What's the best free forum software? - Developers

I started a website and I want to have some nice forums, but I can't afford vBuilliten, so I was wondering, what's the best free forum software? I'm looking for something really flexible.

[QUOTE=Mystlight;40444781]I started a website and I want to have some nice forums, but I can't afford vBuilliten, so I was wondering, what's the best free forum software? I'm looking for something really flexible.[/QUOTE] [url]https://www.phpbb.com/[/url] If you want to have the best software (not free tho), look at [url]http://www.vbulletin.com/[/url]

[QUOTE=ToxiQ;40444826][url]https://www.phpbb.com/[/url] If you want to have the best software (not free tho), look at [url]http://www.vbulletin.com/[/url][/QUOTE] I think XenForo is better when it comes to paid forum software. But yeah phpBB might not be the best free one but it is the most used free one.

I don't like PHPBB. It feels so.... Sluggish and confusing. I'm thinking of using Mybb, it's currently running SMF which is okay

[QUOTE=Mystlight;40444840]I don't like PHPBB. It feels so.... Sluggish and confusing. I'm thinking of using Mybb, it's currently running SMF which is okay[/QUOTE] MyBB is currently using SMF? wat.

[QUOTE=P1raten;40444856]MyBB is currently using SMF? wat.[/QUOTE] I meant the current forums are SMF

[QUOTE=Mystlight;40444878]I meant the current forums are SMF[/QUOTE] That makes more sense.

[QUOTE=Mystlight;40444840]I don't like PHPBB. It feels so.... Sluggish and confusing. I'm thinking of using Mybb, it's currently running SMF which is okay[/QUOTE] I've never had any problems with PhpBB, it might feel confusing at first (never felt that tho, I'm a webdev myself) but it gives you access to almost everything in the system and is very popular (many extensions out there) so you may should give it another look... You can try [url]http://www.discourse.org/[/url] if you're looking for something really slick (disadvantages users with older browsers) Hope that helped a little :)

[QUOTE=ToxiQ;40444943]I've never had any problems with PhpBB, it might feel confusing at first (never felt that tho, I'm a webdev myself) but it gives you access to almost everything in the system and is very popular (many extensions out there) so you may should give it another look... You can try [url]http://www.discourse.org/[/url] if you're looking for something really slick (disadvantages users with older browsers) Hope that helped a little :)[/QUOTE] I'm looking for a conventional forum design but one that's flexible and something where the Admin Panel Sucks.

[QUOTE=Mystlight;40444994]something where the Admin Panel Sucks.[/QUOTE] What the fuck? But seriously, you can customize the popular boards like vBulletin, PhpBB.... to death because they're so popular. Forum software top 10: [url]http://www.the-top-tens.com/lists/best-forum-software.asp[/url] I don't really know what you want/need, so unless you get more specific we can't help you.

Isnt phpbb a pain? Ive only worked with mybb

[QUOTE=ToxiQ;40445082]What the fuck? But seriously, you can customize the popular boards like vBulletin, PhpBB.... to death because they're so popular. Forum software top 10: [url]http://www.the-top-tens.com/lists/best-forum-software.asp[/url] I don't really know what you want/need, so unless you get more specific we can't help you.[/QUOTE] Something where the admin panel DOESN'T suck. I fail at posting, APU. I don't like PHPbb. I would use vB in a heartbeat but I can't because money.

phpBB's plugin system is almost non-existent. MyBB is the best, IMO, as it has an awesome plugin system, theme system, and the admin panel doesn't suck.

[QUOTE=Mystlight;40445254]Something where the admin panel DOESN'T suck. I fail at posting, APU. I don't like PHPbb. I would use vB in a heartbeat but I can't because money.[/QUOTE] MyBB it is then, you don't have any more to chose from :/ Edit: Damn Ninja'd

last time I used phpBB they don't even have "plugins". Their definition of "plugins" is a hard-coded modification.

I'm installing myBB right now. Will post a link to it when it's done. [editline]27th April 2013[/editline] How does on install myBB

At the end of the day "best" is subjective and what is "best" for you may not be "best" for someone else. I would suggest you try three or four different packages and you choose which one works for you and your community the "best".

Personally, I'd use MyBB.

myBB smf is bad, phpBB is utter shit

[QUOTE=Soleeedus;40450518]myBB smf is bad, phpBB is utter shit[/QUOTE] SMF isn't bad.

MyBB for free forums and XenForo for paid.

SMF is ok, but personally when it comes to free forum software I prefer PHPBB. The reality, what is the 'best' all comes down to a matter of personal preference. Of course, if you can afford it, nothing matches vBulletin.

I'll never understand why people like phpBB.

I started out with PHPBB, I really did love the total control they give you in the admin panel, even if it is a bit confusing to start with. However, after living with it for ages I started to notice some serious flaws. PHPBB modding is absolutely terrible, even when making a simple change to a theme. The layout of PHPBB is also a bit old hat, and I haven't seen a good theme for it in ages. So I eventually grew tired of it, and found MyBB. At first, without a skin, MyBB is hideous. It also appears the admin panel is basic, but it's far from it. The only thing I haven't been able to do in MyBB that I could in PHPBB is automatically load a database backup, but that's easy enough to do through phpMyAdmin or directly through MySQL. MyBB is much more flexible for modding, and modifying themes is a piece of cake (it even has an inbuilt theme editor) I'd recommend MyBB. It's got some beautiful themes for it and it has many of the features from paid forum software

[QUOTE=jung3o;40454436]I'll never understand why people like phpBB.[/QUOTE] Same here... then again.... I have had some really bad experiences with phpBB.

[QUOTE=Gishank;40454203]SMF is ok, but personally when it comes to free forum software I prefer PHPBB. The reality, what is the 'best' all comes down to a matter of personal preference. Of course, if you can afford it, nothing matches vBulletin.[/QUOTE] vBulletin has turned into a slow, bloated piece of software. XenForo and IPB are far superior.

[QUOTE=Sidewaykill;40458736]vBulletin has turned into a slow, bloated piece of software. XenForo and IPB are far superior.[/QUOTE] The only reason vBulletin is still popular is because.. you know.. it's popular. That paradox.

I dislike IPB, XenForo not really my thing, I've been on forums that used them both TBH what I'd really like is the FP build of vBulletin, it has all the shit like the username menus taken out and shit

if your looking for really easy to use and kinda barebones-ish, you could try vanilla forums

I've already installed mybb on my site, if anyone wants to see it's for my game site launching soon, click Forums on the top bar. haven't installed a theme yet, but I'm loving MyBB