Easiest Forum Software to Use/Learn/Host

[Ashley z]

Hey all! Today I'd like to spark the discussion of what the easiest forum software is! Let's discuss how easy it is to install various forum softwares, update them, customize their themes, install plugins/mods, and more. Remember, even if one forum software is not your favorite, it might be easier to maintain, install and use than your favorite, so please reply and vote with that in mind!

Thanks 🙂

Personally, MyBB for me has always been the easiest. My first forum used SMF, then phpBB after that. I took a break from forums, but came back using an IPB license and then later a vBulletin license when vBulletin was the best forum software around. I loved vBulletin and it was easy to use due to the large amount of plugins and support. vBulletin isn't as popular now though so I've found the support and updates to it to be lacking. For that reason, I'm going with MyBB to be the easiest to use/maintain/update/etc because the support is phenomenal and the way it is set up is self explanatory.

 

[Thomasss]

MyBB would probably be the easiest free software, however installing plugins and themes might be the hardest part for those who aren't really cPanel savvy. I also love the template system in myBB. 😛

IP.Board 4.0 would be the easiest overall, its seamless and so easy to navigate and customize. I honestly would say IP.Board 4.0 is the easiest paid software, and overall easy software. But if you cannot afford it, myBB is my close second.

 

[D]

Everyone's opinion is going to vary and definitely lean towards their favorite software.

I think XF is the easiest overall.. Easiest to install, update etc; But that's because I don't really use any other software anymore.

 

[AnimeZeroTV]

I've been using IPB for 3 years, I found it the easiest to learn. But that's only fro ma personal standpoint. The new version is a bit more clustered now, even though it has this simplistic flat look to it.

 

[Ashley z]

IPB is/was my favorite software (haven't used it in years though) and the backend is amazing. Their backend is also easy to use, but I haven't used a newer version of it, so it might be different now. The last time I used it was years ago and while it was setup well and easy to learn, it didn't have that many options so I figured the ease of use came from the fact that it also had a lack of features - when I used it at least.

I think the main reason I chose MyBB though is because it's really not hard at all in the backend. Other forum softwares have extra and almost unneeded settings that are harder to figure out.
I love XenForo, vBulletin, IPB, and MyBB, but MyBB takes the cake for the easiest to use in my opinion. XenForo is a close second, followed by IPB. vBulletin isn't too hard to understand, but it has a ton of options in the backend. Luckily they aren't hard to figure out, but there is still a lot to learn with vB for a beginner.

SMF was easy, but due to lack of resources it is pretty hard to actually run a SMF forum, at least in my experience. I had to make plugins myself when I used SMF because there was a huge lack of developers for it.

The hardest to understand, for me, was phpBB. For some reason I never got the hang of it and found it hard to do things that would only take 5 seconds in MyBB.

 

[MasterA]

I think Xenforo is the easiest to use and learn. I have used Mybb, Phpbb, IPB, SMF and Xenforo before and Xenforo seems to be the most powerful and user friendly software out of all of them. It is also a very popular option so there are many tutorials and addons online which can help you add new features to your forum or fix any issues you may have. I had little issues with them when I used them. As opposed to the other softwares, there seems to be bugs and issues all around the place. Xenforo was certainly the easiest to learn out of all of them for me.

 

[Ashley z]

I think Xenforo is the easiest to use and learn. I have used Mybb, Phpbb, IPB, SMF and Xenforo before and Xenforo seems to be the most powerful and user friendly software out of all of them. It is also a very popular option so there are many tutorials and addons online which can help you add new features to your forum or fix any issues you may have. I had little issues with them when I used them. As opposed to the other softwares, there seems to be bugs and issues all around the place. Xenforo was certainly the easiest to learn out of all of them for me.

I agree, XenForo is pretty easy to use. A lot of people say that XenForo is just another software though and that it will never be the #1 software. Do you think it'll ever be one of the most successful softwares?

 

[Azzurra]

Easiest is IPB
Best is MyBB just because I feel it's the most flexible/easiest to modify.

 

[Teapot]

In my opinion I think IPB is the easiest. Iddk, compared to my experience with MyBB when I first started working with forums, I just felt that it was easier. Everything was laid out a little more and wasn't as complex.

 

[Thomasss]

I think Xenforo is the easiest to use and learn. I have used Mybb, Phpbb, IPB, SMF and Xenforo before and Xenforo seems to be the most powerful and user friendly software out of all of them. It is also a very popular option so there are many tutorials and addons online which can help you add new features to your forum or fix any issues you may have. I had little issues with them when I used them. As opposed to the other softwares, there seems to be bugs and issues all around the place. Xenforo was certainly the easiest to learn out of all of them for me.

I agree, XenForo is pretty easy to use. A lot of people say that XenForo is just another software though and that it will never be the #1 software. Do you think it'll ever be one of the most successful softwares?

I don't thinkt there will ever be a top software, simply because each software is different and every person will prefer something different. It's almost like Apple and Windows, neither one is the "top" but they are both considered the most "popular" -- I cannot see XenForo leaving the popular anytime soon unless they respectfully screw up. 😛

With that though, XenForo isn't all that hard, however compared to IP.Board the ACP is much more complicated and "blocky" compared to the ACP in IP.Board 4.0.

 

[Teg]

I will always say that ProBoards is the easiest forum software to use. It's also the easiest to customize.

 

[MasterA]

I think Xenforo is the easiest to use and learn. I have used Mybb, Phpbb, IPB, SMF and Xenforo before and Xenforo seems to be the most powerful and user friendly software out of all of them. It is also a very popular option so there are many tutorials and addons online which can help you add new features to your forum or fix any issues you may have. I had little issues with them when I used them. As opposed to the other softwares, there seems to be bugs and issues all around the place. Xenforo was certainly the easiest to learn out of all of them for me.

I agree, XenForo is pretty easy to use. A lot of people say that XenForo is just another software though and that it will never be the #1 software. Do you think it'll ever be one of the most successful softwares?

I think it certainly can become one of the most successful softwares and it is just a matter of time. Xenforo has done really well since it has been released and I think more and more people are moving to Xenforo and they could become one of the best softwares in the future. However anything can happen! 😛

 

[Ashley z]

The one thing that annoys me about all the paid software is the renewal fee. When I buy something I like to think I own it. It helps me justify the purchase. It really turns me off when I have to go pay them again a year later. I know there are bug fixes and feature updates in future versions, but I'd rather pay a higher upfront fee and never pay again than pay some now, and some later.

That is the main reason I went with MyBB, and I'm glad I did. I had no idea they finally updated their AdminCP. Besides Xenforo's notification system, I see no reason to use anything besides MyBB. That said, I do love XF and IPB and will probably pay to use them again in the future.