
GITNUXSOFTWARE ADVICE
Communication MediaTop 10 Best Message Board Software of 2026
Top 10 message board software ranked for community forums, with technical comparisons of MyBB, NodeBB, SMF, and other platforms for admins.
How we ranked these tools
Core product claims cross-referenced against official documentation, changelogs, and independent technical reviews.
Analyzed video reviews and hundreds of written evaluations to capture real-world user experiences with each tool.
AI persona simulations modeled how different user types would experience each tool across common use cases and workflows.
Final rankings reviewed and approved by our editorial team with authority to override AI-generated scores based on domain expertise.
Score: Features 40% · Ease 30% · Value 30%
Gitnux may earn a commission through links on this page — this does not influence rankings. Editorial policy
MyBB is the best overall pick if you want a self-hosted forum that balances strong moderation with plugin-driven growth, whereas SMF is the budget entry for communities that value simple, stable governance, and Discourse fits teams that need modern, REST-connected workflows.
Editor’s top 3 picks
Three quick recommendations before you dive into the full comparison below — each one leads on a different dimension.
MyBB
Built-in moderation queues integrate user reports with configurable actions like hold and removal.
Built for fits when a self-hosted forum needs strong moderation controls and plugin-driven feature growth..
NodeBB
Editor pickWebhook events emit forum state changes for posts, topics, and moderation actions so external workflows can stay synchronized.
Built for fits when teams need REST and webhook integration plus real-time forum interactions for moderated communities..
Simple Machines Forum (SMF)
Editor pickReport-to-moderation queue workflows support structured escalation without building custom tooling.
Built for fits when communities need stable governance workflows and add-on extensibility..
Related reading
Comparison Table
This comparison table benchmarks message board software such as MyBB, NodeBB, SMF, Discourse, and vBulletin across forum architecture, integration and API surface, and admin governance controls. It highlights the tradeoffs in moderation workflows, automation options, extensibility, and operational constraints like configuration complexity and expected throughput. The goal is to map how each platform’s data model and provisioning approach affect customization depth and day-to-day management.
MyBB
SMBFree open-source forum software with plugin system and classic feature set.
Built-in moderation queues integrate user reports with configurable actions like hold and removal.
MyBB handles the full thread lifecycle with paginated thread views, a post composer that supports rich text formatting, and moderation tools that act on user reports. The platform provides user group permissions and forum visibility controls that map to access control lists for reading and posting. Attachment support includes upload handling and quotas that prevent unbounded storage use.
A key tradeoff is that deeper automation and integrations require add-ons or custom development rather than a first-party API surface. MyBB fits situations where teams want a self-hosted forum that can be extended with plugins for custom workflows like specialized moderation or bespoke posting rules.
- +Mature moderation workflow with report handling and actionable queues
- +Granular permission controls for groups and forum-level access
- +Plugin architecture extends features without replacing the core forum engine
- +Attachment handling includes upload quotas and lifecycle controls
- –Automation beyond admin workflows often needs custom plugins or code
- –API coverage can be thinner than forum-specific integration requirements
- –Moderation tuning can require governance discipline across groups
- –Advanced UI customization depends on themes and developer support
Community moderators
Triage reports and apply actions
Faster, more consistent enforcement
Forum admins
Control who can see and post
Reduced policy leakage
Show 2 more scenarios
Developer teams
Add custom workflows with plugins
Lower maintenance for extensions
Plugins can extend posting, formatting, and moderation behaviors without forking the forum core.
Knowledge base communities
Support long-form threaded discussions
More navigable archives
Thread pagination and search-friendly post structures help manage high-volume discussion archives.
Best for: Fits when a self-hosted forum needs strong moderation controls and plugin-driven feature growth.
More related reading
NodeBB
SMBNode.js-based forum software with real-time features and social integration.
Webhook events emit forum state changes for posts, topics, and moderation actions so external workflows can stay synchronized.
NodeBB serves community content through a thread-based structure with fast message rendering, pagination controls, and search that indexes forum content for discovery of threads and replies. The moderation toolchain covers user reputation signals, report queues, and content lifecycle actions like holding and removing posts. Extensibility is handled through plugins that can register routes and UI components, which enables governance extensions such as custom flag handling. The platform also publishes webhook events so external systems can react to new posts, topic changes, and moderation state transitions.
