Free or Paid forum script ?

[NomanProdhan]

There we have lots of community forum script. Some of them are free and some of them are paid. But both free and paid script have advantages and disadvantages. However, I am using MyBB open source free forum script for my community forum. I like MyBB because its free, user-friendly, easy to manage, have much features like vBulletin and have free/paid theme and plugins.
I know Xenforo, IPB and other script have some more features but I like MyBB as a first choice for a community forum. However, what do you think about MyBB ? Do you use free script or use paid one ? Share your thoughts and experience.

 

[Azareal]

I have contributed to MyBB before, funnily enough, it's probably one of the less annoying free scripts, and a lot of the problems revolve around, or did revolve around 2.0

2.0 was this grand version which was supposed to fix all the problems with MyBB, ushering in a new age and making MyBB Great Again. And... There were zero commits for like six to nine months last year. Not a one.

It got to the point where they actually had to cancel 2.0, although they're thinking about getting back to it after 1.9 and are now working on the next 1.x version with a lot of refactoring in the works.

To be honest, if I was to toss up a serious site *today*, I would probably use XenForo, as it's fairly cheap (only like a hundred bucks upfront) and I don't have to wrestle with the MyBB ecosystem, but I do have to note that almost every XenForo theme I've seen looks extremely similar, XenForo really leaks through.

While many MyBB themes I've seen actually look completely unique, so your mileage may vary, and having a unique looking site can help you in differentiating yourself from your competitors, although a modern powerful software also helps.

That said, I would probably hold off on launching any sites until my forum software is ready, as, to be honest, I don't really like any of the players on the market lol

 

[Ash]

I have also tended to use free forum software but did try out XenForo and IPB at some point. Both are amazing but it's always better to go with a free one if you don't mind. The cash required to buy the licenses are just a bit too expensive

 

[Azareal]

I have also tended to use free forum software but did try out XenForo and IPB at some point. Both are amazing but it's always better to go with a free one if you don't mind. The cash required to buy the licenses are just a bit too expensive

My opinion on running sites, is that if I'm not going to go for the best, then I might as-well not bother, I might as-well just go back to bed.
I'm extremely demanding and in today's world of dwindling forum traffic, it pays not to go for the bottom of the barrel.

There are plenty of cases where free might work, but I've found at-least, that those cases usually involve building a site around a concept which isn't necessarily a forum, and just have the forum to discuss the main thing that you do.

Otherwise... Building forums is extremely, extremely difficult.
An underpowered software only makes that harder. And often times, you wind up doing so much work, that you might as-well have just plopped down the $100.

Your time is worth it. Every hour wasted is time you could spend elsewhere, and time is something you can never get back.

 

[KnownSyntax]

I personally use Woltlab Community Suite + Burning Board since it's extremely nice, super stable, feature packed, and the community keeps adding tons of features without making it bloatware. It's cheaper than it's competitors by far, and offers the same if not more in the base package.

Either way the forum software shouldn't really matter, it's more about the experience you can provide the user, what you bring to the table, and what it can do to keep users stay on your community. Just buying some software doesn't mean you are above other forum communities if you cannot bring the best to the table.

 

[IntoxNitram]

I like Xenforo best, but for my current project a free script in BBPress is working quite well. It is not a main aim of my site to have the forum currently and therefore something simple works well.

 

[vgchat]

If you're making a new site & don't have the money, then sure, you can use mybb or smf to start off with. However, you should have a paid forum in mind for later on. I prefer vbulletin 4.

 

[NRG2018]

I use phpBB for basic free forums and Invision Power Board for my more serious projects. I like both a lot.

 

[MeganChan]

I myself use phpBB. Used it for years and like it. Plus I’m used to it.

 

[Page]

I have mixed from paid an free and also paid requested plugins. I started off with free until I was able to grow more and know what I wanted for the site

 

[Jason76]

I use MyBB for a few sites and XenForo for others. The MyBB is a bit tougher as you need more "under the hood" work.