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Head-to-head · Forum Software

XenForo vs Khoros Communities

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score XenForo #3 in Forum Software 9.0/10 Paid ✓ 1 of 2 features Visit XenForo
Khoros Communities #8 in Forum Software 8.2/10 Pricing on request ✓ 1 of 2 features Visit Khoros

XenForo leads on 0 checks, Khoros Communities on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreXenForo · 9.0/10

XenForo scores higher on our rubric for forum software: 9.0 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #8.

XenForo is the better fit for professional communities needing granular forum controls. Khoros Communities is the better fit for large organizations needing analytics-driven communities.

  • XenForo fits best

    Professional communities needing granular forum controls

  • Khoros Communities fits best

    Large organizations needing analytics-driven communities

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Side by side

Feature XenForo 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Khoros Communities 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.2
Ranking #3 in Forum Software #8 in Forum Software
Best for Professional communities needing granular forum controls Large organizations needing analytics-driven communities
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price — Pricing on request
Free plan — Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted, Browser extension Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Features XenForo 1/2 · Khoros Communities 1/2
Single sign-on Not checked yet Not checked yet
Custom domain ✓ ✓
Specs
Hosting model Not checked yet Not checked yet
Member limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Mobile apps Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Private areas with granular user and group permissions
  • Moderation queues, reports, inline tools, and bulk actions
  • REST API, add-ons, and custom styles support extensibility
  • Forums, blogs, and searchable knowledge bases support self-service.
  • Events, ideas, and groups organize participation and feedback.
  • AI moderation, dashboards, themes, and APIs enable customization.
Cons
  • No free plan; paid cloud tiers reduce appeal versus free options
  • Built-in statistics focus on event counts and graphs
  • Self-hosted support and updates beyond year one require an extension
  • Contact-sales pricing makes budget comparison less direct.
  • Zoom is available as an integration.
  • Enterprise breadth may exceed the needs of small communities.
Our verdict

XenForo is forum software for organizations hosting customer discussions, peer support, knowledge sharing, and user-generated content. It suits professional communities that need to organize public and private spaces and control…

Read the review →

Khoros Communities is an enterprise platform for brands and organizations that need branded spaces for customer or member engagement. It combines peer-to-peer forums, blogs, searchable knowledge bases, events, ideas, groups, analytics,…

Read the review →
  1. XenForoForum Software 9.0Paid
  2. Khoros CommunitiesForum Software 8.2Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • XenForo — where it wins

    • Private areas with granular user and group permissions
    • Moderation queues, reports, inline tools, and bulk actions
    • REST API, add-ons, and custom styles support extensibility

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan; paid cloud tiers reduce appeal versus free options
    • Built-in statistics focus on event counts and graphs
    • Self-hosted support and updates beyond year one require an extension

  • Khoros Communities — where it wins

    • Forums, blogs, and searchable knowledge bases support self-service.
    • Events, ideas, and groups organize participation and feedback.
    • AI moderation, dashboards, themes, and APIs enable customization.

    Where it doesn't

    • Contact-sales pricing makes budget comparison less direct.
    • Zoom is available as an integration.
    • Enterprise breadth may exceed the needs of small communities.
  • XenForo9.0/10 · Paid

    A configurable forum for professional communities, with extensive moderation and permission controls.

    Visit XenForoFull verdict →
  • Khoros Communities8.2/10 · Pricing on request

    A broad, API-ready community suite for organizations running large customer programs.

    Visit KhorosFull verdict →

More comparisons

All forum software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update