A key tradeoff is that deep governance and integration work depends on plugin selection and configuration discipline, especially when multiple external systems must stay consistent with forum state. NodeBB fits best when an engineering team wants automation around posting and moderation events, or when an existing product needs a tight forum-to-app integration through REST calls and webhooks. It is a weaker choice for organizations that require a fully managed admin experience or heavily schema-driven workflows without custom extensions.
- +Webhooks make moderation and posting events consumable by external apps
- +REST API supports scripted publishing and admin actions
- +Plugin model enables custom moderation routes and UI components
- +Real-time updates improve thread responsiveness during active discussions
- –Advanced governance often needs plugin configuration work
- –Search and moderation tuning can require ongoing admin attention
- –Complex integrations may involve multiple moving parts
- –Some UI customizations depend on theme and plugin compatibility
Product teams with community features
Sync forum actions with app workflows
Faster moderation and incident response
Engineering-led community ops
Automate report triage and actions
Lower moderation turnaround time
Show 2 more scenarios
Security and compliance operators
Centralize review signals outside the forum
More auditable review flow
Report events can be forwarded to external review systems for consistent escalation paths.
Community platform builders
Extend UI and behavior via plugins
Tailored moderation experience
Plugins add custom routes and UI elements for governance-specific features.
Best for: Fits when teams need REST and webhook integration plus real-time forum interactions for moderated communities.
Simple Machines Forum (SMF)
SMBFree open-source PHP forum software emphasizing simplicity and performance.
Report-to-moderation queue workflows support structured escalation without building custom tooling.
SMF delivers the core message board loop with thread lists, post editing, and controlled publishing states that match typical community workflows. Moderation is handled with reports, queue-style review, and escalation paths that can be managed by different admin roles. Extensibility is a core part of SMF’s design, with add-on modules that can add features without rewriting the core engine. Community integration is supported through syndication and API access patterns used for programmatic posting and retrieval.
A tradeoff of SMF is that deeper integration often depends on add-ons and customization rather than a wide built-in automation suite. SMF fits teams that want predictable forum behavior and configurable governance over rapid feature shipping. It is also a good fit when forum content needs to be operated like infrastructure, with careful moderation rules and stable workflows.
- +Add-on driven customization keeps core forum behavior consistent
- +Moderation workflows support practical report-to-review handling
- +Thread and post editing supports routine community maintenance
- +Syndication covers forum content distribution with minimal setup
- –Automation breadth depends heavily on available add-ons
- –Admin UI configuration can feel dated for high-volume moderation
- –Deep integrations require technical work and careful module selection
- –Content rendering flexibility can increase maintenance responsibility
Community moderators
Manage reported posts with queues
Lower moderation turnaround time
Community managers
Maintain long-running thread archives
More consistent community continuity
Show 2 more scenarios
Developers for community tools
Integrate forum content into apps
Less manual copy-paste
Programmatic posting and retrieval can support internal workflows around threads.
Organization web teams
Distribute announcements via syndication
Better content reach
RSS and Atom feeds provide predictable distribution for forum-generated updates.
Best for: Fits when communities need stable governance workflows and add-on extensibility.
Discourse
SMB/enterpriseOpen-source forum software with modern UX, real-time updates, and plugin architecture.
Discourse moderation queues connect content flags to escalation paths with actionable review states.
Discourse is a thread-based forum engine with a built-in moderation workflow and conversation-first composer. Its admin surface includes staged trust and user reputation controls, report handling, and configurable permissions for visibility.
Discourse also supports extensibility through plugins plus a REST API for posts, topics, and moderation actions. The result is a community system that can be governed and integrated without rebuilding core forum mechanics.
- +Native moderation workflow ties flags, queues, and outcomes into one system
- +Trust and reputation levels change posting abilities without custom code
- +REST API supports programmatic topic and post operations for integrations
- +Email-to-forum ingestion converts inbound messages into topics and replies
- –Permission and rate-limit tuning can require iterative governance work
- –Deep customization often relies on plugins and careful compatibility checks
- –Large media libraries can increase operational overhead for file handling
- –Advanced search tuning may need additional configuration for scale
Best for: Fits when teams need governed forum workflows, third-party integration via REST, and plugin-based extensibility.
vBulletin
SMB/enterpriseCommercial forum software with classic feature set and large legacy base.
