The Most Popular Discussion Forum, Ranked

Choose the discussion forum you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Apr 27, 2024 06:35
In the vast landscape of the internet, discussion forums serve as bustling hubs where ideas flourish and diverse communities come together. The sheer number of forums can, however, make it challenging for users to discern which ones are most valuable for their interests. A ranked list of popular forums provides a clear indicator of where engaging conversations and valuable content can be found, making it easier for users to connect with like-minded individuals. This ranking is not just a static snapshot; it is dynamically shaped by your contributions. By voting for your favorite forums, you help to paint a clearer picture of what spaces are currently resonating with people across the globe. Your active participation drives the update of this list, ensuring that it remains an accurate reflection of the community's preferences and interests.

What Is the Most Popular Discussion Forum?

  1. 1
    51
    votes
    With over 330 million active users, Reddit is one of the most popular discussion forums on the internet. It covers a wide range of topics, from news and politics to entertainment and technology.
    Reddit is a social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion platform. Registered members can submit content, such as text posts or direct links, and participate in discussions organized within topic-specific communities called "subreddits". Users can vote on posts to determine their position on the site's pages. It is known for its diverse user-generated content and wide range of topics.
    • Launch Date: June 23, 2005
    • Monthly Active Users: over 430 million
    • Daily Active Users: over 50 million
    • Registered Members: over 330 million
    • Average Daily Pageviews: over 21 billion
  2. 2
    22
    votes
    Quora is a knowledge-sharing platform where users can ask questions and get answers from experts and other users. It has over 300 million monthly active users and covers a wide range of topics.
    Quora is a popular discussion forum that allows users to ask questions, provide answers, and engage in meaningful conversations on a wide range of topics. It serves as a platform for knowledge-sharing and enables users to connect with experts and individuals who have firsthand experience in various fields.
    • Platform Type: Web-based, Mobile App
    • Founded: June 2009
    • Available Languages: Multiple, including English, Spanish, French, German, and more
    • Users: Over 300 million monthly active users (as of May 2021)
    • Question Topics: Vast range covering technology, business, science, lifestyle, and more
  3. 3
    23
    votes

    Stack Exchange

    Joel Spolsky and Jeff Atwood
    Stack Exchange is a network of Q&A sites where users can ask and answer questions on various topics. It has over 170 sites covering topics such as programming, gaming, and travel.
    Stack Exchange is a well-known network of question and answer websites covering a wide range of topics. It was initially created as a platform for programmers, but has expanded to include various domains of knowledge.
    • Number of sites: 175+
    • Registered users: approx. 15 million+
    • Questions asked: over 20 million+
    • Answers provided: over 40 million+
    • Page views per month: approx. 600 million+
  4. 4
    15
    votes
    4chan is an anonymous imageboard forum where users can post and discuss images and messages. It has a reputation for being controversial and has been linked to various internet subcultures.
    4chan is an anonymous image-based bulletin board where users can post and discuss various topics. It is known for its distinct culture and the freedom of speech it offers to its users.
    • Format: Imageboard
    • Launch Date: October 1, 2003
    • Anonymous Posting: Yes
    • Threads: Public and ephemeral
    • Image Support: Yes
  5. 5
    11
    votes
    Hacker News
    Cat Fortune · Public domain

    Hacker News

    Paul Graham
    Hacker News is a social news website focused on technology and startups. It is run by Y Combinator and has a community of tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs.
    Hacker News is a popular online discussion forum that focuses on technology-related news and topics. The forum provides a platform for community members to share and discuss innovative ideas, industry trends, and insider knowledge within the tech sphere.
    • Platform: Web
    • Number of users: Millions
    • Topics: Technology, startups, programming, science, design
    • Voting system: Users can upvote and downvote posts and comments
    • User-generated content: Users can submit links and create discussions
  6. 6
    14
    votes

