Good Forum Service or Forum Software?

E

Evolute

Joined
Mar 19, 2001
Messages
4,769
I'm deep in the process of building the website for my business, which I want to include forums.

What is a good forum service to use, or what is good forum software to use? Also, what sorts of features should I be looking for, and what should I be looking to avoid, in picking a forum service or forum software?

Thank you very much for any help you can provide.


Mike
 
Well, I'm a member of several different forums that all use different software, and as a consumer I really like VBulletins forum software over anyone else's. (with the features enabled that BF has enabled.)
 
there are a bunch of folks that have forums here; I think that LaBella owns Jerzeedevil.com, but He's the only person that I can think of
 
Thanks, guys. Anyone else?

I'd like to hear from some of the folks with forums.


Mike
 
I run a metal detecting forum and run it on http://www.invisionfree.com - it's free, and is the best free forum I've found yet, after using proboards and a number of others. You can use your own domain and get rid of the ads as well, so it looks like a "real" forum. I've been happy with the service and support.
 
kinzli said:
I run a metal detecting forum and run it on http://www.invisionfree.com - it's free, and is the best free forum I've found yet, after using proboards and a number of others. You can use your own domain and get rid of the ads as well, so it looks like a "real" forum. I've been happy with the service and support.
Click to expand...

Do you have a list of free forum providers you could post?
 
Thanks, guys.

Just to be clear, "free" is not my top priority, for my forums; "excellent" is my priority. I'm not made of money, but I am willing to pay what is necessary to do things as best I can... which I see as a reasonable investment in my business.

I could be wrong, but I think it would be a mistake for me to go with a free solution. If and when there are issues, I want to deal with providers who are financially and contractually accountable to render services as per agreement, as they are usually more responsive.

Mike
 
If money isn't a concern, then you want either Invision Power Boards or vBulletin. Either are solid and can handle LOTS of users. One of the vBulletin forums I visit regularly currently has 229,000 users and 8 million posts.

Also, BF runs on vBulletin.
 
Kinzli,

Thank you for pointing me toward Invision Power Boards and vBulletin. I will investigate them further.

Could you give me an idea of which of those two you prefer, and why?

Other than security, and ability to handle a lot of posts and a lot of users, what are important desirable features? What are irrelevant features? I'm new to all of this, and while I will be researching on my own, I could also use pointers from anybody who can help clue me in.

Thanks.

Mike
 
Evolute said:
Just to be clear, "free" is not my top priority, for my forums; "excellent" is my priority. I'm not made of money, but I am willing to pay what is necessary to do things as best I can... which I see as a reasonable investment in my business.
Click to expand...

Definitely stick with that approach.

I guess it is going to be a photography site? Please post the link when it's ready!
 
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