Flarum Hosting

Sign in using the initial administrator details provided in your pod’s post-install instructions. Immediately change the default account details and password, as PikaPods instructs. Then open the administration area to configure your forum’s name and community settings. See the Flarum project overview.

No. PikaPods sets up and runs Flarum for you, including OS and app updates and HTTPS. You won't touch Docker or a server. Your files and database stay accessible if you ever want to move them elsewhere.

Yes. Flarum has a responsive web interface designed for use across devices. Members can open your forum URL in their mobile browser; a separate native client is not required. The project overview describes its responsive design.

Flarum supports extensions, but check that an extension supports your installed major version and can be installed within your hosted environment before relying on it. Some third-party add-ons and external services may charge separately. The core repository explains the extension architecture; a pod does not automatically include every extension.

Set up incremental backups to S3 in your pod settings for automatic nightly snapshots, or download your files and database yourself. We keep whole-server backups for server failures, but they aren't a per-pod restore service, so your own backup is what protects your data.

You can use Flarum instead of XenForo and Invision Community. PikaPods runs it for you, and you can move your files and database elsewhere.

Both run a self-managed forum for your community. XenForo is commercial software you buy. Flarum is MIT licensed and keeps its core deliberately small, adding functions through extensions, some of which are paid. There's no direct import promised in its docs, so check for a migration path first if you already have a forum.

No. You add prepaid credit and your pods are billed by the hour from that balance, rounded up to full hours. There are no contracts or minimum terms: delete a pod anytime and billing stops. Optional automatic top-ups keep your pods running without manual payments.

You do. And you're in full control. If you ever want to download, migrate, edit or delete your data, just enable file and database access for your pod and it will be right there.