Best Forum Script for $? I can't afford Vbulletin.

phpBB and myBB are very good choices like others have suggested. Personally, though, I feel that you should simply save up for vBulletin because it is simply one of the best.

 

I know Vbulletin is the ebst but the way I look at is I could spend $300.00 on it and no one could ever join.. Would be kind of a waste.

I should have asked this but do any of the forums mentioned have an invite script? Like type in email and password and it invites your whole email list?

That would be a big help in getting users.

Also as far as the going free now or saving for Vbulletin argument. think of it like this the faster I get something free up and get it in use and start egtting members then the more $ I could make from adsense and then the faster I could afford vbulletin.

Theoretically anyway.

 

I would not recommend ZetaBoards, while the software may be good it is very hard to do what you want to do and it's not "your forum".

 

If it is a forum based website, go for SMF, if it's just a support forum or whatever, go Vanilla Forums.

 

No definitely looking for a forum based site here. Any ideas for my invite script?

 

Precisely why the conversion path from whatever free option you choose and vbulitin should be something taken into consideration. Not just the base software itself, but any modifications/themes to use as well. It's not fun to build up a site with one set of software with plans of moving to another down the road only to discover the cost to convert ends up being several times what the cost of just going with the original software would have been.

You know what they say, the cheap man always pays twice.

 

IPB is the only paid competitor for vBulletin that is somewhat properly written with good features however it's almost the same amount. I would pay the extra for the quality that comes with vB.

 

1. Vbulletin
2. PHPBB
3. Simplemachines

 

If you're looking for the best free forum software then I would recommend phpbb or mybb.

 

Here are the softwares I have used from beginning to current:

1. phpBB 2.
2. phpBB 3.
3. vBulletin.
4. Now I'm using myBB.

I am not saying myBB is better then vBulletin, I just don't have a license anymore due to my old one running out. I would suggest myBB or phpBB as a free software.

 

My forum was converted from vb to mybb. I still got vb license, just keeping it for my next project which is still in progress. For me, mybb is good forum script, it just that the support and plugins are hard to find and most of them require you to subscribe (paying like $5/year) to multiple plugin sites.

 

SMF, or Simple machines forum ,is in my opinion the best forum script, and it's free!

Other than that, PHPbb seems a popular choice,

good luck

 

I have noticed that also that there are loads of Plugin Forums for myBB, however none of them seem to be charging to much.

 

I also recommend phpBB

If you plan to use a CMS with Forum addon I suggest Joomla with Kunena forum component, both are free and Kunena has multiple built it locations for adsense.

 

That is for sure, noone should go directly on paid forum solutions, you need to have a serious base of posters and uniques per day before you can think about going on paid software.

Your forum needs to be self financing before you can afford the yearly licence for ipb or Vbulletin ; these two are extremely complete forum solutions ; but they are not the only ones paidsoftware forum solutions. Did you ever hear about Wotlab burning board
standard licence 139$ once, then 39,99$ per year
pro licence 269 once, then 69,99$ per year
one of the biggest reference for this software is they support every country's Ogame forum, MMORPG (france ogame forum server stats -> 186,363 Members - 594,796 Threads - 9,069,014 Posts (average 4,622.33 Posts per day))

In any case, all vbulletin, ipb, Wotlab burning board do have a PhpBB or MyBB import module so you can import your forum running at least 1000 active posters.

Cheers

 

So is it safe to say the general consensus is I should go with mybb or phpbb and when I get up enough posters and traffic convert to a paid software?

Also no one seems to have gotten that I was interested in one that came with or could have an invite thing added onto it. You know like it searches your email and invites all your contacts?

 

Well it is up to you to see, there is no NEED to go in paid software, it is just a suggestion to get more optimized software, with real help and support.

Many remain stuck to their phpbb or mybb

(even gaiaonline was first run on phpbb ; has then evolved)

 

Go for Discuz English version this best open source forums application on Web the, if you want have demo look my brand New India Travel Forum

 

if i would start a forum i would prefer..
vbulletin
SMF
vertex
myBB