# phpFox Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Is phpFox the right Social Networking solution for you? Explore 73 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/105408/phpFox/reviews --- phpFox 4.6 (73) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/105408/phpFox/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated June 3rd, 2026 # Reviews of phpFox Ease of use 4.5 Customer Service 4.5 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews PW Patti W Office ManagerIndividual & Family Services, 501 - 1,000 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “MetaFox is completely customizable, so we were able to pay for necessary changes to make the platform work best for our community.“ June 23, 2026 SC Sanjit C Technical HeadMarketing and Advertising, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “Can be slow and buggy at times but I guess, it's normal for software with so many moving parts and customizability.“ May 25, 2021 MR Mark R Web DeveloperOnline Media, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “The software is fully responsive and includes a PWA and most of the features you would expect from a social media script, the only thing missing at the moment is Reels and they are very open to new feature requests, but as this script is relatively new I'm sure they will be adding Reels soon.“ July 4, 2025 SR Stuart R Infrastructure EngineerInformation Technology and Services, Self-employedUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “However over the last couple of years I feel the product and the team behind it seem to be on a more consistent footing and have been positively moving version 5 forward both technically and with more accessible pricing. After I previously let the annual support fee lapse for a period, I renewed last year and intend to keep supporting this as I have a new site in mind to use it for.“ July 10, 2025 PJ Philip J System AdministratorEntertainment, Self-employedUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “I would encourage the team to continue to focus on making the features more intuitive for the end user to use and flexible for the admin to manage.“ February 27, 2026 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 73 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Pham Van D. CEO Food & Beverages Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "My journey to find a platform for my community" April 16, 2026 5.0 MetaFox is stable, inexpensive, and has good support. Many features are very practical for real-world use. Pros Five years ago, I searched for and experimented with many different applications, including those designed using WordPress. I even hired experts on Fiverr, Upwork, or external IT professionals to design my dream community website… But none of them worked. The reasons included the complex technical requirements; the need for significant resources to maintain the system; the high initial costs, often starting at $5,000 for a website that was even considered acceptable; then there were annual license fees, monthly support fees for experts… This was incredibly difficult for a new entrepreneur. And I failed countless times. I lost a tremendous amount of money each time I failed. I went from enthusiastic to unsuccessful until I found the phpFox platform, and now MetaFox, about 5 months ago. After experiencing it, I've placed my complete trust in this platform because of the following advantages: - Stable system; - Reasonable initial cost; - Enthusiastic support from MetaFox experts; - Easy customization; - Easy upgrade of service packages; - Stable server. Cons My requests for MetaFox: - Integrate CDN into the server service package; - Add localized payment applications; - Add applications that can support integration with payment gateways in different countries. Switched from [BuddyBoss](https://www.capterra.com/p/274849/BuddyBoss/) Buddyboss needs to use too many plugins. Review Source Response from phpFox LLC April 20, 2026 Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us — we truly appreciate your trust. It means a lot to hear that phpFox has been able to provide a more stable, accessible, and supportive solution for you. We’re glad to be part of your journey, and we hope phpFox will continue to accompany you in your upcoming successes as your community grows. 🙌 PJ Philip J. System Administrator Entertainment Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Social Network Software That's Feature Rich, Intuitive, Responsive and Looks Amazing" February 27, 2026 5.0 Over the last 2 years my overall experience has been very positive. There are some features I would like to see and I've provided feedback to try and promote these features which has been positively received. I would encourage the team to continue to focus on making the features more intuitive for the end user to use and flexible for the admin to manage. Continue to improve ability for admin to manage the site via the back-end admin dashboard and the frontend website (as a member themselves) with some cross-functional admin abilities on the front-end and back-end. Keep up the excellent work. Pros I've been using phpFox for over 2 