Im going to get a messageboard for the new site I'm putting togetther and It has to be free so Which is better and why

PHPbb or Invisionboard !!!

I prefer Invisionboard becease to me it looks better and I think te Admin features are better.

I need to make a decision fairly soon so hopefully Ill get some feedback

I've heard that Invision is no longer free. So, it looks like phpBB is it! It isn't too hard to setup and configure. In fact, it is quite simple. If you need any help finding hacks, let me know. I've got a few links saved in my email (thinks), yeah...I hope this helps some.

Take care,
Lori :d

hum... http://www.invisionboard.com/download.cgi you can still get it for free :)

I currently use both. Although IPB is very nice with a lot of features, I think it's too bloated. Lots of stuff in there that I'll never use. phpBB on the other hand is nice & simple. Very easy to setup, and has all the features you need. I'm no longer recommending IPB to anyone. Don't get me wrong, I like it a lot, Just too bloated for me. I set it up for one of my clients and it was a support nightmare, he was messaging me everyday for a week asking me how to do this and that. Two days before I set up phpBB for a different client, he didn't ask me a thing.

Just my .02

I like phpBB better...
You can get lots of hacks for it at - www.phpbbhacks.com
And you can get a lot of nice, free images at - www.forumimages.com

I've been using YabbSE (not to be confused with Yabb) since it's birth and LOVE it. Even better, its offshoot -- SMF is nearing beta. It will turn the forum world upside down. For a preview: www.simplemachines.org

Jason

Phpbb is better, has more hacks, and it's easier to use. But if you do have $150 to spend you can get a vBulletin which is by far the best, and the easiest to use.

If you're talking to me...

-better is subjective ;)
-more hacks? If so, I've yet to see 'em
-easier to use, also subjective, depends on what you're doing

Jason

i pretty much a beginner i tried phpbb and invision boards i find them a little hard to customise so i've just gone with XMB forums

its simple and thats why i like XMB

I think that you would be better off with phpBB. I am pretty sure it has a larger userbase and better hacks to use. The forums are helpful and when I was using it, it was pretty easy to set up.

I've used both and have to say phpBB cause of the reasons the above user posted. vBulletin has my overall vote though.

1. vBulletin
2. Invisionboard (it's awesome)
3. PhPBB

vBulletin... nothing comes close the vB3 (still in beta)

VBuletin is expensive right:rolleyes: something like $150 for a license or something.

What can the Vbuletin baord do that say I couldn't do on Invisionboard !!! Im sure there must be loads at that price.

Also im sure I read a thread somewhere somebody would lease it to you for $15 per month os something. Can't find it now

I think the features are just about the same for VB and ibf.

I like ibf overall

My vote goes for invision because of the features and look.

I also think that you would be better off with phpBB for the same reason as many others. I also found the forums to be helpful and when Iit was easy to set up. Again, my two cents worth!
Susan

If your going to go free I'd say PHPbb.

However, getting vbulletin is money well spent. ;)

double post. Sorry!

IBF Definetly although VB is still alright.

IPB1.2 ~ vB3.0 ~ phpBB2.2
IPB1.2 > vB2.3 > phpBB2.0

There's so many "mods" (screw the term hacks!) for phpBB2 since it's lacking many standard features :P
vB althrough, have lots of pro skinners :)

our website is currently using invisionboard. I wish i had enough money for VBulletin (more staple i guess)

I would go w/ PHPBB. I have it in my phpnuke site and it works great. Though another good choice is ikonboard

IPB is a bit overcrowded, and PHPBB has much more mods.


PHPBB gots my vote :thumbsup:

Originally posted by SPLForums
Im going to get a messageboard for the new site I'm putting togetther and It has to be free so Which is better and why

PHPbb or Invisionboard !!!

I prefer Invisionboard becease to me it looks better and I think te Admin features are better.

I need to make a decision fairly soon so hopefully Ill get some feedback
I would recommend Invision Power Board. It is simply the best message board solution out there. :)

Definitly Invision ...vbulletin is pretty great but its expensive

vBulletin tops my list. IPB is a close second. :)

vbulletin is best - no doubts... plenty of hacks to be downloaded as well in sites such as vbulletin.org

phpbb is much more limited in its functions, although at first sight it may look similar to vbulletin.... well, it;s not!

I'm a YaBBSE user, but have signed up as a Charter Member for SimpleMachines (www.simplemachines.org)

I definitely think that SimpleMachines is moving in the right direction. I've been a happy YaBBSE user since day one, and am glad to see that they've now moved onto a product that should rival all the top tier boards out there...

