Recommend forum maker to use for your site - UK Web Hosting | Dedicated Server Windows and Linux VPS Forum

**Code** · #1 (**permalink**) 30-11-2005, 11:00

Forum Maker

Forum Maker Well, what do you use?
What are the good / bad points?

How bout setting up guestbooks - what do you recommend?

**jinyu1101** · #2 (**permalink**) 30-11-2005, 11:15

phpbb is the best free forum maker I would recommend if you don't wish to pay for forum software. vBulletin is the best paid forum maker I would recommend.

**Gaz** · #3 (**permalink**) 30-11-2005, 11:27

I (like EukHost) use PHPBB. It's quite easy to set up and has tons of moddified content for it.
Give it a try

www. phpbb.com i think?

**Eskew** · #4 (**permalink**) 30-11-2005, 11:29

phpBB has alot of security flaws, although I did ask one of the Eukhost people about it, and he said they have made a few changes to it.

But I suggest, if your paying vB (www. vbulletin.com) one of the best forums out there, only it costs

but has alot of features.

You could also use, Invision powerboard (www. invisionfree.com), or SMF, there is just so much that are decent.

But go with vB ! Its the best ^.^

**pukington** · #5 (**permalink**) 30-11-2005, 12:48

I use two forums, firstly i use Invision Power Board, i prefer the skins and the easy way of installing/upgrading, and just the overall look, i'm a member of many online forums and i generally stick around the IPB forums more.

Secondly i use Phorum, a nice small, easily skinable phorum for those website hostings that dont get a lot of traffic and have no need for the bloatedness that is IPB/PHPBB, i got it on my website hosting at www. echobeatmusic.com/phorum

**Ryan** · #6 (**permalink**) 30-11-2005, 13:57

PhpBB is probably the best to start because it is free, open sourced, has great support, tons of mods and the template system is easy to work with and highly customizable. PhpBB needs upgradation at regular intervals. Once your forum gets more traffic and you need more features, better security and support then you should switch to vBulletin.

**Atomic-Pigeon** · #7 (**permalink**) 30-11-2005, 22:34

The www. simplemachines.org forum is a good free forum too, but still fairly new compared to PhpBB so fewer skins and hacks as yet.

**tomythius** · #8 (**permalink**) 30-11-2005, 23:34

phpBB does not have security flaws.
I cannot stress this enough!
The development team for phpBB is well organised and respond very quickly to bugs. Furthermore, all mods officially released are security tested as well.
I admit, there are other options, good ones, but I tried a few and found phpBB the best by far.
You really can have a lot of fun with it at whatever level you want to get involved.

**Code** · #9 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 10:55

Hmmm, yeah, I use one or two website hostings that use the Invision one and I do like the look....

okay - some food for thought - thanks!

**faceh** · #10 (**permalink**) 02-12-2005, 02:05

everybody uses phpBB, which even though makes it 'unoriginal' and nothing new, its what everyone is used to - and so brand new members can easily navigate the forums with ease and familiarity. Forums need to be as easy to navigate as possible, otherwise people dont bother.

**Eskew** · #11 (**permalink**) 02-12-2005, 02:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by faceh

everybody uses phpBB, which even though makes it 'unoriginal' and nothing new, its what everyone is used to - and so brand new members can easily navigate the forums with ease and familiarity. Forums need to be as easy to navigate as possible, otherwise people dont bother.

I agree, as soon as a person sees the forum is run by phpBB they instantly know how it works etc...

**Gaz** · #12 (**permalink**) 11-12-2005, 19:38

exacly, its pointless having a hard to use forum

**Eskew** · #13 (**permalink**) 12-12-2005, 11:33

But you do want to be original. Everyone has a phpBB forum these days.

**faceh** · #14 (**permalink**) 13-12-2005, 03:13

just modify phpBB to make it look original, but all of the navigation points are the same. so like, build it in to your website hosting so it looks good - but to the guy browsing it its still good old phpBB

**Eskew** · #15 (**permalink**) 13-12-2005, 06:45

Hmmm, i should try that. Could you use a simple php include function?

**Mac** · #16 (**permalink**) 18-12-2005, 22:13

There are tonnes of themes available out there, all you need to do is add your logo.

Check mines out www. bigboaby.com/boabyboard

For Code: If you don't want the hassle of downloading and installing some other Forums software, you can install a PHP forums system via the CPANEL section of your EUKhost website hosting, Assuming that you have one.

**paul** · #17 (**permalink**) 16-03-2006, 15:55

Phpbb needs to be upgraded frequently, but nothing to worry, however if you have budget, vBulletin is pretty nice.

People mostly choose one of the following forum maker for their forum hosting requirements :-

1. vBulletin
2. PhpPBB
3. bbPress
4. miniBB
5. SMF
6. Yabb

I personally prefer vBulletin forum software as it is much more secure and feature rich in comparison to any other forum software.