years. The software updates are regular which help keep the site secure and up-to-date and the supportive team are very helpful. The platform is feature rich and continues to fulfill a lot of my members needs. Keep up the excellent work. Cons The ChatPlus add-on App has a lot of potential and features that are missing or not yet fully enabled for site admins to implement on their sites. For example, the ability for all members to see a list all other members that are currently online at any one time (currently members can only see their friends who are online). In addition, Admin/Member created chat rooms are not easy for other members to locate (members need to search for the room by name); and video/voice chat does not include the ability for users to write text in a message box while sharing their webcam. Alternatives considered [HumHub](https://www.capterra.com/p/198087/HumHub/) Reason for choosing phpFox HumHub did not have the administrative controls I was looking for in a social networking website. Switched from [UNA](https://www.capterra.com/p/129372/Dolphin/) UNA did not have the end-user features I was looking for in a social networking website. Review Source Response from phpFox LLC April 20, 2026 Thank you for your thoughtful feedback and for being with us over the past two years — it really means a lot. We’re glad to hear your overall experience has been positive, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to share feature suggestions. Thanks again for your support, and we’ll keep working to make phpFox even better. PW Patti W. Office Manager Individual & Family Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Excellent platform at an excellent price" June 23, 2026 5.0 We needed a private social network to replace Workplace when that was discontinued by Meta and looked at dozens of platforms. MetaFox provides all the features we need for a great price - groups, chats, photo/video sharing, event invites, audio/video group chat, polls, buying/selling, etc. Pros phpFox support staff respond fast to questions and solve issues very quickly. MetaFox is completely customizable, so we were able to pay for necessary changes to make the platform work best for our community. Similar platforms cost literally 10x the price of MetaFox. Cons Not enough instructional guides explaining how to set up the system and adjust settings, but the support staff would always explain things thoroughly when I messaged them. As a non-technical person, there is a lot to learn about setting up an app in the app store/play store, paying for a separate email service, using html code, etc. Alternatives considered [Zoho Social](https://www.capterra.com/p/159351/Zoho-Social/)[heartbeat](https://www.capterra.com/p/181309/heartbeat/)[Staffbase](https://www.capterra.com/p/141371/Eyo-EmployeeApp/)[Discord](https://www.capterra.com/p/240238/Discord/)[WhatsApp](https://www.capterra.com/p/180345/WhatsApp/) Reason for choosing phpFox It has all the features we need for a good price. We needed a private social network and most other platforms are set up for employers or product advertising. Switched from [Workplace from Meta](https://www.capterra.com/p/168669/Workplace/) Workplace was discontinued and we needed a private social platform. Review Source PT Penny T. CEO E-Learning Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Use caution with your wallet if you invest in PhpFox" August 7, 2021 3.0 It has been a very rocky road with phpFox. Just when you get your site running well there will be an update that messes with everything. You will need your own team of developers that will be cheaper in the long run. Pros If you need a social platform up and running quickly it can be done with PhpFox... but it will cost you $$$ Cons It is ALWAYS buggy, server resource heavy, and will always conflict with the 3rd party addons. Every update will cause site and server issues. It is very expensive to maintain and expand if there is a need for more features. PhpFox and 3rd party addon developers will always need access to your admin site panel and cPanel because more than likely no matter how experienced of a developer you might be, you will need their help. PhpFox customer service is very expensive and very unpredictable. Alternatives considered [mooSocial](https://www.capterra.com/p/139254/mooSocial/) Reason for choosing phpFox I thought this product had more to offer than the other products I have tried but in the end, they will all need a lot more development to customize. Review Source MR Mark R. Web Developer Online Media Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Review Of phpFox/MetaFox" July 4, 2025 5.0 I have been using phpFox/MetaFox, there new social media script for some time now. I've tried other social media community scripts, wasted money and been very disappointed but this one is by far the best and most professional. The software is fully responsive and includes a PWA and most of the features you would expect from a social media script, the only thing missing at the moment is Reels and they are very open to new feature requests, but as this script is relatively new I'm sure they will be adding Reels soon. There are also extra Apps/Plugins