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Which Free Forum Software Should I Use?

by Rbtmarshall
19 replies
I have an idea I want to try out, but I am not sure which FREE forum software I should install.

hosing on Hostgator VPS

using wordpress on the same website

I want to install the boards in which the database can be moved with the least amount of problems and retain all of the data for importing into vbulliten in the future if the idea works.
#forum #free #software
  • Profile picture of the author BlogHostInc
    phpbb for your free forum software to work with wordpress
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  • Profile picture of the author SteveSRS
    Wordpress actually have their own forum software called 'BBpress'. It integrates perfectly with Wordpress, however it is pretty limited.

    phpBB is better but integration is little harder (def possible). Perhaps there is some plugin for this? I don't know but would surprise me.. just try to find that first.
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  • Profile picture of the author mmrumii
    I don't have enough experience about php .
    I hope BLOG HOSTINC's answer will help you out.
    Sorry dude, Best of luck.
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    Blog about Content Locking and CPA
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  • Profile picture of the author JoshuaReen
    You should use Simple Machines Forum software. It has a support forum too. It is 100% free. You can do modifications. You can modify the forum as a whole.
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    • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
      I would not recommend any integration with Wordpress, Wordpress and forum software are both extremely complex and the possibility for conflict is quite high. Wordpress is constantly evolving, and anything integrated with it can be broken when Wordpress updates.

      yoursite.com for wordpress and forum.yoursite.com for the forum.

      I would recommend MyBB for your forum.

      See this comparison
      If you buy a licence for vbulletin you will have access to the implex tool.
      That will merge your mybb forum into vbulletin.
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      Robin



      ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
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      • Profile picture of the author SteveSRS
        Originally Posted by RobinInTexas View Post

        I would not recommend any integration with Wordpress, Wordpress and forum software are both extremely complex and the possibility for conflict is quite high. Wordpress is constantly evolving, and anything integrated with it can be broken when Wordpress updates.

        yoursite.com for wordpress and forum.yoursite.com for the forum.

        I would recommend MyBB for your forum.

        See this comparison

        If you buy a licence for vbulletin you will have access to the implex tool.
        That will merge your mybb forum into vbulletin.
        BBpress is made by THE SAME people as WordPress so of course the possibility for conflict is NOT high, in fact it is very very small.

        And making your visitors register twice on your website is everything BUT user friendly.

        If you have zero knowledge to do it yourself hire somebody to do it. Installing some OS software package isn't very expensive.
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  • Profile picture of the author whland
    I recommend and use mybb.

    Chad
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    WebMasterBabble.com Webmaster Forum
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    • Profile picture of the author Rbtmarshall
      Thanks for all the reply's.

      It sounds like it may not be easy like I thought.

      I was thinking that I could have a menubar link to the forum in my wordpress pages.

      I thought installing to a different folder, or a forums. subdomain would make it possible to have both frameworks on the same domain. was I wrong in that thinking?
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      • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
        Originally Posted by Rbtmarshall View Post

        Thanks for all the reply's.

        It sounds like it may not be easy like I thought.

        I was thinking that I could have a menubar link to the forum in my wordpress pages.

        I thought installing to a different folder, or a forums. subdomain would make it possible to have both frameworks on the same domain. was I wrong in that thinking?
        What you want to do is simple.

        Set up your forum at http://forum.yoursite.com

        and wordpress at http://yoursite.com

        creats a custom menu item in your wordpress dashboard with a link to http://forum.yoursite.com
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        Robin



        ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
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  • Profile picture of the author rising_sun
    Banned
    You can use mybb,
    I think it is creative and will be helpful for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author alitahriki
    you can use vbulletin
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  • Profile picture of the author websamtron
    I would advice you to use phpbb or mybb but according to me phpbb is the best one for your need
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  • Profile picture of the author Joshmoore
    Personally I would go with vBulletin, but its not free. So I also recommend phpbb. But if your serious about the forum, invest in vBulletin.
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  • Profile picture of the author Krystaline
    I've a forum created on Forumotion.com. I'm on a Phpbb software (Phpbb3) and I'm really satisfied. I recommend it !

    By the way, you can find the software that will better suit your needs on the ten questions guide on forum-software.org
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  • Profile picture of the author Charles Profit
    I guess it would depend on the features you need...

    Check out ForumMatrix - Compare Them All and click on the "Choice Wizard".
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  • Profile picture of the author edbarnes
    phpbb has been around for many years, and there are many topics in the internet about issues people had with It . I would use phpbb because You can solve any problem You have with It easily by googling, and also there are many developers with experience with phpbb and You can ask them to extend It for you
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  • Profile picture of the author doyle20
    There's a open source PHP software named SMF for creating a forum, It's much better than phpBB
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  • Profile picture of the author ababuobana
    Since You want to install free Software, why don't You try all the options and see which fits your requirements best ? Install 3-4 different software and compare them
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  • Profile picture of the author edward20
    phpbb is the best software available
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