Best Forum Software

[azx]

Which is the best forum software board out there?

I know few but dunno which is da best

Mybb
Phpbb
Ipb v1.3.1 (Final)
woltlab
SMF

I was going for Ipb 1.3.1 but they said it has lots of exploit n bugs. -.- phpbb

[UnlimitedMB]

I prefer vBulletin :)

[azx]

I prefer vBulletin :)

They freaking $ :( I had one before my sister bought it...but it only license for 1 year..Then u have to pay again :(

[john]

There are always the illegal versions where the licenses have been "patched'. ;)

[azx]

There are always the illegal versions where the licenses have been "patched'. ;)

And ur site will be taken down :)

[choppy]

ehh...i like vBulletin and IPB. how much does a vB cost again?

[azx]

Let just say its expensive now.... :) I had vbulletin 3.0.0 (really old ) was release after vbulletin 2...

Anyways :) its all good :P if we can just put a vbulletin patched version i be glad to do it so...but dont want my site to be taken down ^_^

[UnlimitedMB]

Let just say its expensive now.... :) I had vbulletin 3.0.0 (really old ) was release after vbulletin 2...

Anyways :) its all good :P if we can just put a vbulletin patched version i be glad to do it so...but dont want my site to be taken down ^_^

Dont use pirated vbulletin here, they are very strict and they will find it.

[xeondimension]

IPB is my favorite.

[azx]

PHPBB + IPBSKIN + MOD = ownage :)

[Tyler]

I like the vBulletin admin section the most out of all the forums. While it does cost alot, it is worth it.

[azx]

Anyone have vbulletin 2? not vbulletin 3

There was a free version of vbulletin 2.. i couldnt find it...
vbulletin doesnt support vbulletin 2 :( anymore...

[lifesux]

phpbb for me... phpbb3 is now in beta testing... i am sooo tempted, but as its beta theres probably security flaws and a mountain of bugs

[devira]

Olympus isn't going to be done for another two years, at least.

SMF is my favorite, especially with the TinyPortal mod.

[xbllizzdx]

I prefer Invsion Power Board because it has alot of features like the warning system, but it costs $180 for a 1 year licence.

[madd069]

PowerBB is a new software out there that is very fast, easy to skin, easy to install, easy to manager, and has more features than some of the more popular boards out there.

[jpskeyclub]

Vbulliten is the best out of all forums ive seen..

[lomarb]

I like Invision Power Board's layout and graphic, vBulletin's search is superb and im currently trying others.

[madd069]

vBulliten is ugly...

IPB is easy to hack...

phpBB is easy to hack...

[Tyler]

vBulliten is very easy to change though, my vote stats for vBulletin. :)

[madd069]

vB will still always be ugly though, lol

[rob]

is there a good, harder to hack FREE forum?
i use phpbb but i guess it's easy to hack. should i be concerned or is there steps to prevent the "easy hacks"?
thanks

[madd069]

Well, technically no forum software out there will be hack free, its just a matter of if hackers find these hacks or not. What do hackers want to do, hack of course. So they will exploit larger board softwares out there so they can hack mroe. If you go with a free, and small board software out there, chances are very high that there will be no hacks for it. Therefore, free softwares can be safe in that sense. If I were you, I would go with PowerBB (http://powerwd.com). I have personally tested it for exploits and it seems pretty safe.

EDIT-Also, do not think boards like IPB and vB are safe just cause you have to pay for them. There are many exploits out there too. But since it is a paid software, there will be more updates to keep it safer.

[Tyler]

Sorry madd069, that is just not true. Generally small forums do not last long because the creators dont know how to protect them against hackers, so alot of hackers attack them and no one will use their software.

Generally paid forums are so popular because people are being paid to sit down and try to find security holes, then plugg them. Don't get me wrong, yes they all have security holes, but paid forums have less. Not to mention that the hackers cant see the source so they cant see where they can hack.

[madd069]

Do you really think hackers dont know how to get forum files? And, although I dont want to get in a pointless argument, no hackers try to hack small forums softwares because there is no fun in it. They want to hack IPB and vB, the forums out there that are so popular and they can make a name for themselves among the hacking community.


And just to keep promoting PowerBB, it is extremely safe because I do know how to find exploits in PHP and I often report them to the owner and know how to fix them.

Go to PowerBB now! (http://www.powerwd.com)

[xbllizzdx]

Acually hackers like to test there skills on smaller boards,

and i agree with tyler, people acually pay $180 dollars for vbulletin and invision power board.