to extend your site so you can really customize it to meet your needs. Updates are around every month with new features and bug fixes. It also has a very comprehensive AdminCP to control all aspects of the site. The support team are excellent, helpful and prompt, when I first installed MetaFox on my site I found a couple of bugs but they where soon rectified and included in the next updates. They also have a very good community forum for help, tips and support and tutorials, although the tutorials could be better and more comprehensive. Overall MetaFox gives you a robust and trustworthy product that you can really work with and would I recommend it to anyone wishing to start up their own social community. Excellent! :) Pros Good solid reliable script with most of the features you would expect from a social media script and great support. Cons Could do with the addition of Reels and the documentation could be more comprehensive with more examples. Alternatives considered [Sprout Social](https://www.capterra.com/p/121447/Sprout-Social/) Reason for choosing phpFox More features and a far more professional script. Review Source Response from phpFox LLC July 8, 2025 Thank you so much for your incredible review and continued trust in phpFox! We're thrilled to hear that you find the platform reliable, feature-rich, and professionally built. Your feedback on Reels and documentation is much appreciated and already noted by our product team—we’re committed to continuous improvement and your input truly helps shape our roadmap. We're grateful for your recommendation and proud to support you in building your community. Thanks again for being part of the phpFox family! SN Stephan N. Owner Online Media Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A Solid and Modern Social Platform with Great Potential" July 10, 2025 5.0 After using phpFox for over two years, I've found it to be a stable and evolving platform that offers great flexibility for building a social networking site. The modern tech stack makes development and customization easier, and the team continues to release meaningful updates. While there’s room for improvement in feature parity and community support, the product has a strong foundation and is moving in the right direction. Pros What I like most about phpFox (Metafox) is its modern architecture — it's built using Laravel and React, which makes it powerful, flexible, and developer-friendly. The platform is actively maintained, with frequent updates that continue to improve performance, usability, and features. It's a great foundation for building a custom social network with real potential. Cons Some features you'd expect from a mainstream social network like Facebook are still missing. For example, there's currently no native support for managing multiple profiles or logging in as a Page to send/receive messages. Additionally, while support is responsive through official channels, the community forum could benefit from more active engagement from the phpFox team. Alternatives considered [UNA](https://www.capterra.com/p/129372/Dolphin/) Reason for choosing phpFox Metafox seems to have much more active development. Switched from [SocialEngine](https://www.capterra.com/p/80406/SocialEngine/) Lack of development from SocialEngine side. Review Source Response from phpFox LLC July 11, 2025 Thank you so much for your thoughtful review and continued support over the past two years! We're glad to hear that you value phpFox’s modern architecture and flexibility. Your feedback on the development experience and overall platform stability is truly appreciated. We also recognize your input regarding advanced features and community engagement, and it’s helpful for us to better understand what matters most to our users. Thank you again for being part of the phpFox community! DP Dustin P. Owner Entertainment Used the software for: 2+ years ### "An Affordable Social Site" July 8, 2025 5.0 I have been a phpfox customer for many years, they are always improving and working hard to deliver a functional social platform. I'm excited to see what the future holds for them. Pros At this price range, it's hard to beat everything phpfox has to offer & their support is rock solid. My social site is just a hobby but it would not be possible without phpfox! Cons Getting the white label app into the Play Store was a struggle but that's not phpfox's fault, it is however the most aggervating thing I have done for my social site so far, just wanted others to know what to expect when getting your own apps. Alternatives considered [BuddyPress](https://www.capterra.com/p/129371/BuddyPress/)[BuddyBoss](https://www.capterra.com/p/274849/BuddyBoss/) Reason for choosing phpFox The features and functions had a much better feel to them and worked together in a way that was really pleasing. Switched from [PHP Fusion](https://www.capterra.com/p/207789/PHP-Fusion/) phpfox has so many more features and great support! Review Source Response from phpFox LLC July 11, 2025 Thank you so much for your kind words and continued support over the years! We're thrilled to hear that phpFox has played a role in helping you bring your hobby project to life. We truly appreciate