Configurable moderation report handling with internal escalation states for held and removed content.
vBulletin runs thread-based community discussions with a configurable forum hierarchy, post composer, and built-in moderation workflows. Core content features include attachment support, HTML rendering controls, and search that surfaces forum posts for recurring questions.
Admins manage permissions across user groups and moderate reported content with configurable escalation steps. Integration options center on add-ons and extensibility hooks rather than a modern REST or GraphQL interface.
- +Mature forum posting and thread navigation with configurable editorial controls
- +Group-based permissions support consistent access rules across forum sections
- +Moderation tools include report workflows and configurable handling states
- +Attachment handling supports images and files within post content
- –Extensibility depends heavily on legacy plugin patterns instead of modern APIs
- –Admin configuration is broad, which increases risk of misconfiguration
- –Content sanitation and editor controls require careful tuning for security
- –Performance depends on hosting and caching choices under heavy thread traffic
Best for: Fits when maintaining a long-running forum build needs mature posting, moderation, and group governance.
Flarum
SMBLightweight PHP forum software with a SPA front-end and extension marketplace.
Flarum’s extension architecture adds capabilities through composable modules without rewriting the forum core.
Flarum is a forum engine designed for lightweight community building with a fast, modern post composer. Thread-based discussions are paired with a moderation workflow that handles reports and content visibility decisions.
Core functionality focuses on HTML rendering for rich posts, extensibility via extensions, and a REST API surface for custom integrations. Administration centers on managing users, permissions, and moderation rules across the community.
- +Extension system supports targeted features without forking core code
- +REST API enables external moderation tooling and custom UI integrations
- +Modern composer improves authoring speed for long discussions
- +Permission controls cover basic access needs for posts and groups
- –Moderation tooling is narrower than larger enterprise forum suites
- –Deep governance needs multiple extensions or custom work
- –Attachment pipeline is limited compared with media-first community platforms
Best for: Fits when teams want a clean forum UI with extensibility and API access for integrations.
Telligent (Verint Community)
enterpriseEnterprise community and collaboration platform under Verint.
Multi-stage moderation and report routing with post lifecycle states supports hold, publish, and removed outcomes per workflow.
Telligent (Verint Community) couples a forum engine with enterprise-grade workflow controls for content review, user roles, and community governance. It provides configurable moderation queues, report workflows, and lifecycle states for posts so teams can hold and remove content without losing audit context.
The product supports deep integration patterns through REST APIs, webhook events, and OAuth and SAML based authentication. Compared with lighter community tools, its configuration depth and governance tooling matter more than bare thread publishing.
- +Moderation queues support multi-step review before publish or removal
- +Report workflow routes flagged content to named groups with escalation
- +Extensible integrations via REST APIs and webhook events for events
- +Role and permission configuration supports granular visibility rules
- –Administration depth increases setup time for governance and workflows
- –Thread and content configuration can feel heavy for small communities
- –Customization may require platform-specific configuration knowledge
- –Complex rulesets can reduce transparency for casual moderators
Best for: Fits when enterprise teams need governed community publishing with workflow routing and API-driven integrations.
Kunena
SMBForum extension for Joomla, integrating natively with Joomla CMS.
Kunena’s plugin architecture lets developers add composer, moderation, and display behaviors without replacing the core forum engine.
Kunena is a forum engine built for community discussions inside Joomla sites. It provides thread-based topic pages, a post composer with attachment handling, and moderation workflows that can move reported content through review states.
Admin controls cover user permissions, moderation actions, and content governance for forum visibility. Kunena also supports integration pathways such as REST-style post access and plugin-based extensibility for forum features.
- +Thread-based discussion UI fits Joomla-centered site builds
- +Moderation tools support report handling and queue triage workflows
- +Attachment support includes upload handling for post-level media
- +Permission controls let admins tune forum access by group
- –REST-style integration is narrower than forums that expose full event webhooks
- –Spam controls depend heavily on moderation habits and configuration
- –Deep automation requires developer work via extensions
- –Complex governance needs careful configuration across nested categories
Best for: Fits when a Joomla site needs a forum with category-based organization and moderation workflows.
bbPress
SMBWordPress plugin for adding forums, lightweight and integrative.
bbPress treats forum content as WordPress site content, so forums and replies inherit WordPress routing, theming, and user permissions.
bbPress runs a thread-based discussion board inside WordPress, with topic and reply creation handled through a built-in post composer. Core capabilities include user profiles, multi-forum organization, search over forum content, and moderation tools for holding and removing posts.
bbPress favors a minimal feature set and relies on WordPress themes and plugins for styling, authentication integrations, and most workflow automation. Integration depth is strongest where the site uses WordPress as the system of record for users and content.
