If you are running wordpress on your main site, and you want a forum that is integrated with wordpress, go with bbpress. If you want a forum, with no integration with wordpress, go with VBulletin. But even still, there is a bridge for vb and wordpress at vbulletin.org. So, do you have a wordpress site, and do you want a forum solution that is fully integrated or bridged? You have not given enough information for a "yes" or "no" type of answer. It would be nice to know what your final goals are. Regardless if your running a wordpress site or not, my personal opinion is to go with VBulletin.
I just installed bbpress at hostshub.com, and though there are plugins and themes that can be installed just like in wordpress, I think that this has got a long way to go. a very long way.
i'll go with vbulletin since is the most impressive paid forum software on the net. and is contain many features that will help you success with your projects and such.
ya..Vbulletin is right one if u r willing to pay.....it's perfect in every ways..but if u r good at designing n all coding.. can modify PhpBB or MyBB......where customization is least difficult.....Also deir r light weight themes for vbulletin...
Vbulletin is good choice as of now for those who want to pay and buy the software for the forum or else try PhpBB
all I want is signatures and avatars and bbpress has plugins for that. so I guess I will go with bbpress.
vBulletin isn't very modern, perhaps you can look into Invision Power Board? Great support, feature rich, and lots of mods.
V bulletin is the choice by many forum creators i am seeing that PhpBB is also a good option if you can manage without support
I'd say MyBB is a great software. It has all of the features of vBulletin, and is free. Edit: Why SMF?