your feedback on the app publishing experience—it’s a common challenge and one we’re always looking to make smoother for our users. Your enthusiasm and trust in our platform mean a lot, and we’re excited to keep delivering features and improvements to support your community journey. Thanks again for being part of the phpFox family! OR Oliver R. Business Mentor for christian Entrepreneurs Professional Training & Coaching Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Phpfox is the go-to platform if you want to have your own social media platform." July 1, 2025 5.0 Overall, I am very satisfied with the platform and find the price-performance ratio to be very fair and reasonable. The similarity to Facebook in particular makes the user experience very easy, which is also reflected in the interaction rates, which are above average compared to other self-hosted social media platforms. Pros I have been working with phpFox since 2023 and the collaboration couldn't be better. The platform runs very smoothly on phpFox's own servers and any errors are resolved very quickly by the support team. Cons The setup takes a little time and you need some patience until the many settings options fit your use case. Alternatives considered [Circle](https://www.capterra.com/p/10002260/Circle/) Reason for choosing phpFox The similarity to Facebook and the ability to customize the platform to my needs were the deciding factors. Review Source Response from phpFox LLC July 2, 2025 Thank you so much for your thoughtful review and for being part of the phpFox community since 2023! We’re thrilled to hear that you’re satisfied with the platform’s performance and customization options, and we truly appreciate your kind words about our support team. It’s great to know that the familiar user experience and flexibility are helping your community thrive. We’re grateful for your trust in phpFox and look forward to continuing to support your success! AF Amber F. Owner, and all executive offices Entertainment Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Glad I chose phpFOX!" July 1, 2025 4.0 I'm glad I chose phpFox because they have a great product that is always evolving. The staff is kind and patient and takes my requests and concerns seriously. I'm hungry for more reporting options, features, and flexibility in customizing the mobile app and happy that the company is always listening to feedback. Pros This is a very good product with lots of features and many customization options. This is a big point of difference from other companies with this product/service. The staff is always very patient with me. They also release updates and new features regularly. Cons I'd love if the company could have longer working hours so turn-around time is faster. More detailed reporting for admins would be helpful. It would be great if the 3rd party apps that integrate with the browser version could also work in some capacity on the native mobile app. Sometimes I run into a limitation and custom work is cost prohibitive for my small budget (although probably charging a reasonable rate). Review Source Response from phpFox LLC July 2, 2025 Thank you so much for your detailed and kind review! We’re grateful you chose phpFox and delighted to hear you appreciate the platform’s features, customization options, and our team’s commitment to supporting you. Your feedback on reporting, mobile app flexibility, and turnaround times is invaluable—we take it seriously as we continue to improve. Thank you for being part of the phpFox community and for sharing your experience with us. We look forward to growing together! SR Stuart R. Infrastructure Engineer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Teaching an old fox new tricks" July 10, 2025 4.0 I've been using phpFox/Metafox since 2011 and there have been ups and downs along the way. However over the last couple of years I feel the product and the team behind it seem to be on a more consistent footing and have been positively moving version 5 forward both technically and with more accessible pricing. After I previously let the annual support fee lapse for a period, I renewed last year and intend to keep supporting this as I have a new site in mind to use it for. Pros It offers a lot of functionality for creating sites tailored to different audiences. It has matured into a stable platform and I find the look clean and familiar. The more recent addition of docker builds makes it straight forward to deploy and the availability of source code is reassuring. Cons As with any piece of software that has evolved over a long period, there is a learning curve to familiarise yourself with, both with planning the functionality and fine tuning the underlying infrastructure. At times I feel the performance could be a little snappier, but been adequate for my use so far. One area I feel is missing for a modern web platform is automation triggers inbound and outbound, either by web hooks, and API or to services like zappier etc to facilitate integrations with other platforms and SaaS tools. Review Source Response from phpFox LLC July 14, 2025 Thank you so much for your thoughtful review and for being with us since 2011! We're truly grateful