NodeBB

NodeBB is forum software built on Node.js in which posts, notifications, and chats arrive over websockets in real time instead of waiting for a page reload. It adds a plugin system covering everything from single sign-on and reputation to analytics, along with themes, a moderation dashboard, groups, and private conversations.

Teams use it for community platforms, support forums, and internal discussion where fast interaction and straightforward horizontal scaling fit their existing Node infrastructure.

Running it yourself avoids per-post or per-member billing and keeps the member database on infrastructure you administer and can back up at any time.