Now that my web host is expanding sufficently that I believe it will benefit from, and be able to support, a small forum, I'm looking around for different scripts to use.

I'm currently considering a yearly license, upgrading to owned sometime in the future.

The two scripts that I'm considering are:


vBulletin
Invision Power Board


What are the pros and cons with each, do they both allow upgrading of your license from annual to owned with the annual fees taken off the cost of the owned license, and how stable are they?

Any other points worth considering, please post below.

Thanks.

Upgrades
I believe both Invision and vBulletin allow you to upgrade your yearly license to a lifetime license.

Features
http://www.invisionboard.com/?features
http://www.vbulletin.com/features.php

Security

Invision Board seems to have more security issues than vBulletin, however they IPS is very quick to get a fix released.

The big difference

With the Invision lifetime license, you are allowed to download all future updates. vBulletin gives you 1 year of updates, and charge (I believe) $30.00 for another year, however that is optional.

Good luck :)

Have you ever considered this wonderful project?
http://www.phpbbfm.com

http://phpbbfm.net/ ;)

go with vbulletin

much more user friendly