- +Threaded topics and replies with simple composer workflow
- +WordPress user accounts integrate without separate forum identity
- +Forum search indexes topics and replies for quick filtering
- +Moderation tools support holding and removing flagged posts
- –Limited native moderation workflow beyond basic holding actions
- –Few built-in admin controls for granular RBAC or permissions auditing
- –Attachment upload and media processing rely heavily on add-ons
- –API surface is thinner than forum engines with dedicated post endpoints
Best for: Fits when a WordPress site needs a lightweight forum and moderation basics without complex workflows.
Talkyard
SMBOpen-source commenting and forum software with embedding and email reply support.
Moderation workflow states with explicit actions, including hold and remove, that align with flag processing and operator review.
Talkyard targets teams that need a thread-based message board with reviewable moderation and configurable community rules. It supports rich posting with formatting controls, threaded conversations, and moderation workflows centered on flags, holds, and removals.
Admin features focus on user governance, content visibility controls, and auditability around moderation actions. Integration depth is anchored in an API surface for working with posts and automations around moderation and notifications.
- +Threaded discussion model fits Q and A, announcements, and topic rooms
- +Moderation supports multi-stage flows with holds, removals, and escalation
- +API enables automation around posting, moderation states, and notifications
- +Granular visibility rules support controlled access for communities
- –Advanced governance requires careful configuration of roles and moderation rules
- –Content sanitation controls are less flexible than dedicated UGC platforms
- –Search behavior is constrained by indexing choices and thread pagination
- –Attachment pipeline limits can force workflow workarounds for rich media
Best for: Fits when a team needs governed, thread-based discussions with automations tied to moderation states.
Conclusion
After evaluating 10 communication media, MyBB stands out as our overall top pick — it scored highest across our combined criteria of features, ease of use, and value, which is why it sits at #1 in the rankings above.
Use the comparison table and detailed reviews above to validate the fit against your own requirements before committing to a tool.
How to Choose the Right message board software
This buyer's guide covers message board software for thread-based communities and moderated publishing. It maps concrete capabilities across MyBB, NodeBB, Simple Machines Forum, Discourse, vBulletin, Flarum, Telligent (Verint Community), Kunena, bbPress, and Talkyard.
The sections cover moderation workflows, integration automation surfaces, and admin governance controls that affect day-to-day operations. It also highlights common missteps like weak integration coverage and moderation tuning that requires ongoing discipline.
Thread-based forum engines with moderation queues and integration automation
Message board software runs thread-based discussion boards that let users post replies, manage topics, and navigate content by forum or category structure. These tools also provide moderation workflows with report handling and content lifecycle states like held, removed, or routed review outcomes.
Teams use message boards to support recurring Q and A, topic rooms, or community spaces that need controlled access and consistent community rules. Discourse and NodeBB show two practical shapes of this category with REST-driven integrations and admin moderation queues.
Capability checklist for moderated discussions and integration-ready operations
Message board software succeeds when the moderation pipeline, governance controls, and integration hooks match the way the community runs. The key differences between MyBB, NodeBB, Discourse, and enterprise-focused Telligent (Verint Community) show up in how flags become outcomes and how external systems stay synchronized.
The checklist below focuses on features that directly change throughput, safety controls, and automation scope. It also separates web UI composition from API or event delivery so integrations do not require brittle workarounds.
Moderation queue workflows that turn reports into held, removed, or routed outcomes
A working moderation queue reduces manual review effort by connecting user reports to actionable outcomes. MyBB pairs report handling with moderation queues that support configurable actions like hold and removal, while Discourse connects flags to review states inside its queue-driven workflow.
Event-driven integration surface for moderation and posting state changes
Integration-heavy teams need more than a basic API. NodeBB emits webhook events for posts, topics, and moderation actions so external systems can stay synchronized, while Talkyard exposes an API for automations tied to moderation states and notifications.
