Best Forum Platforms

Looking for a solid forum platform that is free or more affordable than vBulletin, but allows easy migration to vBulletin once the site gets up & running. Are there better options than phpBB? How easily does phpBB migrate to vBulletin? Any experienced input is appreciated.

Thanks.

 

Whats the problem with phpBB? Version 3 has some nice new features!

But here is another one - http://www.simplemachines.org/

 

SMF big time

 

Nothing wrong with phpBB, just making sure it's the best alternative and how easily it migrates to vBulletin when I get to that point.

Simple Machines looks very similar to phpBB, layout actually seems a little cleaner even.

 

For your second point (merging with vB in the future) check out vBulletin.com and verify that whatever your first choice is that it's compatible with their IMPEX system.

phpBB and SMF do seem like the two big boards ATM (free boards that is) I've not used either as an admin, but as a user they both have their own pro's & cons.

Here is a discussion about them: phpBB2 vs. SMF (1.1.2)

 

vBulletin has the IMPEX to convert both phpBB 2 and SMF. I'm not sure if one is written for phpBB 3 but if not their working on it. I am currently using both phpBB 2 and SMF for different forums and I wrote an article about it. See the vBulletin vs SMF vs phpBB on Adminsphere.com for one perspective.

 

phpBB, SMF, vBulletin are my picks. There's also invision. Invision and vBulletin have high costs but I think they are worth it. Check around SourceForge.net and I highly recommend you use Joomla as the core section of your forum.

 

I prefer SMF over phpBB (I havent used version 3 so cant say anything abt that).

I had huge spam problem with phpbb.

 

I had spam problems with phpBB in the past as well, Roving.

Thanks for the input everyone. Going to give SMF a try on this project.

 

You will like SMF. I have used it a few times in the past.

 

you can also try MyBB. It's pretty good.

 

SMF is cool!


bear

 

SMF has simple looks...and is clean