SocialEngine Review

Detailed Reviews

Social Engine allows creating your own social network through its easy-to-use interface that somewhat looks similar to Pintrest. The tool comes with all features to put members at a central place and implement several community features such as link shares and games.

This next generation of social media software acts as a reliable base that you can customize with several plugins. Driven by PHP Zend Framework, the software relies on the latest technology that supports cache management, protected hosting (antispam, hidden SQL injection), smart URLs, and database abstraction. Unlike other similar tools, this one allows hosting the social network on your own hosting account, which means full control over your network including code.

Plans

There are two plans to choose: PHP and Cloud. The former is the self-hosted PHP version accessible by paying a one-time fee although a bit hefty. Here, you need to download the core source files and extra add-on plug-ins and install them on your hosting solution. This is ideal for those who need total control over their new network, including the control over changing the source files.

In case of Cloud version, all necessary files get instantly installed on the Amazon cloud servers and are controlled by the Social Engine’s professional experts. This ensures that your hosting is set precisely and safely. Choosing this version gives you the benefits of incredible reliability, peace of mind, and great speed due to technical and maintenance accuracy.

User Interface

The interface is quite intuitive and easy to use, as it is a drag-n-drop editor offering a number of beneficial features accessible instantly. Regardless of the plan you choose, a web layout is ready to implement and fill with a variety of features and plugins. If you know HTML or CSS, you have full freedom to change the existing simple but attractive design.

The interface also has an advanced set up for notifications, poll, and share buttons along with the famous profile essentials seen in any social media network. Although a little bit of tweaking can render a custom look, most settings can be toggled, making administering easy.

Unencrypted Plug-ins and Source Code

In case of PHP version, the source code is non encrypted source due to which you can change the way the software works. While the basic programming skills can give you amazing results, the naïve user can achieve the same level of customization by implementing tons of plugins such as video sharing, music sharing, photo albums, events, blogs, chat, forums, groups, mobile, calendar, and classifieds. While many of these plugins are chargeable, the community plugins are free.

No Branding

SocialEngine allows an option called ‘no branding’ while you buy license, which means no linking back to SocialEngine in any way. This means that no one can find out that you are using Social Engine to design and maintain your social network. There is no copyright text or any kind of advertizing from Social Engine in the footer.

Security

The software comes with some most useful security features to protect the forums and other plugins from external threats. These features allow banning, blacklisting, and blocking bad words or unauthorized users easily, if necessary. There are also various features to control automated bots or even manual spammers.

Product Features

The Social Engine software can be used to create a complete and powerful social network for many purposes. The members of a social network built using Social Engine can create their profiles, upload avatars, choose profile type and select various privacy options. The Administrator of network can also create various levels of membership.

Private Messages

The private messaging option allows users to message each other directly just like leading social networks like Facebook or Google Plus does. The messages sent to each other can be thread like discussions. Users can also get private message notifications or even alert by email. There is also an option to send message to multiple users at once.

Activity Feeds

Activity feeds bring life to a social network. Without activity feeds, many find social network boring or not happening. Social Engine’s software comes with activity feed where members can see feed of other members they are following or are in the friend list. The feed is similar as the ones on networks like Facebook and Google Plus with inline posts, videos or photos. Users also have an option to filter this feed or set various publishing privacy options.

Content Management

The Content management feature allows users to create their own blog or website and even select various themes for that website. This feature in Social Engine comes with drag-n-drop designer, theme editor, file manager, media management, and many other features.

There are dozens of other features in Social Engine, which you may not even see in traditional social networks. Some of these features include membership billing, payment gateway integration, network management, and structure related features.

Conclusion

Social Engine is definitely a useful tool for those who are searching hard for a feature-rich, reliable, and customer-oriented social network software. The tool can be your ideal choice in case you lack programming skills. However, if you are on a strict budget, you might look for some free options.