BuddyBoss – A Buddypress theme to create a social network website

Many people find it difficult to understand how BuddyBoss works and what it offers. You should understand that BuddyBoss works on the basis of BuddyPress and offers 2 different things:

• BuddyBoss theme
• BuddyBoss platform

The latter is free and actually contains BuddyPress + BBPress, so 2 plugins in 1, we see it in detail below.

To get to the point, the theme can only improve the look and feel of the BuddyBoss platform plugin and website performance. This allows the website to be updated, unlike other websites that use BuddyPress.

The theme also allows you to integrate various extensions beautifully. We look at them below.

LearnDash support

Convert your site to an LMS with the Learndash plugin. Users can pay for access to online courses, access to forums related to the courses. They can answer queries, submit assignments, obtain certificates. In addition, the integration is complete and allows the space “without distractions”.

You can offer access to the courses for free, with a single payment or subscription, via Strip or PayPal.

LearnDash is not free, it is compatible with the BuddyBoss mobile app and the prices/features are more interesting than LifterLMS, so I recommend you to use LearnDash.

LearnDash integrated with BuddyBoss :

LifterLMS Support

LifterLMS offers much the same as LearnDash and is integrated in the same way. It’s a matter of taste and color. The only differences are the ability to offer “private coaching”, it is prepared for affiliates with affiliated WP and it is much better for Quiz and Statistics. But then again, it is at least 5 times more expensive than LearnDash to have all the features.
You should also know that LifterLMS offers one add-on per feature. So if you buy your package for € 1000/year, you will easily come across 50 plugins installed on your site! And the fewer plugins installed, the better!

Lifter LMS integrated with BuddyBoss :

Buddyboss Mobile app

In 2021, it is practically important to have a mobile application for a large-scale project. It enhances the user experience and helps attract regular visitors. Please note that the mobile application offered by BuddyBoss is only compatible with LearnDash!

From what we have seen, they do not specifically announce prices for building mobile apps. Still, it will certainly be over $5 000. You can see all the app demos and even have the opportunity to try them.

Knowing that the site in mobile format is rather responsive, clear, and easy to use, you can use a Progressive Web APP system, such as Instantify.

BuddyBoss integrations

It is compatible with hundreds of different plugins and allows them to integrate perfectly with the theme. We have highlighted only the most interesting integrations.

Classified system

You can turn your social networking website into a small website, such as Facebook Marketplace. All you have to do is install the free plugin: Another WordPress Classifieds

Ecommerce

You can sell products with the Woocommerce plugin, it is built-in and works great.

Events

If you want to add an event system with calendars, ticket booking and integrate it into the news feed, it is possible with one of these 2 free plugins: Event Calendar or Event Manager.

Forms

You can use many plugins like Ninja Forms, WP Fluent Forms, and Gravity Forms.

Gamification

With Gamify, it is possible to reward users with points, rankings, badges or achievements. Gamify is a free plugin, learn more about Gamify integration.

Job Ads

Turn your social network into a free job site with the WP Job Manager plugin. Members can add vacancies and apply for the job.

Live chat

You can provide live chat functionality to your users with the iFlychat plugin. There is a free plan, you need to consider upgrading to a paid plan.

Membership

If you want to build a membership system to give premium members to your members or just to pay for access to your site, you need a membership system. You have the choice to use one of these plugins:

• Memberpress
• Restricted Content
• Paid Membership Pro
• Ultimate Membership Pro

Optimization

We recommend using the WPRocket plugin which is suitable for BuddyBoss and is one of the best cache plugins.

Page Builder

BuddyBoss has covered it, there are also the most popular page builders that are incredibly integrated. Here is a list of supported page builders:

• Divi
• Elementor
• Thrive Architect
• WP Bakery

If you do not know which one to choose, we recommend using the Elementor Plugin (free). You can even use Elementor for forum discussions or other purposes!

Project management

With the WP Project Manager plugin, you can set up a project management system. With the Premium version you can have all of the following features:

• Tasklist
• Milestone
• Messages
• Files
• Notifications
• Kanban Board for WordPress
• Gantt Chart for WordPress
• Time Tracker
• Customer Billing Invoice
• BuddyPress for WordPress
• SubTask for a simpler Task Management System
• WooCommerce Integration
• Slack Integration
• Project Management from Frontend

SEO Plugins

BuddyBoss has made an effort to integrate almost all plugins. But no, just kidding, because BuddyBoss is a fork of BuddyPress, it’s BuddyPress, we have to say thank you!
The supported plugins are:

• All in one SEO
• RankMath ❤
• SEOPress
• Yoast SEO

This plugin is a fork of BuddyPress and BBPress. Buddyboss somehow braided the 2 additions to 1 and improved their performance. So you can use this extension for free instead of BuddyPress keeping the same compatibility and functionality.

The Buddyboss platform is and will always be 100% free and open source under the GPLv2 license.

Buddyboss platform main features

Member profiles

Everything on a community website revolves around the members. Customize your community with fully editable profile fields that allow members to share details about themselves.

