Title: bbPress vs. a Plugin?
Last modified: August 18, 2016

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# bbPress vs. a Plugin?

 *  [chgogrrl99](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chgogrrl99/)
 * (@chgogrrl99)
 * [18 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/bbpress-vs-a-plugin/)
 * Hi,
    Last night I did my first install of WordPress with a little help from the
   nice people hanging out in the Installation Forum – thanks again everybody. BTW,
   it took me a long time to do as I’m very new to mysql, php, ect.
 * Today, I’d like to add a forum. I’m very worried about screwing up my database
   or having to tinker with too many files. I’d like to add it now because I’ve 
   yet to start customizing my site (WP is my main page BTW)and figure I should 
   get all the things I want in there first, then go to work adding content ect.
 * I’ve read (or at least looked at the headlines for the first 100 post in these
   forums related to forums plugin).
 * **So, here’s my question:**I want a forum that will have about 10 or so categories
   listed under about five different cities. For instance: **Chicago** Jobs, Housing,
   For Sale, Events, ect.
    Of course I want people only to log in once and I understand
   that bbPress and some plugins can do that. It doesn’t have to be fancy or anything.
 * So, as a newb to using databases and php, should I choose a stand-alone like 
   bbPress or a plugin I just upload to Wp?
 * I’m asking you assuming you are much more experienced with these things than 
   I and will know which is better for someone at my level.
 * Thanks for reading this long post

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  [gfindlay](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gfindlay/)
 * (@gfindlay)
 * [18 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/bbpress-vs-a-plugin/#post-651881)
 * Try [Simple Forum](http://www.stuff.yellowswordfish.com/simple-forum/). It’ll
   do exactly what you’re asking for. I’ve been using it for months and its a breeze
   to operate.
 *  Thread Starter [chgogrrl99](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chgogrrl99/)
 * (@chgogrrl99)
 * [18 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/bbpress-vs-a-plugin/#post-651883)
 * Funny you should mention Simple Forum…I was just looking at it.
    Do you know 
   what the pro’s/con’s are of a stand-alone vs. a plugin?
 * Oh, and thanks for responding
 *  [gfindlay](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gfindlay/)
 * (@gfindlay)
 * [18 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/bbpress-vs-a-plugin/#post-651948)
 * The pro for a plugin is shared user registration – register once for both. With
   Simple, you can post a blog post and it can automatically create a forum discussion
   topic, if you wish.
 * With a stand alone package, you’d need a bridge/plugin to do the user sharing,
   if such a thing exists for your preferred forum s/ware and there aren’t too many
   that do – so chances are, if your users want a forum post, they’ll have to register
   separately.
 * To be honest, that’s basically it. Easier to manage a plugin than a completely
   separate application.
 *  [kineda](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kineda/)
 * (@kineda)
 * [18 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/bbpress-vs-a-plugin/#post-651951)
 * I’d go with bbPress which has far better integration and is very lightweight.
 * You can take a look at my blog here: [http://www.kineda.com](http://www.kineda.com)
   as well as forums: [http://www.kineda.com/forums](http://www.kineda.com/forums)
   which run off a single theme and registration system.
 *  [raptrex](https://wordpress.org/support/users/raptrex/)
 * (@raptrex)
 * [18 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/bbpress-vs-a-plugin/#post-651956)
 * however he barely knows php and mysql so go with the plugin
    you just have to
   upload it and activate it

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The topic ‘bbPress vs. a Plugin?’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [forum plugins](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/forum-plugins/)

 * 5 replies
 * 4 participants
 * Last reply from: [raptrex](https://wordpress.org/support/users/raptrex/)
 * Last activity: [18 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/bbpress-vs-a-plugin/#post-651956)
 * Status: not resolved

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