for your continued support and feedback over the years. It's great to hear that you find phpFox both stable and flexible for your needs, and we appreciate your insights on deployment, performance, and integration possibilities. Your perspective is incredibly valuable to us, and we're glad to have you as part of the phpFox community as you continue your journey with the platform. ON Obinna N. CEO Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Great Social Platform" September 10, 2024 5.0 I am satisfied with phpFox. The company has been around for some years and I believe they are understanding more of the desires of individuals seeking its services. Pros Helpful team from and great product. I have been using phpfox for a while now used to build my niche social networking community. Cons PhpFox is a good platform but requires some modification for a personalized social network. Review Source IS Ivascenko S. Engineer Internet Used the software for: 2+ years ### "PHPFOX is the best platform for creating a social network!" November 12, 2018 5.0 I can only add that PHPFOX is the best solution for me and the users of my site. I have been engaged in website building for many years at the dawn of the Internet, but I have not yet met the best social platform, like PHPFOX. I would like to wish PHPFOX developers not to stop at an achievement, but to constantly improve - after all, you are the best! Pros For several years I have remained a supporter of PHPFOX due to its scalability, social orientation, mobility and a large number of apps and software attached to it. All social solutions and functions for communication and content sharing are in the wonderful PHPFOX platform and there is no alternative to it on the Internet - people like to be on websites created with PHPFOX and they are delighted with it! Most of all I like the reliability and quality of PHPFOX - the developments of this platform does not stand still and all the time looking for ways to improve it. The presence of a large number of apps allow site administrators to choose the software products that people like most. High-quality technical support and excellent customer service, social orientation and scalability of the platform, a large number of apps make PHPFOX the best software product for creating social networks and social websites! Cons I like PHPFOX and I don’t see big drawbacks - otherwise I would look for other solutions for creating a social site, but there is no alternative to PHPFOX on the Internet. Review Source WS Waldemar S. User Publishing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Everything you need for a Social Network" August 18, 2022 5.0 Customer service is very good if you pay for support, the team works very fast except on weekends. Pros The software has everything you need to create a social network. You can start basic with a few features and progress as the community grows. In addition, the mobile application is excellent, very modern, and is at the level of any other social network. Cons It would be nice if the mobile app can be customizable by third party developers. Review Source EP Edens P. Owner Online Media Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Good product! Good customer support" January 14, 2020 5.0 Pros Well, I like the whole software in general. phpFox was not the first software I tried, but so far I think I'll keep it for a long period of time. Their support team is really great. They've assisted me in so many ways and I'm thankful for them. Cons I don't like the fact when you uninstall third party plugins, all their settings and database details still stay on your server. phpFox needs to work on that. Give an option to either delete or keep some details. Reason for choosing phpFox I was looking for a better product, I've found phpFox so I chose them over the other's. Review Source AJ Awodola J. Electrical Engineer Entertainment Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Phpfox site useability " March 10, 2022 5.0 Very Good Pros User friendly, can be customized . I has a lot of features Cons There should be URL for Egift. which is being developed Review Source RC René C. User Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Good support" June 15, 2022 4.0 Pros Over the last years, I have and get always good support. Another point why I like phpfox is that when you come to the homepage of your site it is well-organized and clear for visitors. Cons Not really A cons, but it takes more than 1 oure to learn phpfox, you need to understand that, but for me I like this system Review Source MC Michael C. Technical Project Manager Computer Software Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Social Media Site--Many features at a suprising value. " November 16, 2022 5.0 The technical support team always responds faster than I expect them to. And, they always seem to be able to provide an answer for my questions. Pros There are many settings which provide a detailed level of control over the features and appearance of the site. Cons The same thing I liked about. There are so many settings regarding features and appearance, it took me a while to understand them all. While they have a fair amount of