MyBB vs Lainchan
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted forums & community options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
| Feature | MyBB | Lainchan |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Forums & Community | Forums & Community |
| License | LGPL-3.0 | Tinyboard |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,232 | ★ 594 |
| First released | 2005 | 2014 |
| Replaces | vBulletin, phpBB | 4chan-style boards |
Why pick each one
Choose Lainchan if…
- Released under the Tinyboard license
- Written in JavaScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is MyBB or Lainchan better?
MyBB is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Lainchan if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are MyBB and Lainchan free and open-source?
Yes. MyBB is licensed under LGPL-3.0 and Lainchan under Tinyboard. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run MyBB and Lainchan with Docker?
MyBB: yes. Lainchan: check the project docs for container support.