Forum software

[klemster]

I'm looking for any advice on forum software. On peoples past experience is it worth paying for vBulletin in the long run or is using free software like SMF or the like just as good??

I've done a little reading up on it and vBulletin does seem to be superior, but cost is an issue at the moment so I'm thinking of using free software for the start-up and then seeing how successful it is eventually moving to vBulletin! Or would that be very complicated???

Any help, links or tips would be really appreciated

 

[bludvl_x19]

Tip 1: Dont use snitz. A forum that I use (only when I *have* to) runs it, and it looks really bad. But FF was a snitz forum once upon a time...

 

[Cig]

Both the forums I use most are vBulletin ones.

Best looking and easiest IMO

 

[ben]

phpbb3 seems quite nice if you don't want to start with vB.

 

[5abr3]

php-Fusion is the one I like using personally: http://www.php-fusion.co.uk/news.php

(their site is running their forum software so thats a nice example)

 

[Kier]

I personally use either PHPbb3 or I.P Board (Dont ask here from >.>). I prefer PHPbb however, although not really had a chance to use IP Board yet.

With VB, you can convert all posts, members etc over from PHPbb and others I believe.

 

[canon]

phpBB is definitely the way to go if you intend on upgrading to vBulletin down the road - ImpEx is a great tool for this. I've run forums where I've used phpBB3, IP. Board 2.3.5 and vBulletin 3.7. Yes vBulletin is the superior - but it's a premium product. I'd avoid IP. Board like the plague as it's very buggy and not as stable and secure as vBulletin.

phpBB3 is great for a small-medium sized forum, but I've found that their Admin Interface is quite complicated in comparision to vBulletin.

Try OpenSourceCMS - it's a great resource for looking for Opensource scripts, as it has live admin and user demo's and they're all free :slayer:

 

[klemster]

I'm going to try phpbb3 and see how that goes! I may be back to ask LOADS of questions!!