If you're torn between vBulletin and Invision Power Board, go for IPB. Why? Here are my main reasons: - IPB with the CMS addon is the same price as vBulletin with no addons - IPB with no addons is $50 cheaper than vBulletin with no addons - IPB has a nicer Admin CP than vBulletin: Versus: (That's for 3.8, but 4.0 looks the same) - vBulletins's "CMS" isn't really a CMS, it's more of a blogging engine. IP.Content is a real, unrestricted CMS - IPS offers many cool tools, like a "skin generator" to automatically create a skin based on your colour choices - IPS has better support than vB, from what I can tell. IPS will fix your problem for you, vB will tell you to do it yourself - IPB 3.1 will have features like Facebook and Twitter connect, vB is only now finally catching up The list goes on. In short, there's nothing vB offers for the higher price that Invision Power Board doesn't.
There is no good "statistic", but there are a coupel of indirect methods: 1) Go to any of the "forum directories" - look at what the listed forums use --- this is a very biased method, but when I did this a while back --- vB was >3 times any other software. 2) Also look around forum admin communities when there is a poll on which is the best forum software or what software do you use or something like that. In general and on average, vB gets around 50% of the vote; all the other software packages share the other 50%
Most people use Windows. That doesn't mean its the best OS out there. In fact, it's closer to the worst.
I see your using 3.8.2 - If i may, suggest you to upgrading to the latest version for security reasons. i believe that your version can be exploited.
So why do most people use it? Thats your opinion, just like your opinion of vB. Most people disagree with you.
I love vBulletin... I love the community, the available add ons, the interface, everything about it. I've only used IPB a little, and it was nice, but my personal preference is still vB.
Because vbulletin has so many modifications. You can find dozens of sites, and hundreds of mods for vbulletin, and that has helped push VB into being so popular. Overall, VB is good software, but it lacks a lot of features that commercial grade software should have. Example: VB does not have a way to handle bounced email addresses. Lets say that a member changes internet service providers, but does not update their email address. When you send out a newsletter, there is no way to handle bounced emails. No one click un-subscribe from admin emails - if you send out a newsletter, there is no way to insert a one click un-subscribe option - where the member just clicks a link to un-subscribe. They have to log into their account, and manually change the settings. Over the past few years the project has grown stagnate. Besides the new CMS, I have not seen any "real" updates in 3 years. We have a built in picture gallery, customized profiles - added when myspace was popular -, tags,,,,,. But there is no such that is missing. Where is the download manager? Where is a place to upload videos? Where is the custom video player? We need a better gallery, a lot of the bloat needs to be taken out,,,,.
vbulletin has vb.org, IPB don't have near the mods vb does the only thing I like about the IPB admin is their search feature, and I like this ip.content mod, other then those 2 things, there is no reason why I would use IPB. I have a blog post about vBulletin and IPB, that has 40 replies covering pro's and cons of both scripts.
I love how nobody has listed any reason vB is superior to IPB aside from vbulletin.org. IPS has a resources site, too.
Its kinda like comparing chevy and ford, toyota and dodge, ford mustang and chevy corvette, apples and oranges,,,,. A lot of it has to do with "what" your looking for, what you like in forum software. Some people like vbulletin better, some people like invision better. I dont think it really matters which one you pick, because your going to be getting a quality product with either one.
Alot of people simply use VB because "the other guy has it" and don't want to be left out. Before starting a forum, compare each software to your own personal needs. MyBB is a good, free forum software that you should also check out.
If you're going to say IPB is better than vB just because of price and looks, then you're very weak. Your points are invalid, imho. - IPB with the CMS addon is the same price as vBulletin with no addons = PRICE. - IPB with no addons is $50 cheaper than vBulletin with no addons = PRICE. - IPB has a nicer Admin CP than vBulletin: = OPINION. Also... - vBulletins's "CMS" isn't really a CMS, it's more of a blogging engine. IP.Content is a real, unrestricted CMS It's still suitable enough. - IPS offers many cool tools, like a "skin generator" to automatically create a skin based on your colour choices That tool isn't that important. vB has cool tools too. - IPS has better support than vB, from what I can tell. IPS will fix your problem for you, vB will tell you to do it yourself It's better if you learn how to do it yourself. What happens if you don't have people that would fix the problem for you? - IPB 3.1 will have features like Facebook and Twitter connect, vB is only now finally catching up Doesn't matter who had it first.
In fair words, each has the pros con cons. eg mods writers are active in one company but renewing price will be more recently,but other company remains less price. And finally we got each owned license. Best regards, Ked38