I am trying to decide which forum software I should install for my site. I need something free (obviously) and I need a good choice. I think phpBB works great but I am also interested in trying IceBB. Simple Machines Forum is time-consuming to configure and I don't like Invision Power Board (and that isn't free).

I have tried testing out the forums at OpenSourceCMS but there were way too many choices and the forums were just completely overwhelming to try them all out. Getting into Portals, Blogs and Image Galleries and you'll wonder if you will be able to try them all

Give me your opinion on what you use for a forum. If you don't host a forum, which one do you prefer to register at?

Please don't randomly vote Here is a Wikipedia page to inform your decision and you can try them out at OpenSourceCMS. I am also interested in looking towards other software than the ones listed above in the poll, please suggest!

I would have to go with Simple Machines Forum hands down. I have been using it for years now and absolutely love it. Too time consuming to configure? I don't know where you got that from. It couldn't be easier especially if you are using cPanel. cPanel has Simple Machines ready to be installed in Fantastico.

I would experiment with the ones you have and see which one suits you best. Nothing better than trying it out first hand.

I didn't mean that it was hard to INSTALL, I meant there were too many options to configure for Simple Machines Forum.

I've now been introduced to OvBB also, but I don't like the theme of it although the admin configuration panel is well set-up. I still prefer the famous phpBB system because of the variety of MODs and themes available for it.

Then again, IceBB has a very extensible feature list and it is very similar to phpBB, so I am looking into that also.

I am looking for more opinions! Please vote and feel free to discuss!

I like PHPBB2, it's easy to install and easy to administrate. Of course, also have a look at PHPBB3, more security but also more things to configure.
I prefer the look and feel of PHPBB2. The IPB I find it less agreeable. And I hate most of the templates in SMF forums.
Of course, this is only my way of thinking.
May I suggest you to try your astahost account, in your cpanel there is an automatic install for phpbb2, look how fast it installs and how easy to use it is, and if you don't like it use your astahost's cpanel to simply remove it from your website.
Hope this helped
Yordan

I advise you to use Simple Machines Forum as it is one of the most secure free forums. People usually dismiss it because it's complicated (but isn't complicated also detailed, which is good?) and ugly (but you can make look the same as phpBB/IPB/vBulletin!) - those arguments aren't good at all. So what if phpBB has more mods? I am sure there is an equivalent for alsmost every one at the numerous SMF resource web sites; and if there isn't, you can always make on yourself, or have it made.

Now, to explain my choice a bit more. phpBB isn't even worth trying because of the bad security, unless it is phpBB Plus, which seems to be working fine. IceBB is still in beta, and that probably leaves it with even more security holes than phpBB (if that is even possible). On the other hand, it is very similar to Invision Power Board (which was the creator's intention), and since I find it to be one of the best forum's available, IceBB might not be such a bad choice.

As for the "Other" part, there's isn't much to say - when someone says "free forum", I tend to think about three pieces of software only: phpBB, SMF and YABB. People say YABB is rather good, but I haven't tried it myself, so can't say anything good (or bad) about it.

Simple Machines Forum has many configurations you can change, as with many other forums out there. But you don't even have to touch any of them if you like the way it's set up already. For most users who just want a forum setup, installing SMF using Fantistico will be enough. Any other configurations are minor if anything. If you don't like how it looks, you can always change the theme as mentioned earlier, which is also not a difficult task

YABBSE is actually a pretty good software. I started with YABBSE a few years back, but heard they upgraded it to Simple Machines Forum. I switched after that only to find out that there were still developers who were working on YABBSE. So basically they are still growing, but I'm already hooked on SMF, so no turning back

I've always liked phpbb...I started using it a long time ago (yes, I chose it over IPB even when IPB was free) and am still using it today. The user community for it is *huge* which means lots of support from the community, the codebase is (relatively) clean, so it's easy to write plugins for it, and the template system saves a lot of time when coding new plugins and editing skins.

I use Mybb. It in my opinion is the best. I have used Icebb, phpbb, Invision free, SMF, Php-nuke, php evolution, Simple Machines Forum and many others. Sure mybb is reletivly new but it is great and it is free with promosing mods to come. I have even started making mods In which I will add to the database. It is secure unlike phpbb. If not Mybb I would go with Simple Machines as it is the next best thing. It really depends however if you plan to mod the forum yourself, keep it the same or get pre-modded things. You could try and make your own forum with software. I have heard there are tutorials to making a simple one with Fireworks and other programs like that.
Hope this helps;
Sparkx

I don't like phpbb because its too simple and basic for the admin. I like what InvisionFree Forums used but it was really easy to hack.

I've started using SMF and I like certain features of it, I just wish it had the permissions abilites that Ivisionfree had or as easily configured. yabBB I don't like. Vbulletin is good but costs money. Shitnz is secure but its user interface and admin cP is horrible.

I'd say I am learning to like SMF, it isn't hard to install. Ivisionfree is my favorite because I know it so very well but its not secure for what I host forums for.

Thanks for the suggestions. Keep 'em coming!
So now I have to choose between:

1. phpBB
2. Simple Machines Forum (not likely I will chose this one)
3. IceBB
4. MyBB (NOT - see below)
5. OvBB

I'm saying no for MyBB because of this "latest news":


There isn't ASP.NET support nor MSSQL with Microsoft Windows with Astahost. Also take a look at the screenshot! (http://www.mybboard.net/images/admin-mmc.png). It is integrated directly into the server of Windows Vista (I think) and makes it no way for remote configuration of the forum! Bad idea.

You also need to buy MyBB to get "additional" features. The Lite version (free) includes almost nothing substantial to be a forum.

OvBB, I'm not too sure about. It looks...weird. It doesn't look like it has much support and a good community of users to discuss and talk about the open-source software.

Final choices are either IceBB or phpBB. I don't think Simple Machines Forum would be a good choice for me.

They are all easy to install. I don't like using Fantastico to install anything because it messed up a MySQL database the first time I tried installing Drupal. Actually uploading and installing the files is much easier. All 3 of these are equally easy to install. SMF has more options to configure. phpBB is most user-friendly and very good appearance. IceBB is also very user-friendly and has excellent appearance.