Not really a big concern, but here is my little petpeeve with WHMCS.

People are recommanding WHMCS to EVERYBODY no matter what the needs are.

Take this thread for an example: http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=626108

This guy is asking for a helpdesk software. NOT a bloody billing system. Yes, WHMCS is a nice ALL IN ONE system. But CMON! don't recommand WHMCS to somebody when he/she just need a SINGLE function that is in WHMCS.

I guess the main issue here is I just don't want WHMCS turning into a MB. I personally use WHMCS as well and I like the progress Matt is doing with it. Regular updates, active in forums... etc

I just hope this momentum doesn't make Matt think he has own the web hosting industry's billing system.

I think your thought basis is way off. What does WHMCS and Matt have to do with its happy customers? The only relationship there is that Matt keeps them happy enough to tell others about it.

I do agree that its annoying when people ask advice on a particular product, then get suggestions on another. Im more talking though about people that ask for feedback on CE, then someone chimes in with "WHMCS is the best" while not even giving feedback on the actual topic.

So you mention that you dont like people recommending whmcs when someone is asking for a helpdesk. Well, a large majority of the "helpdesk" solutions out there do more than do trouble tickets, a lot do knowledgebases, announcements, etc, etc. So they do extra functionality as well. While WHMCS does more, i do think it still fits the build of the users request.

Owning a market is completely different than being a leader. You can admit that WHMCS is one of the top billing solutions used by web hosts. I dont see how that is a negative and convince you to be paranoid about the product.

To summarize, it believe your thoughts to be unwarranted. Just my personal opinion.

WHMCS is the best!!!

I think your thought basis is way off. What does WHMCS and Matt have to do with its happy customers? The only relationship there is that Matt keeps them happy enough to tell others about it.

I do agree that its annoying when people ask advice on a particular product, then get suggestions on another. Im more talking though about people that ask for feedback on CE, then someone chimes in with "WHMCS is the best" while not even giving feedback on the actual topic.

So you mention that you dont like people recommending whmcs when someone is asking for a helpdesk. Well, a large majority of the "helpdesk" solutions out there do more than do trouble tickets, a lot do knowledgebases, announcements, etc, etc. So they do extra functionality as well. While WHMCS does more, i do think it still fits the build of the users request.

Owning a market is completely different than being a leader. You can admit that WHMCS is one of the top billing solutions used by web hosts. I dont see how that is a negative and convince you to be paranoid about the product.

To summarize, it believe your thoughts to be unwarranted. Just my personal opinion.

You can call it paranoid, you can call it the business cycle.

The problem I have with it, is that the momentum that's going for WHMCS is going to backfire on Matt.

Somebody mentioned lpanel for an example on the other thread. lpanel came out strong, but look where it is now.

Also look at MB. MB was the defacto standard for hosting billing; lots of options, very complex, highly customizable... but look at what they are doing now. Just laying back and answer ticket once in a while.

The main concern here is these "happy customers" are praising the product for the wrong reasons.

Don't get me wrong, I want WHMCS to do good, heck.. I'm a user myself but when reality hits, the people who are going to be complaining the most are these "happy customers"

I guess the point I'm trying to make is. These "happy customers" are pushing WHMCS TOO hard. While they may have never use other billing solutions before making a suggestion to somebody. Yes, giving a feedback of your own opinion is good, but at give some valid reasons.

The higher you get, the harder it hurt...

Good recommandation
There really isn't a "best". It's all what features you are looking for, as stated above, and personal preference. I have tried Modernbill, WHMAP and WHMCS. I have been blown away by WHMCS, while some others I know love WHMAP and Modernbill. I would suggest you get a trial and find out which ones you like best. Play around with them a little bit, ask questions.

Some things that are being covered up by the wave of "happy customers"?

Honestly you will get many different opinions. Right now WHMCS is in the hotlight, but depending on what control panel you use depneds on how it will work.

As for posts deleted I know this from experience. There was a post regarding importing and some other things from Plesk for the API.

I made a very small comment during the time we were actually considering this that they should take a closer look at the Plesk API because what the client was asking was possible.

I went back a week later to see if there had been any update and my post had been deleted.

At that point all considerations for WHMCS went away and we won't go near them.

If a company wants to delete criticism that is one thing, but when posts that are simply stating that something can be accomplished so they can look into it are deleted I will not use there product.

They could have simply stated "Sorry, we are not interested in adding this feature".

I agree with MACscr, your worries are unecessary, unfounded and to compare it to lpanel is a joke. And backfire because of popularity? Doubt it, being popular is a good thing.

XSI-Larry's opinions are well known on here for being negative towards WHMCS - he used to post that same comment in every thread there was on billing systems to try and put people off. Anyone who uses the forums or WHMCS knows it's not true and would respond and I think he finally took the hint - it seems to be the only negative thing he can find to say - so that's a good thing as far as I can see.

I like many others, use and actively support WHMCS as you might tell from this!

