers a variety of plugins and themes to help you customize your forum and make it your own.

6. SMF

SMF, or Simple Machines Forum, is another popular free and open-source forum software that has been around since 2003. It has a simple and intuitive interface, and offers features such as user profiles, private messaging, and theme customization. SMF also has a large community of developers and users, as well as a wide range of plugins and add-ons to enhance its functionality.

In conclusion, setting up a forum is a great way to engage with your audience and build a community. While there are many paid options available, there are also several high-quality free bulletin board software options available. Consider your needs and choose the best one for you. Happy forum building!