They get loads of money and have a dedicated team just for security issues, no one like to use phpbb because they have security issues like u would not believe, like you can just edit your cookies on phpbb and then be logged in as admin.

Believe me ive done it(Just to see if it worked, and i did it on my forum) ever since that, i don't use phpbb anymore.

[millar]

I much prefer IPB, I personally use IPB and find it has a very slick interface, that is user-friendly. As for vBulletin, I find it a little tacky, and I don't seen anything better about the ACP over, IPB.

[warsownation]

for me its up in the air between IPB (v 1.3.x) and phpBB...although I have to say IPB has been easier to work with (I can't seem to get all of phpBB's files to upload to my FTP, on this site at least)

I'd go with vB or a newer IPB but I just don't have nor want to spend the cash to buy a licence for it...

(although if there is a free non-pirated version of vB I'd like a link :D)

[rob]

ok, so phpbb is easy to hack and has several hacks out there. Currently I'm running the most recent version but have no rolled out to "public" yet. Is there a site that lists hacks or fixes to them? Is there a site that tracks them or has updates or fixes I can apply?
I just dont want my site or users to get hacked and all the sudden lose hits as a result.
thanks

[arenlor]

umm about PHPBB it's rather funny, a hacker showed us some hacks you can do with it, I'm seriously not allowed to say what he does, he could barely tell us any of it anyway (he works for NSA) but yeah PHPBB is easily hackable, then he hacked collegeboard.com and them my IPB and then my VB and then my powerboard and I mean hacked them, easily, in about 10 seconds, total, and he took control of my site each time through them, so yeah, all of them are perfectly safe since you pay for those lol. So really use the one you like and hope you don't get hacked is the lesson.

[millar]

IPB is usually quick to realease pathces, straight after hack info. Just have to stay alert for the updates. Matt ( IPB Creator ) has even resorted to trying to hack the IPB software. I have always thought that might be a good idea :p.

[aosendatsu]

I haven't messed with Vbulletin so I don't know how good it is...

Phpbb is extremely simple to use and I like that, although I think there's always going to be serious vulnerabilities in that software...There are some gorgeous skins for Phpbb though. *drool*

IPB isn't bad. I like it's features and design. I enjoyed working with it :) Plenty of nice skins and overall good software. I prefer it over Phpbb.

I'm using SMF at the moment. Incredibly easy to set up, as well as having nice features. Although it has a serious lack of skins compared to every other software...although it's FREE! Gotta love free stuff right? Can be a little complex to use sometimes, but well worth it.

[zilox]

SMF RockS man its kool !

[choppy]

now i like XennoBB :D its like IPB but free!

[freefunonline]

Thanks for the tip Choopy.
I installed XennoBB today, and I really like it.

[ukdesi]

PhpBB is the one for me!

[ubuntumc]

Inivision all the way for me. I still have my 2.0 trial. and it is unlimited. Just to bad I don't have the money yet for their new release. My money went to college to pay the tuition

[keith]

The best forum software, in my opinion, has to be vBulletin.

However, that's a paid software, and for a free forum software, I will definitely go for Small Machine Forums (SMF), which is much secure than phpBB. Their latest release RC 3 has something great!

[zoyeb]

vBulletin is the best no doubt. I've seen many excellent styles for it that take away the uglyness.

[teengeek2008]

myBB is THE BEST as to the NSA hacker they have to know how to hack into stuff. I think they need warrents though

[nometers]

Take a look at this chart. It summarizes pretty much everything:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Internet_forum_software

[keith]

That sure is a good list of forum. Thanks for sharing that site. Didn't know it exists. :)

[djmason]

I prefer phpbb thats what I always use

[aosendatsu]

Granted, phpBB does have it's pluses (simple, some nice themes). But the security isn't up to much...

Simple Machines FTW! :D

[leetcenter]

simple machines

[rob]

coolio, i'll peep out SMF. I want to have a public forum but aint got no cash and i want to deter most attempts at hacking and it sounds like phpbb is a walk in the park for most. but yes, anything is hackable and chances are the free ones are going to be less secure as a result.
im surprised this thread went as long as it did.
thanks everyone for your input.

[johnboles]

Let just say its expensive now.... :) I had vbulletin 3.0.0 (really old ) was release after vbulletin 2...


vbulletin 3 was actually released after vbulletin 2????!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!?

