We started off using BuddyBoss initially for the social networking features for our ELN because we liked the aesthetics better. But then we found out that the way that it structures the membership in the database was different than the BuddyPress standard, and so could not use some of the BuddyPress plugins. So, we are revisiting this question of the pros and cons of using BuddyBoss or BuddyPress for our social network.
We should also note that there are some alternatives besides just BuddyPress or BuddyBoss to provide social networking features. These include the following.
- WP User Manager – Has some features like profiles and groups but is focused mostly on membership management
- Youzify Plugin – Extends the base BuddyPress plugin and has free and premium versions
- Peepso – Free and premium plugins available. Includes groups, profiles, files. Comparable in features to BuddyBoss but no compatibility with BuddyPress.
For an ELN with full but appropriate social networking features, these options did not seem desirable.
There are numerous discussions on the web about the comparison between BuddyPress and BuddyBoss, including the following.
- reddit discussion – Explains how BuddyBoss has older versions of BuddyPress and bbPress
- YouTube discussion – Provides a short history behind BuddyPress and BuddyBoss
- WPTavern discussion – Comments from 2022 about the future of BuddyPress and its association to BuddyBoss.