I'll post a review of my experiences once I have my migration completed.

I really like Invision the best. I find it very intuitive and simple to administrate.

vB = necessary if a "pro image" is a must (many think vB is best and will judge you in a more positive light simply by having it)

phpBB fan here, I think it does everything a forum admin needs, just plain and simple.

I like phpbb better, and with the hacks you can easily make it a lot like vBulletin. A vBulletin license is $160, and phpBB is free. That's a major draw.

I like phpBB and you can customize it fairly easily to meet your needs.

Invision is no doubt THE BEST free board software out there. I would say its even up there with vB.

I have been running with IPB since 1.0
Havent switched for a reason.

I like phpbb the best. vB is alright but it's just too much money and like jojok said just use mods on phpbb and you have just as much feautures as vB. And Invision...I don't know why...it just doesn't really appeal to me. I don't care if it more admin controls or whatever it just can't top off phpbb. So i'd say...go with phpbb.

i like the invision free board the best. i've still yet to use vbulletin, but for now i'm satisfied with what i've got.

I prefer InvisionBoard. It's easy to install, modify, and has all the features I need..

I have used them all, and here is a few word from my experience. Take it or leave it. :)

PhpBB is the best. Its free, easy to use and has the most hacks. Also, everyhting related to it is free, ie templates and etc. More people will be able to help you with phpBb because more people use it. They also come out with newer versions often and make it easy to upgrade. Finding other online scripts such as PAFile DB for integration with your forums is a snap because phpBB developers encourage thier users to hack it.

VBulletin is expensive. Its over $100 and even after you pay there are still domain restriction (which is rediculous). Templates from othersites are sold like the vbulletin script and its just as good as phpbb. If you dont feel like hacking your board, or spending too much time tailoring it and have the bread to spend, then go with VBulletin.

Invisionboard is okay, but has little mods. It wont take you to the level you want to go with a busy forum, and you will change your mind and switch to PhpBB or VBulletin. IBforums is kinda fruity (if you know what i mean). Theres no point in using this when phpBB is better and free.


XMBforums are for rookies. Its very basic, less graphics, and very vulnerable to hackers. The security issues have been worked on, but it can still easily be hacked, and i have seen it done more then once. There are not nearly as many hacks as there are for phpBB and you wont find many advanced users that will help you, because they have all used conversion scripts to switch to phpBB or VBulletin. If your into the simple / low amount of graphics look, amybe this can work for you.

If anyone want to see my forum (powered by phpBB), its www.illskill.net

I prefer to us phpBB and their integration with open cms like postnuke is wonderfull.

Invision:
- ugly
- overcrowded
- it was free, now everything is chaging to payed. support is none unless you pay. there is a tiny link to free version on downloads page, but i guess it won't be there for long
overall: i hate it

phpBB:
- nice and simple
- lots of mods
- great support
- everything is free
overall: best there is. and wait til you see 2.2.... that will be a killer

phpBB, XMB, YaBB, IPB -- personally don't like the creator... but nice board anyway...

vBulletin if you wanted to go pro :D

I think, vBulletin and PhpBB are amongst the best. I think vBulletin is more professional.

yeah, vb and phpbb are probably the best and professional boards. invision is somewhat more or less good, but it's just too messy. it takes up too much space, bandwidth, and it's really ugly. not professional either.

Hi Folks

Actually there are many other MORE
professional options than VB.

As I mentioned in some thread before...the web hosting community can get narrow on these things.

On a similar --I'd actually suggest somewhat higher level than VB

Check out ubbthreads

www.infopop.com

And there are many similar level options...
and there are higher end options too.

For most web hosting situations any of invision, vb, ubbthreads or gossamerthreads would be just great and serve any need that might arise.

For educational websites and commercial sites running classes and such..I would go no lower than invision if one could not afford the others...but depending on the project...ubbthreads, motet, prospero (lacks tracking for classes but some of us are buggingthem).

Lots more options then usually considered.

Ubb I have not checked in a while. The admin was just so clutsy and Invision is also free and so must more flexible.

Best

Renee

oops error:

I did not mean to say that the admin of ubbthreads is clutsy.

Not at all. Far from it--It is great .

I should have said : phpbb. Again it has been almost a year since I worked with that system...so it may have improved.

But it was really clutsy on the back end.

