Adalo is a no-code app builder that lets you create native iOS, Android, and web applications using a visual drag-and-drop interface. While Adalo gives you full control over your app's design and functionality, it doesn't include a built-in community forum or discussion feature.
That's where Website Toolbox comes in. You can display a fully featured discussion forum inside your Adalo web app using the Web View component, or link to your forum from your app's navigation. Either way, you get user accounts, moderation tools, and real-time conversations.
This works really well for:
- App user communities
- Customer support within web apps
- Feedback and feature request boards
- Online course discussions
- Member communities
- Peer support groups
This step-by-step guide walks you through the process:
Step-by-Step: Add Your Forum
Option A: Embed the Forum
- Log in to your Website Toolbox account or create a new forum if you don't already have one.
- Go to Integrate → Embed → Embed your forum, and copy your forum URL.
- Visit adalo.com and log in to your account. If you don't have one, click Sign Up to create a free account.
- From the dashboard, open the project where you want to add the forum.
- In the Adalo editor, navigate to the screen where you want to display the forum.
- In the left panel, click + Add Component and find the Web View component under the External category.
- Drag the Web View component onto your screen where you want the forum to appear.
- In the Web View settings, paste your Website Toolbox forum URL into the URL field.
- Resize the Web View component to fill the desired area on your screen.
- Click Preview to test the forum within your app.
- When ready, click Publish to deploy your changes.
Option B: Link to the Forum
- Log in to your Website Toolbox account or create a new forum if you don't already have one.
- Copy your forum URL from the Integrate → Embed page.
- Visit adalo.com and log in to your account.
- From the dashboard, open the project where you want to add the forum link.
- In the Adalo editor, navigate to the screen where you want to add the link.
- Add a Button component and label it (e.g., "Join Our Forum").
- In the button's action settings, select Open Link and paste your forum URL.
- Click Preview to test the link.
- When ready, click Publish to deploy your changes.
Single Sign On
To set up Single Sign On between your Adalo app and your Website Toolbox forum, go to your Single Sign On settings, select Other from the Your Website Builder dropdown, and follow the prompts to purchase the custom SSO integration for $199. The Website Toolbox team will handle the integration.
What Your Members Can Do
Members
- Create discussion topics
- Reply to existing threads
- Like and react to posts
- Search the forum
- Receive notification alerts
- Edit and delete their own posts
Admins
- Moderate all content
- Ban or suspend users
- Create and manage categories
- Customize the forum appearance
- Set user permissions
- Access analytics and reports
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Adalo have a built-in forum feature?
No, Adalo does not include a native forum feature. However, you can easily add a forum to your Adalo web app using Website Toolbox, either by embedding it via the Web View component or by linking to it from your app's navigation.
Should I embed the forum or link to it?
Both work well. Embedding via the Web View keeps users inside your Adalo app and integrates the forum seamlessly into your screen layout. Linking is simpler to set up and opens the forum in a browser, which can be a better experience on mobile devices. Choose whichever fits your workflow.
Can I customize the look of my embedded forum?
Yes. Website Toolbox provides a theme editor with a variety of themes you can choose from to match your Adalo app's design. You can customize colors, fonts, layout settings, and more to create a seamless look.
Can I make the forum private or members-only?
Absolutely. You can restrict forum access to logged-in users, create invite-only communities, or charge for access with subscription plans. Combined with the SSO integration, you can seamlessly connect your Adalo app's user system with the forum.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. Adalo uses a visual drag-and-drop editor. You just paste the forum URL into the Web View component and Adalo handles the rest.
Will the forum work on mobile devices?
Yes. Website Toolbox forums are fully responsive and work great on phones, tablets, and desktops. When embedded via the Web View component in an Adalo web app, the forum adapts to the container size automatically. Website Toolbox also offers a mobile app so your members can participate from their phones.