Free forum software?

[godfire]

Hey,

My friend is starting a new website and he wants to put a forum on it (much like the Anandtech forums). Nothing fancy, just something that has user accounts, lists topics by subject/user etc. Anybody know of any good free stuff he can use?

Thanks...

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

phpbb and envision are the popular ones.

 

[Joemonkey]

yep, phpbb2 is pretty sweet

follow the link in my sig to get to the joemonkey forums to see what it looks like

 

[Tetsuo]

invision is the best

 

[smartcap]

PHP baby!!! U can mod the berzerker outta of it...

 

[Tetsuo]

Originally posted by: smartcap
PHP baby!!! U can mod the berzerker outta of it...

You can mod all forum software...

 

[smartcap]

TRUE...but PHP is FREE!!!!!

Originally posted by: Tetsuo

Originally posted by: smartcap
PHP baby!!! U can mod the berzerker outta of it...

You can mod all forum software...

 

[OZEE]

Invision is free too -- easy to setup, easy to mod, free

 

[murphy55d]

I run Invision for my extremely small and 99% unused forum. It was really easy to set up.

 

[Sunner]

I use phpBB, easy to setup, and works very well, plenty of themes, addons, etc etc, and a helpful community.
What more could one ask for?

Haven't used Invision, no coment on that vs phpBB.

 

[SALvation]

Our site used to use phpBB but once we hit around 100k posts, the performance took a huge dive and made the forums unusable. Then we switched to Invision and it has been absolutely perfect. It can handle a ton of people, and is more powerful than most pay forum apps.

 

[TheVrolok]

I'm a big fan of YaBB

 

[dopcombo]

Hmm.... choices choices.
I was thinking of setting up a forum as well and decided to do a search and came upon this thread.

They all look great.
And they all fit my one criteria. Free.

Choices choices...

 

[screw3d]

Originally posted by: OZEE
Invision is free too -- easy to setup, easy to mod, free

Why can't I find a link to download the software without purchasing? What am I missing here?

 

[OZEE]

here is the link to the "free trial" downloads. The free trial is functional, though some of the specials are not activated and there is no tech support.

 

[screw3d]

Originally posted by: OZEE
<a class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.invisionboard.com/download.cgi?subc=trial" target=blank>here</a> is the link to the "free trial" downloads. The free trial is functional, though some of the specials are not activated and there is no tech support.

I see.. so it's not exactly free.. just a trial.

 

[randumb]

phpBB is easy to use and modify.

 

[joinT]

Originally posted by: Tetsuo
invision is the best

agreed.

 

[joinT]

Originally posted by: screw3d

Originally posted by: OZEE
<a class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.invisionboard.com/download.cgi?subc=trial" target=blank>here</a> is the link to the "free trial" downloads. The free trial is functional, though some of the specials are not activated and there is no tech support.

I see.. so it's not exactly free.. just a trial.

wrong.. it is completely free. there's no time-limit, no user limit or anything like that... the free version get's no tech support and certain very advanced but not critical functions are removed.

 

[joinT]

Originally posted by: screw3d

Originally posted by: OZEE
<a class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.invisionboard.com/download.cgi?subc=trial" target=blank>here</a> is the link to the "free trial" downloads. The free trial is functional, though some of the specials are not activated and there is no tech support.

I see.. so it's not exactly free.. just a trial.

wrong.. it is completely free. there's no time-limit, no user limit or anything like that... the free version get's no tech support and certain very advanced but not critical functions are removed.

 

[Kappo]

If you are using ASP instead webwiz forums are VERY nice. You can even get the Invision look with the right skin.

 

[hasu]

Originally posted by: SALvation
Our site used to use phpBB but once we hit around 100k posts, the performance took a huge dive and made the forums unusable. Then we switched to Invision and it has been absolutely perfect. It can handle a ton of people, and is more powerful than most pay forum apps.

Wouldn't the performance be related to the database?
Can you please specify the hardware and database details?

 

[Tal]

Thanks for the insight everyone. Friend of mine was asking about a good forum to use for some Adema Fan site she wants to run. I'll pass this info on! -TAL

 

[BrianA]

You are about to download the free trial version of Invision Power Board. Although this version is fully functional you must understand the limits of the free trial offer:

* Absolutely no technical support, including installation assistance, is provided for the free trial download. Technical support is provided for those purchasing the software by email, live chat, and telephone 365 days a year.

* Your forum, although perfectly functional, will display a small notice at the bottom of the page that it is a free trial download.

* Certain advanced features of the software (subscriptions manager, spell checker, chat service, etc.) may not be available in the free trial option as these require additional modules to operate that are only available to licence holders.

* You can purchase a license to Invision Power Board at any time to download addons and request support and the upgrade from the free trial version is quick and easy.

 

[DigitalDiscord]

wrong.. it is completely free. there's no time-limit, no user limit or anything like that... the free version get's no tech support and certain very advanced but not critical functions are removed.

And there's tons of free user supported help in their forums. You can also add tons of mods to Invision. They have IPB Dynamic Lite portal in development if you want the portal frontend, but it's been on their backburner for the final release. But there are hacks if you're comfortable mucking with PHP code to achieve the same thing.

| Invision being very underused
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