Best

Renee

I currently run several vB's and IPB's. What it comes down to is what you need/prefer. Each board has its own little intricacies “right out of the box" that you need to look at. If you want a great skin from the start, IPB has a great one...always has. If you want the most options in the hack department, PHPbb is the way to go.

After an exhaustive comparison between the major players out there, I still maintain that you can’t get a better forum app than vB. It’s simply unrivaled in poll, attachment, calendar, template customization, and admin features. The template conditionals alone blow everything else away IMO. I am not saying it is the easiest to administer...far from it. Having such a broad feature set does makes administration a bit more involved. But even the other commercial apps like the InfoPop offerings don't even come close to it.

If you have the $160 to buy a license, I would highly recommend it.

phpBB

1. YaBBSE PHP/mySQL driven
2. YaBB (perl driven)
3. PhPBB (PHP/mySQL driven)

m.

XMB rocks
http://www.xmbforum.com
i am using xmbforum since 2002
Its fast easy to customize and with 1000's of options
regards

Been using phpBB for about 2 years now. Love the new mods that have been coming out lately.

Simple and easy. :)

Originally posted by SPLForums
Im going to get a messageboard for the new site I'm putting togetther and It has to be free so Which is better and why

PHPbb or Invisionboard !!!

I prefer Invisionboard becease to me it looks better and I think te Admin features are better.

I need to make a decision fairly soon so hopefully Ill get some feedback


Invision Board isn't that good (IMO) It comes with CPanel and really doesn't compare to others :P

heres my go, I have ran all three, phpBB iBB and vB
I only ran vB for a month cause then my friends license was up but phpBB and iBB i've ran for about 2 yrs.
I skinned both alot.. probabbly made 15 skins in the last year.
I know phpBB's skinning files better then iBB, but phpBB's admin panel seems to be a bit lacking. iBB you get everything when you install it, with phpBB you have to 'mod' it yourself. atm I would love it if phpBB had iBB's calendar, and adminCP but w/e.

I would install both and see what you think of it ur self. explore both for about 2 weeks then decide for your self.

YaBB and Invision for me. I like Invision a lot more than phpBB.

VBB is the best! It has several hacks and what not that are extremely useful.

I have never tried vBulletin because I do not want to buy a licence. The reason I do not want to buy a licence is that I do not own a forum which requires such incredible software, if I ever did, I'm sure I would buy me a vB licence, especially with how good vB3 looks.

Invision Power Board, is definately good enough. It has a very powerful Admin CP, a lot of pre-installed features, it is fast, and importantly it is free. The two things which IMO are lacking, are support and skinning. There are barely any decent FREE IPB skins around, if any. Along with that, there aren't any real good designers/coders that I know of who do commerical IPB skins. And whilst IBPlanet is a good resource, IMO there aren't any guys in the Skin or Graphic Team which could even compare to the better vBulletin skinners.

phpBB, is a nice little forum software, with a lot of awesome mods. Therefore for people who aren't lazy, I'm sure you could turn a standard phpBB 2.0.6 into a feature-packing forum, though it would also slow it down more. However, from experience phpBB support is wonderful, they have some very knowledgeable skinners, coders and expereicned staff. phpBB also has some nice skins. Along with this, phpBB 2.2 promises to be a lot better than 2.0.6, though I still feel IPB will be better, as a software.

Hope my opinions and experiences helped you, all the best :)

SMF all the way.

http://www.simplemachines.org

Vbulletin is the best by far

I hate Phpbb... I just don't like it. I was admin at one of these forums that had phpbb... I gave up. We had a ton of security problems and an admin was doing it. IPB has an admin log thingy unlike Phpbb. So we just gave up on it. IPB is just way better, I just can't get used to Phpbb... I hate it, makes me cringe when I hear "phpbb"...

However, IPB isn't the best. It's second best. Vbulletin is the best. But you have to get the license and pay so I just use IPB. But it's worth the pay, Vbulletin are awesome.

Originally posted by SPLForums
Im going to get a messageboard for the new site I'm putting togetther and It has to be free so Which is better and why

PHPbb or Invisionboard !!!

I prefer Invisionboard becease to me it looks better and I think te Admin features are better.

I need to make a decision fairly soon so hopefully Ill get some feedback

At one point I, too, was debating whether to use IPB or phpBB. I thoroughly compared the features and loading speeds and, in the end, selected IPB. It's free, being developed at an extraordinary pace, and has an enormous community backing it.