Best Forum Programs

Here's is the list of message boards that you can use for your website.

Before naming them, I want you to know that there are 2 types of message board that you can use for your website. Let me explain you how they work.

For some message boards, you must download their installation (.exe or .zip file) package from their website and install it on your server. This isn't a complicated process because you just have to follow instructions that come with the installation or on their website. Normally, you just have to unzip a .zip file that contains the forum's files and upload it to your Web host's server. There are a couple steps you need to follow as well, but everything is normally well explained.

The link of this type of forum should look something similar to this: www.yourname.com/board

Other discussion boards don't even require you to install or download anything. You can just sign up with the company and get a message board for your website. You can even design your forum, and when it's ready, you just have to link your website to the board.

The link of this type of forum should look something similar to this: www.yourname.companysname.com/board

This means that the message board belongs to the company that you registered with, and not to you. Even though you'll be the moderator of that board, they will have full control over it and can delete or shut it down if they want to. However, remember that you're getting the message board for free and it is being hosted for free from another server.

Normally those who use these types of forum are those who host their website on a free Web host because obviously they can't install anything on their free Web host's server. On top of that, most free Web hosts don't even allow .php files, which is often a file extension that is needed to run a message board.

Now, those boards that require you to install on your Web server, are they free? Surprisingly enough, most message boards that require an installation are 100% free. That's right; you can own and run your message board on your website for free. You can get the installation and run it for zero dollars. They mostly generate revenue from their website that often displays advertisings.

And best of all, if you want to make some money off your forum, you can add your Pay Per Click ads (such as Google Adsense) on your Web pages.

Whereas on a message board that is hosted by another company, you cannot put your own ads and make money from it. In fact, only the company can put its own ads because as you know, there's no such thing as "free". So this is how they can provide you a free forum by putting ads, usually Google Adsense ads.

So of course, it is better for you get to get a message board that needs to be installed on your Web host, because you'll have full control over it.

Now there are also a couple of message boards that require an installation that aren't free. You have to pay a certain amount since they are sharewares. I would definitely recommend you those, (especially vBulletin), mainly because they provide a well secured and a fully professional message board since they take it seriously.

This depends on you. However, I think it is obvious that you will get a better message board if you pay for it rather than get it for free.

But don't worry, I have listed for you the good and the bad aspects of each freeware and shareware message boards, so you can judge them yourself and choose the one that suits you best.

So there are in general 4 major companies that produce message boards. I haven't bothered to list others as they often are still being developed and not always popular among the public.

Message boards that don't require an installation

Let's start by naming those that require an installation on your Web server. Remember that these services are 100% free and are supported by ads.

ProBoards

Personally, this is my favorite one that doesn't require you to install anything, mainly because of its look, which looks quite professional. Its features are pretty much basic and there's not much you can do other than editing or deleting posts, ban members and creating categories. However, I like it how you can customizable the forum.

EzBoard

This one too is kind of similar to ProBoards, except you have a little bit more control and features. But in general ProBoards' and EzBoard's features pretty much resemble to one another.

I really only recommend you to go with either ProBoards or EzBoard if you're hosting a website on a free Web host, but other than that, try to avoid them because you want to run your own message board and be independent. Leave them for newbies.

Message boards that require an installation

Free

Simple Machines Forum

SMF has probably the most secured free message boards as its security is almost excellent. I'll talk about this more in depth later.

What is also nice about SMF is that it's easy to install and operate. Just with a couple of clicks here and there, you can have it installed in no time. They probably have the easiest installation. Even their message board is very easy-to-use once you familiarize with it.

However, there's one thing that I don't like a lot about SMF is that they don't really have good looking forums. In fact, there isn't a lot of skin to choose from, but it is the most secured free message boards around compared to the other one.

But in general SMF gets good reviews from its members and if I had to recommend you to choose the best free board, I would tell you to go with this one because I believe security is far more important than appearance.

phpBB

Funny enough, phpBB is almost the complete opposite of SMF. It has a very nice forum interface with plenty of templates and features to choose from. It also has a user friendly cp and pretty much like SMF, it's quite easy to install.

But aside its appearance and its features, unfortunately, phpBB's forum still faces major security issues. In fact, it just has too much security problems with many security holes. It seems that it's very easily for someone to hack your phpBB message board and cause all sort of damages. There's a root exploit that can allow hackers to control many of the admin's options.

However, phpBB is still commonly used and very popular among many webmasters. I just think that sometimes webmasters don't realize the threat they face, but generally, they all like phpBB and what it offers.

If you do want to go with phpBB, I strongly suggest you to install their security mod package that they offer on their website.

Paid

vBulletin

Unquestionably, vBulletin is probably the best message board around.

It's far more reliable and flexible than free boards as its features are so much more advanced since its tools are way more powerful. The controls are suitable for all kinds of webmasters who want to run their forum in the most professional way.

They especially look a lot better then SMF and phpBB also. But the only problem is that vBulletin is a bit too costly, but you get what you pay for!

If you're still a newbie who has a minimum knowledge of coding and programming, I wouldn't recommend it to you, but if you have professional needs than this one is for you. It's also much more user-friendly than the one I'm about to talk about.

Invision Power Board

Actually, vBulletin and Invision Power Board resemble to each other a lot. Just like vBulletin, IPB is very powerful and packed with great features.

Okay, maybe it doesn't have as much as power as vBulletin and its looks aren't good, but that's just my opinion. It might be a little bit more complicated to use if you compared it to vBulletin.

However, both programs are pretty much the best professional message boards on the internet. These software products are extremely professional and it has everything you need in order to run a quality forum on your website.

But as I've said because, paid software is always better than a free one in general.

However, it's your choice. I strongly suggest you to visit their websites first, look around and learn more better buying them.