I just hope this momentum doesn't make Matt think he has own the web hosting industry's billing system.
I'm pretty sure that WHMCS doesn't have nearly the same amount of users as ClientExec and ModernBill. Still a long way to go.

And I'm sort of looking forward to that time as he'll be able to improve support further as well probably get other developers working on WHMCS.

Only time will tell.

I do agree that the TS looking for a helpdesk (not billing system). I think they had missed that point and recommended the wrong product for use.

And I'm sort of looking forward to that time as he'll be able to improve support further as well probably get other developers working on WHMCS.
Are you kidding? The support can't get any better than it is now - the problem with those companies you mention is they have support guys who don't have a clue and provide useless answers. That isn't the case with WHMCS.

And more developers? Why? If releases were any more frequent than they are now then you'd always be upgrading. Considering your a reseller, I'm suprised at the points you've made as they just seem stupid?!?

Are you kidding? The support can't get any better than it is now - the problem with those companies you mention is they have support guys who don't have a clue and provide useless answers. That isn't the case with WHMCS.

And more developers? Why? If releases were any more frequent than they are now then you'd always be upgrading. Considering your a reseller, I'm suprised at the points you've made as they just seem stupid?!?
I wasn't saying the current support was bad. I have previously praised their support before and after we became their reseller. I was just saying, just like anything on this world, it can be improved for the better. I would have thought this was fairly obvious.

As for "always upgrading", that was not what I was referring to. Just like support, the development process can be improved. Why do you think companies hire more developers? It can increase the number of improvements made as well as being able to test more and deliver a stronger overall upgrade. So while someone might be working on new features, someone else could work on improving the what is already there and they both get more time on their own part. I'm not talking about getting something out of the door quicker because it is already quick as it is.

So please review your own points before calling mine stupid. Don't get me wrong, I like WHMCS as it is now but the future could be brighter.

WHMCS is the current "hot" billing system. It used to be ModernBill. I have no doubt that "soon" it will be something else.

No billing system is perfect for every person, and having watched several of them "mature" and then become worse... I have little doubt the same issue will happen to whmcs eventually.

To respond to the thread topic -- I also find it annoying to see people recommending WHMCS to every person who is looking for a billing system. WHMCS is decent, and it meets a particular need.. but it isn't the "end all" for every company. Just because it works great for some, does not mean it is good for others.

More on this -- I'd rather see WHT put up a list of web hosting billing systems. Any vendor would be free to add their system to the list, and it would link to a forum that had reviews/comments specific to that software. That would be MUCH more useful then the hundreds of "which billing system should I use?!!!" threads that fill the forums now with useless replies that really say nothing.

More on this -- I'd rather see WHT put up a list of web hosting billing systems. Any vendor would be free to add their system to the list, and it would link to a forum that had reviews/comments specific to that software. That would be MUCH more useful then the hundreds of "which billing system should I use?!!!" threads that fill the forums now with useless replies that really say nothing.
I'm pretty sure that the wiki was for this exact type of thing. I also agree it would be nice, though I doubt people will bother reading it and still do as they do right now.

More on this -- I'd rather see WHT put up a list of web hosting billing systems. Any vendor would be free to add their system to the list, and it would link to a forum that had reviews/comments specific to that software. That would be MUCH more useful then the hundreds of "which billing system should I use?!!!" threads that fill the forums now with useless replies that really say nothing.

The Wiki (http://www.webhostingtalk.com/wiki/Billing_and_automation_software#Billing_and_automation_software) has something similar now. There is no "reviews/comments" as the Wiki is meant to be unbiased. :)

The Wiki (http://www.webhostingtalk.com/wiki/Billing_and_automation_software#Billing_and_automation_software) has something similar now. There is no "reviews/comments" as the Wiki is meant to be unbiased. :)
I've been a member here since 2002, and I did not even know there was a wiki.

Do search results from the forum include the wiki pages? If not, then it's pretty useless....

I've been a member here since 2002, and I did not even know there was a wiki.

It's pretty new (http://www.webhostingtalk.com/news/wht-launches-web-hosting-wiki/). So you have a good excuse. :)


Do search results from the forum include the wiki pages? If not, then it's pretty useless....

The forum search and Wiki search is different. If you look at the search bar where it's at on the forums, then at the Wiki, you'll notice it changes from "Search Forums" to "Search Wiki".

this whmcs software sure is popular on these forums!

WHMCS is the current "hot" billing system. It used to be ModernBill. I have no doubt that "soon" it will be something else.
Well I'll be doing everything I can to make sure that isn't the case! :)

Matt

The main concern here is these "happy customers" are praising the product for the wrong reasons.

Don't get me wrong, I want WHMCS to do good, heck.. I'm a user myself but when reality hits, the people who are going to be complaining the most are these "happy customers"

I guess the point I'm trying to make is. These "happy customers" are pushing WHMCS TOO hard. While they may have never use other billing solutions before making a suggestion to somebody. Yes, giving a feedback of your own opinion is good, but at give some valid reasons.

The higher you get, the harder it hurt...

