Forum templates or programmes

[-fp-]

Hi Np.

I am not if this is the place to post this.

I need to know what forum programme to use because I am thinking about building a forum website.

I really like this forum template of NP. Does anyone have a good tip where to find this forum software and a good website for comparison of forum templates etc.

Cheers,

-fp-

 

[tm]

this forum software is vbulletin (www.vbulletin.com) it's quite pricey. It's a custom skin I believe and they cost around the same price as a license.

 

[stscac]

A rather simple one is PunBB - free and open-source.



-Steve

 

[Chronos]

Another great free forum with the look and feel of vBulletin is vUBB

check it out:

http://www.vubb.com

 

[El Dude]

Try www.phpbb.com and www.simplemachines.org - both really good free messageboards.

 

[peter phillips]

vBulletin is the best but it's pricey. You can choose from some free ones like, phpBB, MyBB or SMF.

 

[wackyjoe]

vBulletin is the most secure and best forum software IMO...but modifying it can be hard for the average user...

another forum closed to the feel of vB is myBB.

 

[cx409]

All rated IMO (from best to good)

Free BB Software:
- phpBB
- SMF

Paid Software:
- IPB - this is an extremely great choice for a very valuable price, easy to mod, plenty of features, and very very easy to administer. This software...you and your members will love 101%!
- vBulletin: Better than the free ones, got pretty much features but I find it harder to use.

 

[LeetPCUser]

PHPBB and IPB are very nice. I love VBulletin but it is around $100 for a site. You can purchase a yearly license or a liscenese for 1 site that lasts forever.

 

[peterstannard]

Go with SMF. Whatever you do, don't choose phpBB!

 

[Hitch]

Go with SMF. Whatever you do, don't choose phpBB!

Why not? PHPBB is great to say it's free.

Yeh, maybe there are sometimes alot of bugs, and make the forum vunerable to be hacked, but the PHPBB team soon patch it up. All other softwares are bound to hae bugs at sometimes.

I would say, go with PHPBB, or, if you have the money, get vBulletin, fantastic software, beats any out there in my opinion, very easy to mod, with the new plugin installer.

There are loads of skins and mods available for it. (Main source at vbulletin.org)

Adrian

 

[dojo]

Go with SMF. Whatever you do, don't choose phpBB!

I can show you at least 3 phpBBs that can beat up a lot of VBs as looks are concerned and modding. So don't make assumptions just because you don't like a script or don't know how to use it.

Any script is good if you can and know how to work on it. phpBB has got hundreds of hacks on it and the theme modding is excellent due to the tpl files. I am a heavy theme modder so only phpBB gave me the total freedom I needed.

 

[-fp-]

Wow. Great response so far. Thanks NPlers.

Any other opinions?

Cheers,

-fp-

 

[007]

I just replied in another similar thread, but I would say it really comes down to a few key things.

1. Your budget
2. Your technical abilities
3. Your willingness and ability to learn

If you get a vB (which I highly recommend), you won't be able to get it how you want it right away, and it will get you frustrated. However, once you learn the ropes, you will be glad you made the investment and so will your members. Honestly I can't think of many big forums on the net that AREN'T vB.

I'v heard good things about Invision Pro Board, but owning several vB's myself, and having never tried Invision, I'm a little biased.

Honestly though, just from what I've seen from Invision, vB beats it hands down. So what if mods cost more. What you pay for is what you get here. In the end, it's not a crucial decision, because you can migrate your board over to different software with many of the main ones. I know for a fact that you can move any of the other boards mentioned in this thread to a vB through a custom script they have. It's simple to use, so if you can't afford a vB upfront, go the next best you can afford, and then upgrade at a later date.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[cx409]

A better review (from my previous post) of the payware software:

• In IPB (invision power board btw there 007 , a yearly license means ONE YEAR FREE UPGRADES AND UNLIMITED SUPPORT. After that one year, your board will continue to run, but you won't have access to upgrades/support. Of course, you can renew this licene. $69.99 ... perpetual license $182.00
  
  Other pros:
  • Many free, easy to install mods
  • Free technical (phone & email) support
  • Wonderful community
  • Frighteningly easy to manage, administer and moderate
  • Can use Orcale and MSSQL drives (at a price). MySQL driver is free
  • You can purchase Invision Power Services' (C) sign removal
• vBulletin is a pretty nice forum software, got many unique features, but as mentioned above, it's pretty darn hard to mod and mods are a "tad" more expensive than those at IPB. vBulletin's one year license means you get email support (free) and upgrades (free) for a year. After this one year, the board will no longer run unless you renew the license. Price? $85.00...perpetul $160.00. Telephone support for vBulletin is minimal $60 for a month.

I may be shouted at, spammed and among other things, but...I love IPB and definitely recommend it, especially as a first paid forum software

 

[-MGS-]

Hello,

for me I would use MyBB check it out at:-

http://mybboard.com

Easy to use and free

 

[007]

@cs409,

You are wrong about the vB license renewal.

It is $160 up front to own it, then a year later it is $30 to renew. If you don't renew, your board will still be yours, but you lose access to upgrades.

As for the telephone support, that's useless, since you can get all your questions answered on vBulletin.com or .org, depending on if they are about modding or just use in general.

 

[Fleege]

Excellent thread. We just launched a forum for forum pros. A support forum for running and dealing with forum issues. We are and will remain platform independent.

Forums are exciting arent they? Still in their infancy - except for webmaster related forums perhaps - but ther are always room for good ideas. FP I'd love to hear more about your forum.