Forums What's your fave, and where do you host it?

	Forums - What's your fave, and where do you host it?
	Discussion by Habble with 15 Replies. Last Update: July 11, 2007, 6:37 pm

Habble

What's your favourite forum software, and where do you prefer to host it? My fave is IPB, but it costs too much <_<

I prefer to host them on my own site, so I usually only use free hosting. PHPBB3, or SMF is good. XMB's too complicated

Anyway, what are your views?

Mon Jun 18, 2007 Reply New Discussion

Personnally, I prefer PHPBB. I find it rather easy to install and administrate.
I hate ads on my own forum. That's why I don't want to use a forum provider like invisionfree. Besides that, some "free" forum providers warned me after some monthes that it's not free any more, some other ones simply suppressed my forum without any warning.
So, I prefer to use my own site. Astahost has no ads, and the account lasts as long as I can post on their forum, if I cannot post any more I will have to switch to a paid hosting account.
Some other providers give you a free account with a very small and acceptable text-based link at the bottom of your web page, I think that I could accept that.
However, my favourite remains PHPBB freely hosted by Astahost.
Yordan

Tue Jun 19, 2007 Reply New Discussion

khalilovitch

Welll I prefer the free quick to apply kinds, no matter what there format is

Tue Jun 19, 2007 Reply New Discussion

trinifawk

My favorite, through personal experience, is phpBB. I used it once upon a time on a website that was hosted on my brother's server. Anything that's free and open source, and actively developed, is worth investing the time.

I wouldn't mind trying Invision, but I think that you have to pay for that? So that's a "no" for me. Especially to keep up a hobby.

Tue Jun 19, 2007 Reply New Discussion

WeaponX

I started out as a YabbSE forum user and later converted to SimpleMachines Forum. Been using SMF ever since. The installation itself is very easy to setup and so are the mods. Support and security are definitely some of the stronger points also. I gave phpBB a try in the past before, but for some reason, passed on it. phpBB3 has a lot of rave and I will need to give it a test drive. I probably will remain a loyal SMF user, but don't mind exploring other forum systems and see how they work

For the hosting part, I rather host on a free webhost but I don't mind paying for one. I actually have been using a paid one for years now even when I have a free hosting account here at Astahost. Hosting doesn't cost a lot unless you want to be on a dedicated server <_<

Wed Jun 20, 2007 Reply New Discussion

Thereupon

In my time I have used both phpBB and Invision PowerBoard. Personally, although they came close I preferred phpBB. Firstly, it's free. I also found that was slightly easier to install (and easier to control further on, once it had been opened) and in my opinion it was simpler to change and customize the design and layout of my forums quickly and easily.

As for the hosting, I would much prefer to host my forum on my own website than on a free forum provider such as InvisionFree. This is mainly because I like to be able to control the design of the forums completely and if a problem was to arise, I would not want to have to wait on someone else to fix it for me.

Sun Jul 8, 2007 Reply New Discussion

Laurence

If I were to have my own forum, I would chose SMF. It's easy to install and it's not very complicated for admins. Well for me at least, I know a lot of people who have a hard time installing SMF fourms.. I would defiantly pay for my own dedicated hosting if I were actually into making a really good forum with lots of members. I've found that when there is a lot of ad's it attracts less people, so I would pay for no ad's. It might cost a lot but in the long run, but if it becomes a successful active community then it would be totally worth it.

Sun Jul 8, 2007 Reply New Discussion

xboxrulz

I always host my own forums. It gives me the flexibility and control over my boards. It's also easy for me to add features and remove useless ones that I don't want by editing the core files. I prefer Quicksilver Forums and use it on all my websites. Including my main website Kwokinator.com.

xboxrulz

Sun Jul 8, 2007 Reply New Discussion

xboxrulz

QUOTE (WeaponX)

Link: view Post: 105740

Have you noticed that the creators of SMF is the same as YabbSE? They are the same project with different names

.

xboxrulz

Sun Jul 8, 2007 Reply New Discussion

sparkx

The forum software I use is not listed up there. I have been working on my own forum software for my site so I can costumize the layout without having a copyright. However it is a very basic script one day I plan to share it with the public as freeware. I host my forums on astahost mostly because it is the only free web host that has MySQL databases and allows PHP with .HTTACCESS Other then that I would say invision power boards is the best but it also costs the most. If you cant afford Invision get vBulletin but if you want free you should get invisionfree or Simple Machines. Do not get PHPBB because it is very bad and has too many exploits (I think there are mods to stop the exploits but I am not sure).
Thanks,
Sparkx

Sun Jul 8, 2007 Reply New Discussion

xboxrulz

QUOTE (sparkx)

You're using MyBB at the moment though :s

xboxrulz

Sun Jul 8, 2007 Reply New Discussion

.:Brian:.

At the current moment on my website I am using myBB. I started using that a while ago, and stayed with it because I love how easy it is to use, and how feature filled it is. And the biggest plus....it is free!

Adding modifications is as easy as uploading one file, and hitting an activate button in the admin control panel, and then setting some options in the admin area.

Modifying your theme is easy as well.

So I have just decided that I really like mybb, compared to other forum software that is available.

Sun Jul 8, 2007 Reply New Discussion

Jimmy89

I have been using IPB for ages now, I actually have the 1.3 version while it was still free. Which means, technically, I'm allowed to use it on my site totally for free. Only problem is security as they stopped security patches for it ages ago.

If I didn't have IPB, i would go with phpBB, its nice and simple to install, as well as use. Lots of themes and extensions out there for it, and of cause its free!

And hosting, I much prefer to host it myself - I like to have total control of my forums and be able to change whatever I want. Most of the 'free' forum hosting sites wont give you total control and only allow you to access the control panel - but thats it!

Mon Jul 9, 2007 Reply New Discussion

jeremycollins

Personally, I am all for PhpBB!!!

I think it has to be THE best forum software on the planet!!! It is fast, easy, and has a nice slick look to it! I use PhpBB right now, it is so cool. I also have a PhpBB3 test forum. If you want to use PhpBB, and want the best looking forum, go with version3. When they release their Phpbb3 Gold version, they will start to Boom with add ons/mods. You can have hundreds, maybe thousands of mods and styles. When I get my free AstaHost hosting, I am going to transfer my forum over to AstaHost. I hope it will work rite.
Also, if you want a good forum provider with support, PhpBB is the right place. You are more likely to find an answer by reading FAQ'S and their knowledge base, and you probably will not have to ask any questions. It takes about 5 minutes to install (not counting the time it takes to upload). It took me about 8 minutes to get everything up and running.

Phpbb is the best!

Mon Jul 9, 2007 Reply New Discussion

Chesso

I always prefer my own forums that I create from scratch (or based on previous ones I have made), it's fun (and of course frustrating at times) and I get exactly what I want need, exactly how I want or need it.

I also prefer to have it on my own hosting (whatever that may be), I wouldn't like to have hosting here, there and everywhere.

Tue Jul 10, 2007 Reply New Discussion

MediYama

SMF is the software I like the most. It's very easy to customize, has a lot of features. You can find lots of very useful mods to customize your board even more, and it all works good too.

Wed Jul 11, 2007 Reply New Discussion