Vanilla Forums Hosting With 1-Click Installation
Build an active online community with Vanilla Forums Hosting from HostPapa. Vanilla is an open-source discussion platform designed to help communities grow, with a clean layout, flexible permissions, and search-friendly pages. Install it in a few clicks and open your forum to members today.- Fast Vanilla Performance on NVMe Storage
- Try Vanilla Hosting Risk-Free for 30 Days1
- 24/7 Support for Your Community
Plans as low as £2.95 per month2


COMMUNITY FORUM HOSTING
What Is Vanilla Forums?
Vanilla Forums is a PHP and MySQL discussion platform with an open-source edition you can host yourself. It takes a lighter approach than classic bulletin boards, with a simple layout that makes it easy for new members to read, post, and reply.
You can organize discussions into categories, set roles and permissions for members and moderators, and extend your forum with themes and add-ons. Vanilla works well for customer communities, product support forums, fan groups, and member networks that want a modern forum on their own domain.
GET YOUR FORUM ONLINE IN MINUTES
Why Choose HostPapa for Vanilla Forums Hosting?
HostPapa gives you everything you need to launch a Vanilla forum without piecing services together. Our Web Hosting plans include PHP, MySQL, cPanel, and 400+ one-click apps through Softaculous. A FREE SSL certificate protects member logins, and NVMe storage keeps threads and profiles loading fast.
A new forum starts small, and our Web Hosting plans are a good fit while your community grows. Each account runs on CloudLinux with its own CPU and memory allocation, so a busy neighbour on the same server won't slow your forum down. When you're hosting thousands of active members, lots of image uploads, or traffic spikes around launches and events, VPS Hosting gives you more RAM, more CPU cores, and full control over caching. Large communities can move up to a Dedicated Server.
Running Vanilla with another host? Our FREE website and domain migration means our team can help move your forum, members, and discussions.

Vanilla Hosting Plans
If for any reason you’re not satisfied with our services, you can cancel at any time in the first 30 days of signup to receive a full refund for the service.
Domain fees are non-refundable.

Need Help?
Having trouble installing Vanilla? Get 24/7 support from the PapaSquad by phone, live chat, and email.
Get Started In 4 Easy Steps
1-Click Vanilla Installation
Installing Vanilla on your HostPapa account is quick and beginner‑friendly. There’s no need to download files, create databases, or use FTP. The Softaculous app installer does the technical work for you in just a few clicks.
Open cPanel
Log in to your dashboard, then open cPanel for your account.
Find Vanilla
Search for Vanilla in the Softaculous app installer.
Click Install
Hit the "install" button to start the Vanilla installation process.
Follow the Prompts
Follow the instructions to finish your Vanilla installation.
Web Hosting Built for Vanilla Success
Launch Your Site Fast
Grow With Confidence
24/7 Expert Help
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
At HostPapa, we're so confident you'll love our services that we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you're not satisfied within your first 30 days with us, we'll make things right by giving you a full refund.1
We migrate your website & domain for Free.
(Yes, you read that right.)
Try our Web Hosting services risk-free for 30 days1. If you don't love us, we’ll let you return to your existing web host for Free!One Global Team
Need help?
The PapaSquad is here!
Can’t decide on the perfect domain name? Want to build an awesome website without breaking a sweat? Or maybe you need a hand configuring your business email? Whatever it is, our PapaSquad is always ready to save the day. So hit us up, and let us show you what we're made of!
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Join a chat help session in seconds.
Prefer emails and tickets? Works for us.
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We're not trying to brag (okay, maybe just a little), but with a 97% support satisfaction rate, we're basically the MVP of web hosting.
Frequently Asked Questions
All your questions in one place! Whether it’s helping you choose a domain name, walking you through our website builder, or configuring your cloud email system for your business, we’re here to help!
Still have questions?
Click below and directly reach one of our awesome support people.
Is Vanilla Forums Free?
Vanilla has a free, open-source edition that you can host yourself. That's the edition you install on HostPapa, so there's no licence fee to run your forum.
Can I Install Vanilla With One Click?
Yes. HostPapa includes 400+ one-click apps through Softaculous, and Vanilla can be installed in a few clicks from cPanel.
Can I Customize the Look of My Forum?
Yes. Vanilla supports themes and add-ons, so you can match your forum to your brand. You can also organize discussions into categories and set roles and permissions for members and moderators.
Will Other Sites on My Server Slow My Forum Down?
Each HostPapa Web Hosting account runs on CloudLinux with its own CPU and memory allocation, so a busy neighbour on the same server won't slow your forum down.
Which HostPapa Plan Should I Choose for Vanilla?
A Web Hosting plan is a good fit while your community grows. When you're hosting thousands of active members, lots of image uploads, or traffic spikes around events, choose VPS Hosting. Large communities can move up to a Dedicated Server.
Can HostPapa Move My Existing Forum?
Yes. Our FREE website and domain migration means our team can help move your forum, members, and discussions to HostPapa.