documentation, the details are a little vague in certain places. However, it seems I can always find an answer either in the documentation, the support forums or by reaching out to technical support. Reason for choosing phpFox HumHub seemed technically sound, but they had a pretty slim feature set compared to PHPFox. Review Source AB Allan B. Director Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Best Social Network Script in Building Online Community" August 2, 2017 5.0 There are lots of benefits I got from this software. But the most important thing is I would be able to earn money on my site and continue earning up to date. Pros Efficient Support. Easy management settings in the backend. Amazing layout of the apps. I've been using this for more than a year now and I must say that this product will be the next great platform online. I would definitely recommend this software especially to none-tech-savvy people like me. Cons Limited Support during the weekend. Aside from that I don't have anymore to say as this software is doing great. Review Source sS shashank S. manager Entertainment Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great script" March 31, 2018 4.0 Pros So many features, so many developers to enhance.because the script is years old and constatntly being updated Cons Bugs i was facing, but now they are almost gone. Features I needed and bugs I was facing, I paid so much to developers and they got included everytime by phpfox after that. So I was in loss. Review Source CJ Charles J. CEO Online Media Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Support Staff was VERY Helpful!" January 8, 2019 5.0 I was having some issues with understanding the hosting process and my ignorance of the issue almost caused a serious mess. Team with the hosting support staff was very helpful, timely and courteous in not only assisting me but eventually resolving the problem entirely. I would highly recommend their support staff to assist you with any issue you may encounter. Cheers! Pros I came here just to describe the experience as listed below. Review Source AR Alexander R. Founder & Director of Serkyeler.com Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Great Social Network " September 15, 2016 5.0 Great customer support. They answered all my questions in timely manner and fixed all of my issues with my Site. Pros It is a user friendly, easy to manage website, and the platform's flexibility is great! I can always add or install plugins and modules anytime from AdminCP. Cons I have no comment on this section. Review Source ER Elden R. Founder & President Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "WhyNotOK" December 1, 2019 4.0 Pros I love the fact that everything is so customizable. The support from phpfox is amazing and the apps from the store is everything I need for my platform. Cons I would say I wish there was support on the weekends when I do need assistance but other than that everything is great. Reason for choosing phpFox At this stage of my business phpfox was the most affordable and had everything I needed as far as the support, apps, and best hosting solution! Review Source KD Kodzo D. Creative Web Developer E-Learning Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Great Team" May 25, 2021 4.0 Pros Cost effective way to start your online community. It has also has features that make it very similar to existing social media platforms and with that, users do get easily on board. Cons Customization is expensive. Although the software has great features to start, to move forward needs a lot of customization and that costs a lot of money. Review Source JW John W. Used the software for: ### "Rip Off! Don't Buy!" October 14, 2016 1.0 Keep Freezing horrible customer support! Don't buy! Go with Dolphin instead! Would not refund money either Total waste of time and money Beware! Pros Nothing Cons Evey Review Source JM Josef M. CEO Online Media Used the software for: 2+ years ### "phpFox - great social network platform you can customize" July 7, 2025 5.0 I am using it since version 3 for more than 12 years and I probably will use it the next 12 :) It is a social network that I can customize and it suits my needs. Constant updates and new crucial functions keep emerging. It seems that it is a system I can trust that will not cease soon so I will not be force to look for an replacement.. Pros Currently, the react interface has been a huge step up. The platform keeps up with most mainstream platforms in terms of design and functions. Cons If you do any customization of the code, to get the system updated to the last version is quite painful. Review Source Response from phpFox LLC July 8, 2025 Thank you so much for your continued trust and support over the past 12 years! We're truly grateful to have you as part of the phpFox community and are thrilled to hear that the new React interface and ongoing updates continue to meet your expectations. We understand that custom code updates can be challenging, and we’re always working on ways to improve that experience. Your long-term commitment means a lot to us, and we’re honored to be your chosen platform now and into the future! Similar Products Featured