Bring Reputation Back to SMF: Introducing KarmaPlus for Simple Machines Forum 2.1
Bring Reputation Back to SMF: Introducing KarmaPlus for Simple Machines Forum 2.1
Simple Machines Forum (SMF) is beloved by community builders — but since SMF 2.1, the classic Karma feature is gone. Many admins miss that lightweight way to reward great contributions and discourage low-effort posts. KarmaPlus brings it back — and takes it further — with a modern, secure, and performance-friendly SMF reputation system.
What is KarmaPlus?
KarmaPlus is a drop-in SMF 2.1 karma/reputation mod. It adds upvote/downvote actions, shows a member’s Karma+ score beside their posts and in profiles, and includes an integrated anti-spam URL blocker that stops new or low-reputation users from posting links until they meet your thresholds.
In short: better engagement + stronger spam control = a healthier forum.
Key Features
Reputation with Upvotes & Downvotes
- Members can cast +1 or −1 votes.
- Visible Karma+ badge in mini-profiles and profile summaries.
Anti-Spam URL Blocking
- Block URLs until users reach your minimum posts and/or minimum karma.
- Instantly reduces drive-by link spam and bot activity.
Admin Control (No Code)
- Configure in Admin → Configuration → Modification Settings → KarmaPlus.
- Set votes per day, group whitelist for voting, and bypass permission for trusted roles.
Zero Template Edits
- Pure SMF integration hooks for clean install/uninstall.
- Compatible with SMF 2.1.0 – 2.1.99 and the default theme (works with most custom themes that render mini-profile fields).
Secure by Design
- Voting endpoints use SMF session tokens (CSRF protection).
- Safe, same-origin redirects after vote actions.
Why Forum Owners Love It
- Cuts spam without extra captchas or friction.
- Rewards quality and encourages participation.
- Familiar UX—simple, Reddit-style interactions.
- Fast to deploy—upload via Package Manager and go.
Solid Under the Hood
KarmaPlus ships with two optimized InnoDB tables:
smf_karmaplus— stores each member’s scoresmf_karmaplus_votes— tracks who voted for whom with daily limits and cooldowns
Built for performance and data integrity. No bloat, no theme edits, no core hacks.
Quick Installation
- Upload the package ZIP via Admin → Package Manager.
- Click Install (hooks + DB tables are created automatically).
- Enable permissions in Admin → Members → Permissions:
- Give Karma+ votes
- See Karma+ scores
- (Optional) Bypass link limits
- Configure thresholds in Modification Settings → KarmaPlus.
What Admins Say
SEO Keywords You’ll Rank For
SMF karma system, SMF reputation mod, SMF upvote downvote plugin, block links for new members SMF, SMF 2.1 reputation system, SMF anti-spam mod, SMF user karma, Simple Machines Forum reputation, SMF voting system.
Download KarmaPlus v1.8.11
Compatible with SMF 2.1.0 – 2.1.99. Lightweight, secure, and fully customizable.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been searching for “how to add reputation to SMF 2.1” or “block URLs for new users in SMF”, KarmaPlus is the missing piece. It brings trust, interactivity, and quality control back to your Simple Machines Forum with minimal effort.
Bring reputation back. Build engagement. Stop spam.
