Best free forum php?

adslgeek · 03-18-2009, 03:14 AM

Hey there,
I was keen to hear feedback on what forum you guys think are the best?

PhpBB
I have used PHP BB before but got mega spam from bots. I spent about 3 hours stepping through all the instructions in securing it against spambots, but had no joy.

It does have a heap of plugins, but I am just annoyed by the spam..

SMF - Simple Machine Forums
Seems pretty clean and I haven't heard anything bad about it. I have seen a few of my fav. forums using it, but I was worried it wouldn't have enough plugins.

Vanilla
I have that currently on my site but was just so plain.. and even with the plugins it just doesn't have enough features.
I did have some probs installing plugins but for a simple forum it wasn't too bad.

I picked it in the first instance because it would merge with my blog, but in the end gave up cause I couldn't get them to work with each other.

vBulletin
Every single post and most of the big forums (this included it looks like) uses vBulletin, but alas I do not have a spare $US100 per year..

Cheers,
ADSL Geek

adslgeek · 03-18-2009, 03:18 AM

After having a further look at SMF I am thinking I might be going for that one.. looks like a heap of plugins and mods...anyone know of any reason for me not to?

They have a new curves skin that looks pretty nice...

Cheers,
ADSL Geek

SteelDanno · 03-18-2009, 03:58 AM

Might want to consider bbPress by the makers of Wordpress (I just installed this and integrated it into a Wordpress/wpWislist member site).

PunBB is another but I didn't like it so much.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

Michael Mayhew · 03-18-2009, 10:30 AM

SMF is totally awesome. Hundreds of plug-ins too!

adslgeek · 03-18-2009, 06:42 PM

SMF it is! Thanks guys.

I am gonna check out the plugins, but do you know of one that emails out if someone replies to your post?

Thanks heaps!
Cheers,
ADSL geek

AverageGuy · 03-18-2009, 07:45 PM

if you do not want to spend $ on Vbulletin, then SMF.

david

adslgeek · 03-18-2009, 08:42 PM

Yeah, so many people saying vBulletin is good it is insane!

And every single post says to get it, must be something in it..

Cheers
ADSLgeek

03-18-2009, 03:14 AM	#1
adslgeek Adslgeek.com Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 63 Thanks: 23 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	Best free forum php? Hey there, I was keen to hear feedback on what forum you guys think are the best? PhpBB I have used PHP BB before but got mega spam from bots. I spent about 3 hours stepping through all the instructions in securing it against spambots, but had no joy. It does have a heap of plugins, but I am just annoyed by the spam.. SMF - Simple Machine Forums Seems pretty clean and I haven't heard anything bad about it. I have seen a few of my fav. forums using it, but I was worried it wouldn't have enough plugins. Vanilla I have that currently on my site but was just so plain.. and even with the plugins it just doesn't have enough features. I did have some probs installing plugins but for a simple forum it wasn't too bad. I picked it in the first instance because it would merge with my blog, but in the end gave up cause I couldn't get them to work with each other. vBulletin Every single post and most of the big forums (this included it looks like) uses vBulletin, but alas I do not have a spare $US100 per year.. Cheers, ADSL Geek

03-18-2009, 03:18 AM	#2
adslgeek Adslgeek.com Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 63 Thanks: 23 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Best free forum php? After having a further look at SMF I am thinking I might be going for that one.. looks like a heap of plugins and mods...anyone know of any reason for me not to? They have a new curves skin that looks pretty nice... Cheers, ADSL Geek

03-18-2009, 03:58 AM	#3
SteelDanno Awful Guitar Player War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 148 Thanks: 36 Thanked 61 Times in 23 Posts Social Networking	Re: Best free forum php? Might want to consider bbPress by the makers of Wordpress (I just installed this and integrated it into a Wordpress/wpWislist member site). PunBB is another but I didn't like it so much. Hope this helps. Cheers.
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03-18-2009, 10:30 AM	#4
Michael Mayhew Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Nashville, TN , USA. Posts: 3,121 Thanks: 38 Thanked 107 Times in 75 Posts Social Networking	Re: Best free forum php? SMF is totally awesome. Hundreds of plug-ins too!
	I'll Train You In the Lucrative Final Expense Insurance Business. Top Contracts Available Nationwide! http://imopartnership.com

03-18-2009, 06:42 PM	#5
adslgeek Adslgeek.com Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 63 Thanks: 23 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Best free forum php? SMF it is! Thanks guys. I am gonna check out the plugins, but do you know of one that emails out if someone replies to your post? Thanks heaps! Cheers, ADSL geek
	Last edited by adslgeek; 03-18-2009 at 06:48 PM. Reason: thought of something to add.

03-18-2009, 07:45 PM	#6
AverageGuy Not Jr. Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: LA, CA, USA. Posts: 2,185 Thanks: 12 Thanked 41 Times in 41 Posts	Re: Best free forum php? if you do not want to spend $ on Vbulletin, then SMF. david
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03-18-2009, 08:42 PM	#7
adslgeek Adslgeek.com Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 63 Thanks: 23 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Best free forum php? Yeah, so many people saying vBulletin is good it is insane! And every single post says to get it, must be something in it.. Cheers ADSLgeek