[svrfed]

phpbb - Best free forum host
ipb - good for all those people who have some knowledge *great paying starter board*
vbulletin - good when your community is up and running with a fair few people visiting each day

[njunkies]

I was using SMF but converted it to MyBB and it is excellent :)

I prefer it a lot more than SMF :)

[keith]

I was using SMF but converted it to MyBB and it is excellent :)

I prefer it a lot more than SMF :)

Really? can you share more about what's so good about MyBB?

[njunkies]

Really? can you share more about what's so good about MyBB?

Well nothing particularly really.

I find everything easier to find, in the Admin CP etc. I just find the way everything is presented in MyBB much better.

Maybe it's just my taste though :)

[bonekhan]

I use a Joomla extension that integrates the site with the forum :)

[rob]

does anyone here use SMF? i haven't had a chance to check it out yet to replace my phpbb ones.
anything to look out for or tips?
thanks

[moonbeam]

I dont really like SMF...
I like to use PHPBB, or PUNBB (http://www.punbb.org/)...
A lot more easy to customize and is very easy to handle!

[jag100]

Well nothing particularly really.

I find everything easier to find, in the Admin CP etc. I just find the way everything is presented in MyBB much better.

Maybe it's just my taste though :)

I always use mybb its got great plugins and its quite easy to make themes for it and im like a basic graphic designer :p

MyBB- http://www.mybboard.com/

[pixellabs]

Free: MyBB
Paid: IPB

[crab]

This is one of my favourites...

Xennobb (http://www.xennobb.com/):) :) :)

[pixellabs]

Free: MyBB
Paid: IPB

[audow]

SMF is my choice

[jag100]

This is one of my favourites...

Xennobb (http://www.xennobb.com/):) :) :)

XennoBB was a rip of other forum softwares and got into a lawsuit

[zidian]

Just make your own... :). Pretty easy.

[neorune]

No not really.

I like IPB.

[cr0wonline]

I prefer the one i made. :p

[neorune]

I cant make my own forum. Im not that technically smart.

[cr0wonline]

I cant make my own forum. Im not that technically smart.

The backend is just basic PHP, so techincally as long as you know the basics of PHP and MySQL/flatfiles, you should be able to create one. The security, however, is what makes it harder.

[neorune]

Yeah I dont know Php or Mysql.

[cr0wonline]

Yeah I dont know Php or Mysql.

Hmm, yes, that might be a problem. :p

[backdoor]

Well, technically no forum software out there will be hack free, its just a matter of if hackers find these hacks or not. What do hackers want to do, hack of course. So they will exploit larger board softwares out there so they can hack mroe. If you go with a free, and small board software out there, chances are very high that there will be no hacks for it.

Though you are partially right, I would like to throw in my 2 cents.

Some hackers DO hack for the access and to destroy things, but others do it for the learning experience, and will attempt to exploit ANY software. Security freaks would likely exploit your site just to see how stable the software you're using is, and maybe sometimes leave you a note to fix something (or if you're lucky, they'll do it themselves.). Its not that free, small boards have a higher security, its just that it's either too easy, or not worth the time.

Anyway, I prefer SMF (If I haven't already posted in this topic).

[jeffro11]

@backdoor

Absoluetly correct. my site www.fearmaps.com (http://www.fearmaps.com) got hacked and well... he edited the sql database for our footer, and it redirected to his site saying that our site was insecure and for us to contact him... I found what he did before we contacted him, but he gave use a few patches to fix things up... after that no more hacking attempts. :)

[lof]

I use mybb
I do prefer ipb but I hove only used up to 1.3 and it wasnt the best I still like mainly as its what I learnd to run a site and I am alwase looking for a sood bb software

[vorarg]

Dont use pirated vbulletin here, they are very strict and they will find it.

Also, you can get a huge fine, and have your internet disconnected :P
I pick SMF, it's very easy to use, and very easy to customize.
Plus all the features... :D

[movieforumz]

phpBB 3 "Olympus" is good for free software, and so are SMF and MyBB however if you want to spend some money and your forum is quite big and demanding, go for vBulletin. I have used IPB and it was hacked the 1st day it was set up :(.

I won't be restoring it as I need to trace the hacker :( - not easy to do.

[wlacards]

I've always been a fan of phpBB. 2.0 admittedly is lacking in features but it's easy to customize and there's so many MODs out there for you to play with that you can't help but learn something from it. phpBB 3 - now that it's been released - is a lot more functional, and can definitely hold its own even against propriety software like SMF, vB, IPB, etc, especially with its new kickass style :D

[clanxperience]

Olympus isn't going to be done for another two years, at least.

SMF is my favorite, especially with the TinyPortal mod.

Hahaha sadly you were right, but it is out now! :D