REST API coverage for scripted posting and moderation administration
Scripted community operations require reliable endpoints for topics, posts, and moderation actions. Discourse provides a REST API for programmatic topic and post operations, and NodeBB supports REST API for programmatic posting and admin actions.
Role-based visibility and forum-level permission controls
Governance depends on being able to apply access rules across groups and forum sections. MyBB offers flexible permission settings for forum visibility, and vBulletin supports group-based permissions across forum hierarchy sections with consistent access rules.
Extension and modularity model for adding features without replacing the core forum engine
The extension model determines whether new features change core stability or require core rewrites. Flarum uses an extension system that adds capabilities through composable modules, while Kunena uses a plugin architecture tailored to Joomla so developers can add composer, moderation, and display behaviors.
Attachment handling with upload quotas and lifecycle controls
Media workflow needs concrete limits and moderation behavior for uploaded content. MyBB includes attachment handling with upload quotas and lifecycle controls, while Flarum limits the attachment pipeline compared with media-forward platforms.
Decision path for selecting a message board based on moderation depth and automation needs
Start with moderation depth and event automation so the platform can enforce rules without constant manual intervention. Then validate integration coverage so automations can act on moderation outcomes instead of only reacting after the fact.
The steps below branch by product philosophy. Each branch points to specific tools with matching strengths in moderation workflows, integration hooks, and governance controls.
Choose the moderation pipeline style: queue-centric vs basic hold-only actions
If moderation requires structured report-to-review escalation, MyBB and SMF provide built-in report handling with moderation queues that support review actions. If moderation requires review states connected directly to flags, Discourse and Telligent (Verint Community) route content through multi-stage moderation outcomes.
Pick an integration shape: webhook-first synchronization vs REST-only scripting
If external systems must stay synchronized with post and moderation state changes, NodeBB’s webhook events for posts, topics, and moderation actions reduce integration lag. If automation needs center on REST-based posting and moderation actions, Discourse and Talkyard support programmatic operations and state-driven notifications.
Match deployment context: standalone forum engine vs platform-embedded forum plugin
If WordPress is the system of record for users and routing, bbPress treats forum content as WordPress content so forums and replies inherit WordPress routing and theming. If Joomla is the host platform, Kunena integrates natively so moderation and composer behaviors live inside a Joomla-first setup.
Validate governance control depth for group-based visibility and escalation rules
For multi-section communities that require group permissions across forum hierarchy, vBulletin’s group-based permissions and configurable report handling are built for long-running admin governance. For teams needing deeper enterprise workflow routing, Telligent (Verint Community) adds lifecycle states and report routing across named groups for escalation.
Plan for extensibility tradeoffs: extension modules vs plugin ecosystem dependency
If the expectation includes adding new behaviors over time, Flarum’s extension architecture supports composable modules without rewriting core. If the team expects feature growth through add-ons or plugins, SMF and Kunena rely on add-on or plugin ecosystems and configuration discipline to keep moderation and composer behavior consistent.
Which teams should adopt each message board platform
Message board software fits teams that need governed thread-based publishing with moderation workflows and clear access control boundaries. The right choice depends on whether integrations need event-driven synchronization and how much moderation state management is required.
The audience segments below align directly to the best-fit scenarios defined for each tool.
Self-hosted community admins who need strong moderation queues and plugin-driven growth
MyBB fits teams that want self-hosted forum hosting with moderation queues that connect user reports to configurable actions like hold and removal. Its plugin architecture extends features without replacing the forum core, which supports steady iteration on governance and community mechanics.
Teams running moderated community operations with webhook and REST automation
NodeBB fits teams that need REST and webhook integration plus real-time updates during active discussions. Its webhook events emit forum state changes for posts, topics, and moderation actions so external workflows can synchronize with the forum pipeline.
Communities needing stable governance workflows without heavy platform customization
SMF fits communities that prefer stable core behavior with add-on extensibility instead of deep platform customization. Its report-to-moderation queue workflows support structured escalation without requiring custom tooling.
Organizations that want governed publishing with REST integrations and plugin extensibility
Discourse fits teams that require moderated forum workflows tied to flags and escalation paths plus REST-driven topic and post operations. Its trust and reputation controls also change posting abilities without custom code, which supports consistent governance roles.