Good recommandation


Some things that are being covered up by the wave of "happy customers"?

Wow, I am new here and a very "happy" customer of WHMC. But I don't understand your comment above. Are you saying that these "happy" customers are too pushy?

As a consumer, I have used other billing systems. I an also intelligent enough business man to know (learn) what hype is and what real facts are. It does not matter what a "happy" customer praises their products about (as long as it is truthful); the real fact here is that the consumer must make their own decision and then be accountable for it.

I am a Ford Truck man. I will tell you that Ford Trucks are without a doubt the absolute best vehicle in the world. On the other hand, my brother is a Chevy man and will tell you the same thing.

So, as a Happy Ford Guy or Happy Chevy guy not promote what they have experienced? Should Ford or Chevy produce the absolute best product for their consumers and then let them promote it? Or should they tell their happy customers not to brag about their product. Should the guy with 500,000 miles tell others about his reliable vehicle? (analogy)

I think Matt's business approach and business practices will keep him where he is at; today and increase his positions in the future; as long as he continues to provide his consumers what they need and want.

I call it Customer Service. Something that many business seem to forget as they grow. They forget who provides their paycheck.

My nickel worth.

Wow, I am new here and a very "happy" customer of WHMC. But I don't understand your comment above. Are you saying that these "happy" customers are too pushy?

As a consumer, I have used other billing systems. I an also intelligent enough business man to know (learn) what hype is and what real facts are. It does not matter what a "happy" customer praises their products about (as long as it is truthful); the real fact here is that the consumer must make their own decision and then be accountable for it.

Yes, the consume is accountable for their own actions, but at the same time these "happy" customers are giving misleading information in regarding to the completing product.

these "happy" customers are too blinded by the current direction of WHMCS

We are very happy with whmcs and have no problems. It probably wouldn't be the best support system, however if your using it for billing as well, there no point getting an external system.

Hi Vince,

I agree with misleading information; although I will not sugar coat a lie versus mis leading information; if someone is lying about a product; I think think that the company should be told about it and let them deal with it. I would also confront the lier on the same manner that they presented the lie.

If the information is misleading based on ignorance then I would object to that information.

I guess, either way; I would try to dispel the information. If I had a customer promoting something that was misleading; I would want to know about it so that I can correct the information with fact and/or address the person make the statements.

Another nickel worth.

Keith

Well I'll be doing everything I can to make sure that isn't the case! :)

Matt
I'm confident you will try. But eventually, if your goal is to "take over" the billing industry, then you'll have to expand your company.

And that's when things change. ModernBill was a very solid company and program when there was only a few developers behind it. Now it's a "big" company, with a big program, and big problems.

WHMCS is still a one-man operation, and it shows with your high level of support/service and (I don't mean this negatively) relatively limited features. When you start supporting 10 different control panels, 10 different domain registrars, 25 different gateways, plus continuously adding more and more complicated features.. and also try and do bug fixes... you won't be able to do it all by yourself and maintain the same level of support/service.

So eventually, you're either going to need to purposely limit the functionality of the script (which I think could be a GOOD thing if done correctly and you focus on a specific target market and nail it as the *best* solution hands down), or you will need to hire and then try try to manage your company and the software as it grows without your direct hands-on control.

:)

If that happens, then some other billing system will jump in and be the next "wonderful" script to take your place.

WHMCS is still a one-man operation
WHMCS is not a one-man operation. There's two of us working on support and another behind the scenes.

When you start supporting 10 different control panels, 10 different domain registrars, 25 different gateways, plus continuously adding more and more complicated features.. and also try and do bug fixes... you won't be able to do it all by yourself and maintain the same level of support/service.
WHMCS already supports over 40 different payment gateways, 11 domain registrars and 9 server types and new releases every few weeks backs that up. In additon, unlike some other systems, the new releases contain new features - not just fixes for broken existing features and security holes that have been found.

There's more than 1 reason for MB's big problems and it's not the fact they are a big company - it's the fact there software doesn't work. When you have a system like WHMCS which is fairly bug free, you'll find you need to do much less support which might be where your misconception has come from.

I'm not trying to argue here and I realise that WHMCS isn't as big as MB yet and isn't perfect by any means, but when someone like you comes along with an "I know best" attitude and starts making false claims as I've pointed out, then I feel the need to respond.

Matt

I think WHMCS should focus on security, improving existing features, as well as the database schema (it doesn't scale well) and develop new features at a slower pace. Limiting new features to only those that are highly requested can be a good thing.

Adding features that users want is great, but you can't let it get out of control. When users drive the development process you end up with a ModernBill. A big clunky piece of software that is far from intuitive.

P.S. If you use ModernBill and like it, good for you! Stay with em.

WHMCS is a great software I even have a license of it. <<snipped>>

http://www.ejadspm.com/features.htm does anyone see Modernbill interface comparisons?

http://www.ejadspm.com/features.htm does anyone see Modernbill interface comparisons?

Yeah, its prolley a stolen copy if its that much a like.