Best free forum software?

**Nico** · 09-20-2007, 05:54 PM

Hi,

I know that vBulletin is the best (or one of the best) forum softwares around. But is there any decent free software that i can use to start, and later on move to vBulletin?

I don't need any special features or mods. As simple and Secure as posible. And maybe something that won't be a lot of problem to transfer to vBulletin.
phpBB was the first choice that came to me...although not for the security part

Any advice?

**deronsizemore** · 09-20-2007, 06:56 PM

Yep, http://www.mybboard.com. I've used it and it's very easy to set up and customize.

http://www.simplemachines.org/ is another although I've never used it. I've heard good things though.

**Xander** · 09-21-2007, 10:47 AM

I use SMF (SimpleMachines), converted a board over from phpBB due to a big spambot problem. It runs fine, admin stuff is done a little differently but I was a lot more impressed than I thought I would be.

**Nico** · 09-21-2007, 04:07 PM

Thanks guys. I have been hearing a lot about SMF, so i guess it's a pretty good one. Any cons on using SMF?

**agua** · 12-05-2007, 12:16 PM

I've just installed MyBB and am loving it... its early days yet, but it reminds me very much of vBulletin

**deronsizemore** · 12-05-2007, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by agua

I've just installed MyBB and am loving it... its early days yet, but it reminds me very much of vBulletin

Yep, exactly what I thought. I had it up and running in 10 minutes or so. Very easy to customize colors, etc.

**forumposters** · 12-25-2007, 09:05 AM

I love SMF and have used it for more than a year now.. The only con that I can think of is that you can't remove the footer backlinks - you can't even pay them to allow you to remove the links. It's just not an option.

Originally Posted by Nico

Thanks guys. I have been hearing a lot about SMF, so i guess it's a pretty good one. Any cons on using SMF?

**ozgression** · 12-25-2007, 05:30 PM

Take a look at www.bbpress.org . Its from the people that created wordpress.

**bermuda** · 01-06-2008, 01:31 AM

Some of the forum scripts mentioned can now be easily installed through the web hosting panels.

**dr maas** · 02-05-2008, 12:38 PM

phpbb3 Gives a big deal now

It is now very near to VB

**aj8** · 03-07-2008, 05:21 AM

I've just installed MyBB on www.eeecommunity.com and I have to say I'm really impressed by it. It looks very similar to VB.

Note that as yet I've done very little customisation of the look and feel, but certainly so far it has done all I want it to...

Probably never going to recommend VB again...

Alex