Go Woody Wire

Six months after creating a social network on Ning, I finally completed creating a social network using KickApps. (Please note that the site on which I created my Kickapps powered social network is still in the conceptual stage of development.)

Comparing Ning & KickApps
Having now completed creating a social network on both, I think it is a bit unfair to directly compare the two. Both are amazing products that serve two slightly different niches within the white labeled social networking market.

As I see it, if you want to create a social network, but are starting from scratch with very little design skills, then Ning is where you should start. I have to give Ning its props for its simplicity. However that is also its greatest downfall, which opens up the door for KickApps.

When to Use KickApps
If you already have an existing site, but want to add social networking features, then KickApps is the way to go. You can use your existing CSS style sheets and tweek them by adding parts of the KickApps style sheet and there you have it – a fully featured social network that lives within your current site.

I should mention though that I think KickApps really improved their ability to create a social network from scratch with the release of their newest version in January.

Read Part I of Ning vs. Kickapps.