Best Forum Script/Software

[Mike Cruz]

I just picked up a really nice domain name for a hobby of mine and I would like to start a forum. Considering I would have some tough competition, I would like to put as little money as possible into it to begin, but if it does pick up and it is converting enough profit, I would like to be able to easily upgrade to either a paid version, or a better version and have "plugins/features" easily available as well...

What would be my best choice?

Thank you in advanced.
-Mike C.

[SGBoise]

Phpbb.com is the way to go and it's free. I use it for my support site and overall it's really easy to use.

I also have a Phpbb bridge for my http://www.topmediascript.com if you ever want to start a video sharing site.

[DomainWiz]

Paid - VBulletin

Free - Simple Machines Forum (SMF)

Regards,
Mario

[Stian]

I would definitely go for phpBB. With a few tweaks and mods it is just as feature rich as vBulletin.

I run a phpBB forum here if you want to take a look.

[draggar]

I've been using SMF - it is as easy as phpBB but also has a far easier way of installing plugins / hacks and templates. The new beta versions also allow you to take payments for paid subscriptions / forums.

[Aleksandar]

I would definitely go for phpBB. With a few tweaks and mods it is just as feature rich as vBulletin.

I run a phpBB forum here if you want to take a look.

Yeah, but features are not the only thing you should consider when choosing software.

vBulletin is (from my and some people I know experiences) far better when it comes to security.

[Stian]

Yeah, but features are not the only thing you should consider when choosing software.

vBulletin is (from my and some people I know experiences) far better when it comes to security.

Yes, vBulletin might be more secure, but it all depends what type of forum he's looking to run. E.g. security is more crucial on a trading forum, like DNF, than a gaming forum or a forum about car styling. If he's looking to spend next to nothing and still get fully featured forum software, I'd recommend phpBB.

[webtalkcenter]

You can use Drupal to run sample and seo community too .
I run a sample Forum for example ; http://www.webtalkcenter.com

[Aleksandar]

I also recommend reading this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compari..._software_(PHP)

[Mike Cruz]

Thanks for all the responses everyone Very much appreciated, although I think you might have made my decision a bit harder, lol.

What do you think about BBpress with wordpress?

[Tygerwoody]

i've used them all. Any free Forum Software. You name it, I've tried it.

When it comes down to it. vBulletin is leagues ahead of everyone else. Mainly due to security and ease of use. But, you have to pay for it.

If I had to choose a free software though, PHPBB and SMF are decent. PHPBB has a lot more plugins and more templates, and looks better. PHPBB's plugins however are a pain to use. PHPBB is also DREADFUL with security. Look forward to spam bot city. SMF looks worse and has less support, but the plugins are very very easy to install. SMF has better security than PHPBB , but its still not really that good.

So basically, pick your poison. PHPBB or SMF. Both have very bad faults. However, they are the best ones out there(for free). If you do eventually get popular with your site, vbulletin would be a worthy investment.

[south]

check out opensourcecms.com

Incidentally, I like phorum.

[Mike Cruz]

Thanks for the info Tygerwoody and everyone else.

Is it possible to use phpbb and if the site gets popular, i can upgrade to vBulletin and move all the members/posts/threads, etc. to vbulletin? or is that not possible?

[Aleksandar]

Yes, there are forum converting tools (scripts) that can do the job. I've converted smf to vBulletin once so I know this works. Some fields in the database will remain blank but the members can re-edit their profile again.

SMF to vB works fine. phpBB to vB - I don't know.

[loudbeats.com]

Thanks for all the responses everyone Very much appreciated, although I think you might have made my decision a bit harder, lol.

What do you think about BBpress with wordpress?

it has an easy bridge, and can be used wit wp.. so you wouldnt be losing much by trying it

check out opensourcecms.com

Incidentally, I like phorum.

Scott, I love that lil Phorum!!

[Tygerwoody]

Thanks for the info Tygerwoody and everyone else.

