forum design

[essexboy]

Can anyone recommend what they believe the best forum software. I know vbulletin is popular but any others?
Ideally easy to deal with spammers.
I use a popular one which is pro boards but dont know much about it.

Does anyone know if you can get a moody copy of vbulletin to work to evaluate it?

 

[GreyWing]

You'll have to type in "nulled vbulletin", it lasts for about 2-3 weeks before there search bots will compare your site to the fact that you don't have a license and will try to shut it down via your server hosts.

So as long as it is just a test site for a few days you should be fine.

 

[SkinnerSkinner is verified member.]

SMF is top of my list

Followed by PHPBB, I also liked XMB for a ligher option

 

[HZC]

I use phpbb3 and it is good but also heared smf is good too.

 

[essexboy]

Why is vbulletin paid for and smf/phpbb isn't? whats better about vbulletin?

 

[dw1973]

I think you pay for the support. phpbb is supported on a voluntary basis, I think vbulletin has dedicated support, response within a certain time etc.

 

[essexboy]

if it's purely support i'll go for the free. I've used phpbb before but may give smf a try.

thanks

 

[acceleratoraccelerator is verified member.]

Why is vbulletin paid for and smf/phpbb isn't? whats better about vbulletin?

I think it does much better on the usability front, and so many popular and well-run forums use vbulletin, that users often prefer it - I certainly do.

Rgds

 

[dw1973]

I've not maintained a vbulletin forum for a good few years, but when I did they were very easy to use from an admin point of view.

phpbb2 was easy in the same way, phpbb3 has a lot more to it and takes a bit of learning but I have 3 or 4 forums running it now and there are plenty of mods and support for any problems you might have.

From a (personal) usability point of view I don't see a lot of difference between vbulletin and phpbb3.

 

[ddwebguru]

PHPbb is a good viable option which is free at the same time.It is good from search engine point of view. I am running a forum with the same software and I am not having any problem.