VBulletin vs. XenForo vs. ??

5 replies
  • SEO
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We are going to be starting a forum soon and are looking for software that will be strong for SEO and ranking new threads well.

I have been doing reading and VBulletin and XenForo seem to be the 2 most recommended...however, been hearing issues with VBulletin 5 and VB in general going the way of the dodo bird. A lot of people are switching to XenForo.

I have always used VBulletin (but only to version 3.x) and am more comfortable with the backend, etc... but don't mind learning new software if it is really going to benefit.

I would really like some feedback with some specific reasons why one would be best...especially for SEO.

Thanks in advance for any solid info!
#vbulletin #xenforo
  • Profile picture of the author cbpayne
    Six of one; half a dozen of the other.

    Both have their fan boys.
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  • Profile picture of the author Oranges
    Xenforo hands down. It's cheaper compared to vBulletin single installation license and takes half the resources than what it takes to run a VB forum.

    DigitalPoint forum was also migrated to XenForo, checkout his experiences here:
    https://forums.digitalpoint.com/thre...nforo.2637721/
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  • Profile picture of the author yestyle
    Banned
    Originally Posted by corpfan1 View Post

    We are going to be starting a forum soon and are looking for software that will be strong for SEO and ranking new threads well.

    I have been doing reading and VBulletin and XenForo seem to be the 2 most recommended...however, been hearing issues with VBulletin 5 and VB in general going the way of the dodo bird. A lot of people are switching to XenForo.

    I have always used VBulletin (but only to version 3.x) and am more comfortable with the backend, etc... but don't mind learning new software if it is really going to benefit.

    I would really like some feedback with some specific reasons why one would be best...especially for SEO.

    Thanks in advance for any solid info!
    I used both and saw that vbulletin is easy in controlling forum than xenforo.
    I'm owning a webmaster forum http://www.webmastersun.com using base on Vbulletin, you can check it for references. As you're seeing, our Warrior Forum's also using Vbulletin. Of course, the decision depends on you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Magicalidea
    Vbulletin is easier to control than xenforo but lower secure and appearance.
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  • Profile picture of the author wpspamhammer
    I've been developing plugins for and servicing vBulletin license owners for many years, and I am still doing it, so what I am saying is 100% from real-world experience.

    vBulletin 5 is garbage; don't use it. Look at the modification site -- nobody is developing add-ons for it, and customers who got it are trying to port back to 4.x.

    If you must go the vB route, use 3.x or 4.x (but you'll be forced to pay $250 for the 5.x license). vB has halted vB 3.x and 4.x development trying to coax people into using vB5, more here.

    XenForo got off to a slow start due to vBulletin not wanting a viable competitor and trying to sue them out of existence, but vB lost and XenForo has been eating away at vB's marketshare very rapidly since.

    IIRC it's $140 for a XenForo license. XenForo is better than vB from 3.x to 5.x in terms of both SEO and Security (because of how XF is coded), and there are many add-ons for XF already.

    XenForo is the superior software of the two, and vBulletin has the large brand and end-user familiarity behind it. It's not a simple decision to make, as you can see.

    Many vB installs have been hacked recently and as part of my security services I see the effects of this first hand, forums of all niches and sizes. Weigh your needs against all this.
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