Is it possible to use phpbb and if the site gets popular, i can upgrade to vBulletin and move all the members/posts/threads, etc. to vbulletin? or is that not possible?

Yes it is. I did that exact thing with my largest forum.


The process is isn't hard, but its not easy either. And also, after the conversion I had small problems like duplicate posts. Nothing big though. If I were in your shoes, thats probably what I would do. Start with PHPBB and if you get popular, convert to vBulletin.

Please remember though, that phpbb is not secure at all. Its open source, its the most popular forum software, therefore its the largest target. I would post links to a forum of mine with PHPBB and one with vBulletin so you could see the difference in bots, but I know a mod will delete my entire post, so I'm not going to bother. Please make routine backups if you decide to go phpbb.

Anyway, if you have any more questions. Feel free to ask.

[Mike Cruz]

thanks for all the responses, didn't expect this much info... I am still digging trying to see if it would just be worth it to buy a forum script. I have been looking into vBulletin and InvisionBoard.com ~ what do you think of IP board? Reason I ask is because I really like the blog and gallery functions with IP Board, but then again I really like the security of vBulletin and they have been around forever. To get vBulletin it is $180 + $60 for the Blog + $60 for the "power tools", total of $300 ~ but I can't find any good info as to what the power tools includes, and IP board comes with the forum, blog and a nice gallery for $249.99. A integrated gallery is a HUGE + for the type of forum I am going to start, just wondering if vBulletin offers anything similar with the power tools.

Thanks,
-Mike C.

[Tygerwoody]

thanks for all the responses, didn't expect this much info... I am still digging trying to see if it would just be worth it to buy a forum script. I have been looking into vBulletin and InvisionBoard.com ~ what do you think of IP board? Reason I ask is because I really like the blog and gallery functions with IP Board, but then again I really like the security of vBulletin and they have been around forever. To get vBulletin it is $180 + $60 for the Blog + $60 for the "power tools", total of $300 ~ but I can't find any good info as to what the power tools includes, and IP board comes with the forum, blog and a nice gallery for $249.99. A integrated gallery is a HUGE + for the type of forum I am going to start, just wondering if vBulletin offers anything similar with the power tools.

Thanks,
-Mike C.

Honestly, running a forum is hard work. Probably one of the toughest tasks I've ever had. You might not like it. Its really hard to get new members and its even harder to get them to stay. If you want a blog and forum, then use PHPBB for the forum and wordpress for the blog. If you do get popular and decide you like it, then upgrade to vBulletin.

IMO, the vBulletin "blog" is a waste of money. You can accomplish the same thing with a program call "vBadvanced". Its a free add on for vBulletin. And if you don't like vbadvanced, you can stick with your old wordpress blog. Wordpress is a very powerful bit of software and is pretty easy to use.

[Mike Cruz]

Honestly, running a forum is hard work. Probably one of the toughest tasks I've ever had. You might not like it. Its really hard to get new members and its even harder to get them to stay. If you want a blog and forum, then use PHPBB for the forum and wordpress for the blog. If you do get popular and decide you like it, then upgrade to vBulletin.

IMO, the vBulletin "blog" is a waste of money. You can accomplish the same thing with a program call "vBadvanced". Its a free add on for vBulletin. And if you don't like vbadvanced, you can stick with your old wordpress blog. Wordpress is a very powerful bit of software and is pretty easy to use.

Yeah, I really like Wordpress, but never had a real forum before. I was able to pick up a drop on a domain name that was used for a very popular marine fish and coral website, it gets about 60+ uniques a day as it has been down for quite some time, but it still has several backlinks to other big marine fish/coral related sites.

I know quite a few big people in the industry that if it takes off, I dont mind having as admins/moderators with some type of rev share. I don't plan on trying to accomplish it all on my own, simply don't have the time.

thanks for your ideas and suggestions, going to think it through and figure out what to do over the next few weeks.

-Mike C.