Platform-embedded deployments inside WordPress or Joomla that need forum-native integration
bbPress fits WordPress-first organizations that want a lightweight forum where routing and permissions inherit from WordPress. Kunena fits Joomla sites that need category-based organization and moderation workflows inside Joomla with a plugin architecture for extending composer and display behaviors.
Pitfalls that derail moderation workflows, integrations, and admin governance
Common failures usually come from choosing a tool based on UI features instead of moderation state management and integration coverage. Another frequent issue is assuming automation will be available without planning for API depth or event delivery.
The mistakes below map to concrete constraints seen across the tools in this list.
Selecting a forum engine with only basic moderation holds when multi-stage review is required
bbPress and Talkyard can support holds and removals, but bbPress has limited native moderation workflow beyond basic holding actions. For multi-stage workflows with routing and lifecycle states, Telligent (Verint Community) and Discourse provide queue-centric moderation outcomes that align to staged escalation.
Building an automation pipeline that assumes webhooks exist for moderation state changes
NodeBB provides webhook events for posts, topics, and moderation actions, which supports synchronized external workflows. If webhook events are not part of the integration plan, Discourse REST-driven automation can still work, but state synchronization will depend more on polling or narrower admin actions.
Underestimating the governance setup time needed for permission and moderation tuning
Discourse permission and rate-limit tuning can require iterative governance work, and Telligent (Verint Community) adds administration depth that increases setup time. MyBB also requires governance discipline across groups when moderation tuning depends on consistent group-level configuration.
Expecting deep integration via modern APIs from legacy platforms without checking extensibility patterns
vBulletin’s extensibility relies more on legacy plugin patterns instead of modern APIs, which increases integration risk for API-first automation needs. NodeBB and Discourse provide clearer REST and webhook surfaces for scripted publishing and moderation administration.
How We Selected and Ranked These Tools
We evaluated MyBB, NodeBB, Simple Machines Forum, Discourse, vBulletin, Flarum, Telligent (Verint Community), Kunena, bbPress, and Talkyard using three criteria that show up in operations: features, ease of use, and value. Features carried the most weight at forty percent because moderation workflow correctness and integration capability determine whether the community can run safely at scale. Ease of use and value each carried thirty percent because admin workload and integration effort decide how quickly a team can maintain the forum in production. Each tool received an overall score as a weighted average of those three factors.
MyBB set itself apart for lifted scoring by pairing mature moderation queues with report handling and configurable hold and removal actions. That moderation workflow strength increases both features coverage and operational value for teams that run continuous community governance, which is why it sits at the top of this ranked set.
Frequently Asked Questions About message board software
Which forum engine exposes a REST API for moderation actions and posting workflows?
How do NodeBB webhook events change what can be automated around topic and post updates?
When does Discourse moderation queue handling differ from SMF escalation workflows?
What breaks if a community needs enterprise-grade governance with authenticated workflow routing?
How do attachment and content sanitation controls typically differ across vBulletin and Flarum?
Which platform is best aligned with using a WordPress site as the system of record for users and permissions?
How does plugin extensibility change for MyBB compared with Flarum’s extension model?
When should administrators choose Talkyard over Discourse for moderation workflow auditability?
Which tool supports multi-stage moderation and lifecycle states for post outcomes including hold, publish, and removed?
Tools reviewed
Primary sources checked during evaluation.
Referenced in the comparison table and product reviews above.
Keep exploring
Comparing two specific tools?
Software Alternatives
See head-to-head software comparisons with feature breakdowns, pricing, and our recommendation for each use case.
Explore software alternatives→In this category
Communication Media alternatives
See side-by-side comparisons of communication media tools and pick the right one for your stack.
Compare communication media tools→FOR SOFTWARE VENDORS
Not on this list? Let’s fix that.
Our best-of pages are how many teams discover and compare tools in this space. If you think your product belongs in this lineup, we’d like to hear from you—we’ll walk you through fit and what an editorial entry looks like.
Apply for a ListingWHAT THIS INCLUDES
Where buyers compare
Readers come to these pages to shortlist software—your product shows up in that moment, not in a random sidebar.
Editorial write-up
We describe your product in our own words and check the facts before anything goes live.
On-page brand presence
You appear in the roundup the same way as other tools we cover: name, positioning, and a clear next step for readers who want to learn more.
Kept up to date
We refresh lists on a regular rhythm so the category page stays useful as products and pricing change.
