Help with choosing forum

[kwakkwak]

Hi people,

i want to start with a forum, i have already the domain. I want to try to start with an open source forum and maybe later buy a vbulletin license.

Now i want to know from you guys which opensource package you prefer and why. Important is that i can use joomla or something else and that their is the possibilty like here to exchange and work with money. That's all.

All usefull post will be rewarded with a good rep.

Thanks

 

[James]

phpbb is a great free forum script. probably the best free script. i know if you run php-nuke you also get a built in forum with that. that could be a option, not very sure if you want that kind of thing tho.

 

[Mike]

we're using SMF - Simple Machine @ IntelBank. It's a great forum, :imho: second best to vBulletin.
Joomla is more of a CMS - content management system. It's incredibly powerful and would be my top pick if you're wanting to do more than just run a forum.

However, here's one the best links i've found to date:
http://www.forummatrix.org/

Pick the forums you want to have details about from the left and get a comprehensive side-by-side comparison

 

[James]

php-nuke is like that.
i'd have to agree with you tho. Joomla is a great CMS.
SMF is a great board.
its really up to you what you use. its what your best with and what suits you also what looks great frontend.

 

[kwakkwak]

Thanks people for your nice comments.

I found it verry interesting. I looked at the site www.forummatrix.org and that's a verry good site to compare the forums. It's true that vbulletin is the best. But i think i will choose for SMF to use. Maybe just one question can you transfer your date later from SMf to vbulletin?

Regards and repp added for all

 

[James]

i'm not sure if there is a transferer for these forums but for invision and vb you can use a translator that converts them to the other. its pretty cool. helpful too.

 

[Hitch]

SMF and IPB are just terrible!
Stay well clear of both of them.

For paid, go with vBulletin.
For free, for with PhpBB (Second free option, MyBB)

 

[Mike]

vBulletin has an import script that lets you migrate most forums into vBulletin.
It's always a good idea to start out with a free forum and see whether it's generating any profits and let these profits pay for vB.

The vB support team has a reputation to be one of the industry's best, so - no worries there.

 

[kwakkwak]

SMF and IPB are just terrible!
Stay well clear of both of them.

For paid, go with vBulletin.
For free, for with PhpBB (Second free option, MyBB)

You don't make it me easy. I had the decission to choose for SMF but now you say it's bad. Anymore suggestions?

Regards

 

[James]

just use SMF
also as gjsys was saying. start with the free, if your bringing in money or think its worth it invest in vb.

 

[Barrucadu]

Personally, I wouldnt use SMF - I am using it for my latest forum and regretting it (cant wait until I can afford vB)
It just dosn't have all the features of phpBB which I love, and the templating system is just horrible.

 

[harkster]

SMF is a very good forum package especially when using the Tiny Portal frontend at www.tinyportal.net. Easy to use and customize and a nice selection of themes with many being free.

Aint no VB but can't beat the price.

 

[TheBulldog]

I love SMF. Management is miles easier then VB in my opinion. I switched one of my forums to vB and got nothing but complaints from mods and admins about how restrictive it is.
I suffered for 2 years because my designer was doing the brunt of the work. I finally just got sick of all the headaches and converted the whole thing back to smf.