• Types of custom profiles: Each community is unique. You can create as many types of profiles as you want, name them, and set different rules and settings depending on the type of profile.
• Custom Profile Fields: Depending on the type of user, you can collect and display different information about your profile so that members can share details about themselves.
• Profile Rules and Permissions: Assign WordPress roles to different types of members. Limit members paying to the member list or give them additional profile fields.

Social Groups

The BuddyBoss platform allows members to organize in public, private or hidden social areas with separate activity channels and member lists.

• Group Type: Each community is unique. Create public, private or hidden groups and set different rules and settings depending on the type of group.
• Group Invitations: Allows all group members, organizers and/or moderators to invite other users to the group.
• Group Organizers, Moderators: Create organizers or moderators within a group to control who can edit the group, post-activity, or invite users.
• Group Activity: Allows all group members, organizers, and/or moderators to post to the group activity feed.

Forum Discussions

Create a discussion forum so that members of a group can communicate in a structured way, similar to a bulletin board.

• Group Forums: Each group can create its own discussion forum. Multiple groups can optionally be added to the same discussion forum.
• Smart Embeds: Allows users to automatically embed YouTube videos, Twitter tweets, Facebook posts and Instagram photos directly into topics and comments.

Connections with members

Let members make connections with each other and focus on those who are most important to them.

Private Messages

Allow members to send private messages. Messages can be sent to a member or a group of members.

User invitations

Allow members to send email invitations for non-members to join the network.

Notifications

Keep members informed of relevant activities with a toolbar bubble and/or via email and let them adjust their notification settings.

Network Search

Let members search the entire network, along with the custom post types they choose, all in a single search box.

• Activity feeds: Global, personal and group activity feeds with chain comments, direct posts, @mentions, #hashtags and email support.
• Global, personal and group feeds: Turn your groups into a two-way “wall” for a more interactive experience. Let your members write on each other’s walls and “like” each other’s posts.
• Multimedia publishing: allow your users to upload photos and organize them into albums, from their phones, tablets or laptops.
• @mentions: Users can @ge other registered users on the site. The named user will be notified of the post.
• Email Notifications: Edit and create email notifications such as posts and pages. The BuddyBoss platform has a customizable email API.

Albums and media

Members can upload photos, organize them into albums, and tag their friends.

Branded and custom emails

The BuddyBoss platform has a customizable email API. Customize and rename emails to suit your copy and design needs.

Private Community

Create a gated community by restricting access to the site to members who are logged in. The login and registration pages remain publicly visible.

Multilingual

Although the BuddyBoss platform is displayed in US English, the theme has the built-in ability to be used in any language by default.

RTL Support

Set up WordPress in a language from right to left and the BuddyBoss platform automatically switches to a beautiful RTL layout.

GDPR

It gives people more access and choice in how their own personal data is collected, used and shared with the built-in GDPR settings.

BuddyBoss vs BuddyPress

BuddyPress is a FREE WordPress plugin that gives you some social features like private messages, member profiles, groups, etc. BBPress is a FREE WordPress plugin that offers a forum system. Both are compatible.

Since this is open source, BuddyBoss created a branch of these two plugins to merge them into their BuddyBoss platform plugin. The plugin is free like Buddypress, but BuddyBoss has a WordPress theme which is the best current theme in BuddyPress, as well as the customer support that is needed if your website has a lot of traffic.

To be clear, the BuddyBoss offering includes the BuddyBoss theme with the “BuddyBoss Platform” plugin, which is free. However, there is 1 year of included updates plus 1 year of premium support. By getting customer support, you can avoid big problems if you have a website that generates a lot of money and visitors.

First of all, BuddyBoss looks really great, and it doesn’t look like any other suitable BuddyPress theme. It is definitely the most user-friendly experience and works similar to Facebook, making it easier for the user to get used to your site.

Plus, it’s relatively easy to set up, the performance is amazing, the site loads quickly, and everything works fine. You won’t be disappointed by BuddyBoss in any way, I guarantee you! In fact, it is surprising to be able to have such a site with WordPress.

Create an online community/social network

If you want to set up a social network, like Facebook for example, with the features described above, then BuddyBoss is for you!

Create an Online Course Platform

If you want to create an online course platform, with groups and forums dedicated to training, rewarding members with a gaming system, the BuddyBoss theme is the best choice you can make. We recommend using LearnDash, but it is possible to use LifterLMS.

Do not worry, it is possible to remove the functions of the social network and only offer one platform of online courses.

Creating a membership website

If you want to create a membership website, for example, to provide access to paid content or for a specific community (dating sites, niche sites), you can do this with BuddyBoss using membership plugins. You have several options depending on your needs.

Create an intranet website (for a company)

You can create an intranet for your company. Just tick a button and it will only allow the employees of your company to access the site.

Frequently Asked Questions

BuddyBoss – A Buddypress theme to create a social network website

• 1BuddyBoss Theme
• 2BuddyBoss Platform
• 3BuddyBoss Pricing
• 4Why BuddyBoss?

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