Do you run a forum or message board?

[intruth]

I was thinking about a contactors message board for self employed contractors like myself. Right now I'm just toying with a blog in my area of expertice which you can tell by my sig.. I have never built a forum and was hoping you could tell me of the best program to use or easy to use to build a forum. Thank you John

[Fanhost Owner]

yup, i sure do. vbulletin is the best.

[Diether]

There is no such thing as "the best".
It all depends on your needs and your likes.
Personally I like SMF the most.
That's also what I'm using on my 2 forums

[Fanhost Owner]

^

This is true... I guess, I have tried several over the years and in my personal opinion, VB has been the best for me on an available features and customization level.

[Tim Mousel]

I highly recommend www.vbulletin.com

Tim
Five Star Review Script
Mousel's Self-Defense Academy

[aj510]

There is no such thing as "the best".
It all depends on your needs and your likes.
Personally I like SMF the most.
That's also what I'm using on my 2 forums

I'm about to change over from SMF to VB on one of my forums. The reason being is that the support for SMF sucks, the admin doesn't have the features I want and there aren't the mods available for it.

SMF is far better than phpBB IMO, but they are both still a little lacking...

[eldacar]

Support for SMF sucks? How so?
I'm on the SMF Team and I rarely see support questions go unanswered. Admittedly there are occasionally questions that are difficult to solve, but usually they involve problems with servers, in which it would be better to ask the host for support.

[cheapez]

vbulletin should be the best right now but it is not free, you will have to buy it, phpbb is ok too

[Vitop]

I run a phpBB forum and a custom forum that was put together by our developers.

Phpbb support is first rate for a forum that's free and very easy to install. I'd look into using some of the security mods if you go with it as our forums get hammered by busy pesky spam bots.

Our custom system is fast as work great for our small community but by-an-large we will need to scale it into either vBulletin Board or phpbb before to long.

[Tim Mousel]

One approach you could take would be to start with the free version of phpBB and then if your forum grows and becomes an integral part of your site you could switch over to the better vbulletin.

Tim

[Oldiesmann]

Why not just use SMF? It's free and works well no matter how large your community is.

[Tim Mousel]

Not familiar with SMF so sorry for not recommending it

I did just receive a request to integrate my review script with your forum to utilize the same user/login system so you may be hearing from me....

Thanks,

Tim

[T4DE]

I think IPB is the best. But for beginners, I'd go with phpBB, which Im running on at www.t4de.com/board The support really is great, but IPB comes with all the nessacery/wanted features.

[Kat]

Stick with vBulletin.

[aj510]

Support for SMF sucks? How so?
I'm on the SMF Team and I rarely see support questions go unanswered. Admittedly there are occasionally questions that are difficult to solve, but usually they involve problems with servers, in which it would be better to ask the host for support.

Questions go unanswered, the search on the forums intermittently turns itself off (something about high server load - error message) which is really annoying.

The main reason I am opting for a switch is features and an admin with more options.

[Munky]

I use vBulletin and have for quite a while now. I have used phpBB and SMF before but I'm used to vBulletin so that's what I mainly use.

[Salient]

Have used vBulletion, Invision, and phpBB.

Overall Invision is possibly the better product, but it depends on which features you want, would like to have, or don't want at all. Currently thinking of switching a site to another product, due to Invision's new announced feature set. Don't want any of the new features, and can see some problems with troublesome members allowed to run with the options.

Post at a site which uses SMF, about the only problem l have with that product is the PM system which isn't as developed as the three products previously mentioned. I assume the SMF guys will improve on that in future releases, or it might be an ACP setting or something.

If unsure of the site you want to start then run with one of the free products, phpBB or SMF would appear to be best of breed. You can later move to either vBulletin or Invision if wanting the luxury of paid support. No offense intended toward the free products, but l work under the assumption you get what you pay for.

Not sure of the wider SMF community, but Invision, vBulletin, and phpBB have a wealth of modification sites and skinning/theme/template sites backing them up. Generally you'll get better support from one of the third party help sites than the actual forum company sites imho. All three products have great communities, who will help you out with the technical aspects of the software.

Good luck with your site, hope it goes well for you.

[dave owen]

Whenever this topic comes up vBulletin pretty much always gets the most votes, including mine.

[eldacar]

Questions go unanswered, the search on the forums intermittently turns itself off (something about high server load - error message) which is really annoying.

Search has been fixed since we bought an extra server.

[Kat]

Admittedly there are occasionally questions that are difficult to solve, but usually they involve problems with servers, in which it would be better to ask the host for support.

Yet, another reason to go with vBulletin. Their support is really good, and frequently can solve problems even the host can't figure out. Plus vB support stays involved until the problem is solved.

To the OP: You can't go wrong with vB. If budget is an issue...vb is actually worth saving up for. Seriously.

[igrowyourbiz.com]

I have had to research forums for my coaching clients - and in the end vBulletin wins - if for no other reason than they keep on top of security-- phpbb on the otherhand seems to be the "most hacked" IPB and SMF are good - but features, options, ease of use, security and support - vB has them all beat it seems

Also I just started a forum for entrepreneurs - 7 weeks ago. I began on phpBB and had to upgrade the first week to vB due to how fast its growing.

I would consider giving you a special section just for contractors if you like.

[eldacar]

Yet, another reason to go with vBulletin. Their support is really good, and frequently can solve problems even the host can't figure out. Plus vB support stays involved until the problem is solved.

To the OP: You can't go wrong with vB. If budget is an issue...vb is actually worth saving up for. Seriously.

You pay your host for support. Why pay someone else to do what they should do for you? If your host can't fix their own servers.. then you need a better host.

[igrowyourbiz.com]

hosts support for issues with their server - not with software you have installed on them - and not for hacks you have added to the softare and not for issues with language (php) or (mysql)

No host does that. So when you install a board - IT has to have good support or you are up the river, no paddle, waterfall approaching...

[eldacar]

Of course a host wouldn't provide support for your scripts, but they should provide support for their servers.

[Kat]

hosts support for issues with their server - not with software you have installed on them - and not for hacks you have added to the softare and not for issues with language (php) or (mysql)

No host does that. So when you install a board - IT has to have good support or you are up the river, no paddle, waterfall approaching...

Exactly!

You pay your host for support. Why pay someone else to do what they should do for you? If your host can't fix their own servers.. then you need a better host.

I have a fabulous host with fabulous support. But even better than that is the paid support from vBulletin. Like someone said...you get what you PAY for.

Another reason to go with vBulletin, is you don't see their 'reps' on other boards shilling. Their product speaks for itself via word-of-mouth from happy customers.