    Something Awful

    Richard Kyanka
    Something Awful is a comedy website and discussion forum that covers a wide range of topics, from video games to politics. It has a reputation for its irreverent humor and has been influential in internet culture.
    Something Awful is a popular internet discussion forum that was created in 1999. It is known for its active user base and diverse range of discussion topics. The forum covers a wide array of subjects, including video games, politics, movies, music, and more. Users can contribute to discussions, share their opinions, and engage in debates with other members. Something Awful is known for its unique sense of humor and often features humorous and satirical content. The forum fosters a sense of community and has a dedicated following of users who frequently interact with one another.
    • Launch Date: 1999
    • Active User Base: High
    • Discussion Topics: Varied
    • Humor Style: Satirical
    • Community Engagement: High
  7. 7
    11
    votes
    NeoGAF is a gaming forum that covers news, reviews, and discussions on video games. It has a community of gamers and industry professionals and has been influential in gaming culture.
    NeoGAF is a popular online discussion forum that focuses on video games, gaming culture, and related topics. It serves as a platform for gamers and industry professionals to engage in discussions, share news, reviews, and opinions on various gaming-related subjects.
    • Launch Date: 1999
    • Active Users: Millions
    • Threads: Thousands
    • Posts: Millions
    • Categories: Wide range of gaming-related topics
  8. 8
    0
    votes
    GameFAQs is a gaming forum where users can ask and answer questions on video games. It has a community of gamers and has been a popular resource for gaming information since its inception in 1995.
    GameFAQs is a popular online discussion forum dedicated to video games, where users can find information, ask questions, and engage in discussions related to gaming. It serves as a platform for gamers to connect with each other and share their knowledge and experiences.
    • Domain: www.gamefaqs.com
    • Language: English
    • Registration: Required
    • Categories: Various gaming platforms and genres
    • User-generated content: Includes game FAQs, reviews, cheats, and discussions
  9. 9
    9
    votes

    IGN Boards

    IGN (Imagine Games Network)
    IGN Boards is a gaming forum that covers news, reviews, and discussions on video games. It has a community of gamers and has been a popular resource for gaming information since its inception in 1996.
    The IGN Boards is a popular online discussion forum that focuses on various gaming-related topics. It serves as a platform for gamers and enthusiasts to engage in conversations, share opinions, and seek advice. The forum provides a space for discussions on video games, consoles, PC gaming, industry news, and other gaming-related subjects.
    • User engagement: High
    • Community size: Large
    • Topics: Gaming
    • Subforums: Numerous
    • Moderation: Active
  10. 10
    5
    votes

    Digital Spy Forums

    Hachette Filipacchi UK Ltd.
    Digital Spy Forums is a discussion forum that covers a wide range of topics, from entertainment to current events. It has a community of users from the UK and has been a popular resource for UK news and culture.
    Digital Spy Forums is an online discussion forum that covers a wide range of topics including entertainment, television, movies, music, gaming, technology, and more. It serves as a platform for users to engage in conversations and share their opinions, news, and experiences with a large user base.
    • Established: 1999
    • Active Users: Over 1 million
    • Daily Posts: Thousands
    • Categories: 50+
    • Thread count: Millions

Missing your favorite discussion forum?

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Ranking factors for popular discussion forum

  1. User base
    The number of active users and members of the forum is crucial for determining its popularity. A larger user base generally indicates higher popularity.
  2. Engagement
    The level of user engagement can be measured by the number of new threads created, responses and comments on existing threads, and overall activity on the forum. A higher level of engagement suggests that the forum is more popular and thriving.
  3. Quality of content
    Forums that offer valuable, unique, and informative content tend to attract and retain users. The quality of discussions and posts can be an important factor in determining a forum's popularity.
  4. Moderation and community management
    A well-moderated forum ensures that discussions stay on track, and harmful or inappropriate content is removed. A forum with active and involved community managers may result in a more enjoyable experience, thus increasing its popularity.
  5. Niche and target audience
    Forums that cater to a specific niche or target audience are more likely to have dedicated and passionate users, contributing to their popularity. For instance, a forum dedicated to a specific hobby or interest may be more popular within that specific community.
  6. Reputation and trust
    Trust is an important factor in determining a forum's popularity. Users often rely on forums to ask questions and seek advice, so having a reputation for providing reliable information or trustworthy members can boost a forum's ranking.
  7. Search engine visibility
    A forum's visibility on search engines can impact its popularity. Higher search engine rankings can lead to more organic traffic and new users discovering the forum.
  8. Integration with social media
    Forums that allow users to easily share and connect with others through social media platforms can potentially boost their popularity.
  9. Personal recommendations and word of mouth
    A forum that is commonly recommended by users and mentioned in online or offline conversations can indicate its popularity and influence.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular discussion forum. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or forum is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 4051 views
  • 155 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each forum once every 24 hours. The rank of each forum is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular discussion forum

When it comes to online discussion forums, there are countless options available for users. From niche communities focused on specific interests to large-scale platforms with millions of members, there is no shortage of places to connect with others and share ideas. However, some forums have risen to the top of the popularity charts, drawing in massive audiences and boasting active communities. So, what is the most popular discussion forum? Let's take a closer look at some of the top contenders and what makes them stand out.

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