best free forum software?

ccgr · Share | #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2006, 07:45 AM

I have a couple sites using phpbb2, my comptuer site got really spam botted even with the mods I had installed. I'm now using mercury board and so far I like it..what does everyone else use around here?

if you want to see my boards no check out

http://www.progresssystemsinc.com/phpBB2/

(yes I know it's not phpBB2 I didn't want to change all my links

bytech · #2 (**permalink**) 10-27-2006, 02:44 PM

Check out http://simplemachines.org/ or http://getvanilla.com/ .

ccgr · #3 (**permalink**) 10-27-2006, 03:01 PM

simplemachines looks nice thanks for the referral

bytech · #4 (**permalink**) 10-27-2006, 03:07 PM

Heard great stuff about it. One of the members on my forums has many a time complimented both Simple Machines and Vanilla. I'm using Invision on both my boards, but with their new pricing model, I think I'll be personally looking into these two as future alternatives.

TheCite · #5 (**permalink**) 10-27-2006, 04:17 PM

I have used SMF, PHPBB, MYBBS and several others. SMF is pretty good, I have liked MYBBS especially since it has some nice VBulletin like features, but I would ask you if you think you might be able to flip the cost of VBulletin that you seriously consider it.

Was the best decision I ever made when I moved several of my forums over to VBulletin.

By the way Bytech, I have never used Invision Powerboard, what is their new pricing scheme?

bytech · #6 (**permalink**) 10-27-2006, 05:42 PM

The new pricing scheme is very much like vB if I a not mistaken: To get updates year after year, you have to pay year after year. I have a couple IPB life time licenses... I get no technical support after first year, but I have access to download updates for as long as the software exists. This was the reason I chose IPB in the first place, so with that advantage gone, I'd have to look around again including vB if I was spending money on anything.

I'll have to check out MYBBS... don't recall ever hearing about it. By name, it reminds of VBBS which I used for a short while on my dialup BBS back in the day.

ivenms · #7 (**permalink**) 10-28-2006, 02:45 AM

There is another great forum software available for your sites. It is MyBB

Home site: http://mybboard.com

An active forum using MyBB: http://webmasters-forums.com

You will really enjoy using this forum.

pr0xy122 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-28-2006, 03:00 AM

I would go for SMF plenty of features lots of great looking templates, easy to use. And very easy to mod compared to phpBB and others.

Izzmo · #9 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 11:27 AM

I have been using SMF as well the past couple of months. It's different and has functionality WAY TO SIMILIAR to YaBB

(http://www.yabbforum.com). I think that's why I like SMF so much is because YaBB was the first forum I ever used.

Here is what I reccommend:
- SMF (http://www.SimpleMachines.org)
- YaBB (http://www.YaBBForum.com)

I've never personally heard of MyBBS, so.. you might want to check that out as well.

Bernard · #10 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 12:33 PM

I have not had a single automated sign up since I installed the anti-bot question mod on my phpbb2 forum.

ivenms · #11 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 12:57 AM

MyBB is very secured and fast developing.

It also resembles almost VBulletin.

See the VBulletin modified version of MyBB script: http;//webmasters-forums.com

ccgr · #12 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 05:44 AM

looks nice I like it, I have been using mercury board lately, the support isn't great but it works pretty good

superboysahil · #13 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007, 07:37 AM

SMF The Best. I love the admin area.

Fantastic!

Yipee · #14 (**permalink**) 10-17-2007, 07:20 AM

My preference goes to phpbb.

The most simple and efficient to create a forum, imho

If you haven't got much time, and want to see what the new phpbb3 can offer, just try it out on this host : free forums

Hope you will enjoy it

2mymall · #15 (**permalink**) 10-17-2007, 10:30 AM

If we are talking about FREE Forums! VB is out.

I use PhpBB and YaBB.

My experience,
PhpBB is more stable as I had lost some posts on YaBB.
YaBB more cool as there are lots of addons.

varginjo · #16 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 02:21 AM

For me it is SMF - http://simplemachines.org

T0d · #17 (**permalink**) 10-19-2007, 08:57 AM

Buy VB from someone who has multiple licenses and get it for around $110. If you are serious about starting a community that price is nothing.

-Todd

scottdizzle · #18 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007, 07:09 PM

Since phpbb recently upgraded I've stopped using it. I've found simplemachines.org to be the easiest to work with and customize for a website. I loves it

photocrats · #19 (**permalink**) 11-02-2007, 07:23 AM

Whatever free forum script you use now, there will be a time that you have to migrate to paid forum script. So I suggest buy paid script if you can afford.

StarLab · #20 (**permalink**) 11-02-2007, 07:39 AM

For a newly setup forum, it's hard to justify the cost of vB or the like when you are not sure if the project is going to be well received or not.

vB has great import features, so if you start with a free forum package, it's usually pretty easy to migrate to vB at a later date when you can justify the cost.

I am also a big fan of SMF... I've installed it on many past projects. And SMF 2.0 is now in Beta and available to Chartered Members. (Can't wait!) Pretty nice stuff from what I've been hearing...