phpBB vs. SMF vs. MyBB

[Dean]

Every time I visit a forum or website dedicated to forums, their always having some heated debate about which forum software is better. Well, its time for me to post my opinions.
I'm going to be debating the three most (arguably) popular PHP forum software to date. MyBB, Simple Machines Forums (SMF), and phpBB.
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phpBB
Latest Stable Release: 3.0.4
License: GNU General Public License
First Stable Release (1.0): December 9, 2000
Supports: PHP 5 with MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Firebird, OpenLink Virtuoso, and other ODBC-accessible DBMS

In the Web 2.0 look, phpBB was the first forum software not to use tables in its design. The table-free source code makes it easier for SEO purposes, but also makes it harder to skin. phpBB tends to be the slowest of the three boards, too. Security wise, it is considered very secure, and there are few threats. However, feature wise, the Admin CP is missing a lot that other Bulletin Boards have.

I found editing styles and such extra annoying, and I cannot stand the way you set permissions. It's a very slow process.

A positive thought is that phpBB has a large modification community, so you are sure to find what you are looking for.

Conclusion: I think that phpBB is not the best of the three software. It is very behind feature wise, and I believe that the only reason it is so popular is because of its age.

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Simple Machines Forum
Latest Stable Release: 1.1.9
License: Simple Machines License (?)
First Stable Release (1.0): September 30, 2003
Supports: PHP 5 with MySQL (multi-database support is being developed for version 2.0)

Simple Machines has the award for the best looking out of the box. It also has a huge modification database.

There are a few things, though, about this software, that upset me. Firstly, you cannot edit themes via ACP. This means that if you wish to make any changes, you need FTP access. You are able to upload themes via the ACP, but not edit them. SMF doesn't have a plugin manager either, so you won't be able to manage plugins from the ACP (at least before you install them). SMF doesn't have features like a Warning system either, only a ban list. They do have a reputation, or Karma, system.

Conclusion: This forum has a lot of potential. Besides lack of ACP features, I could say this board is amazing.
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MyBB
Latest Stable Release: 1.4.6
License: GNU General Public License
First Stable Release (1.0): 2002?
Supports: PHP 5 with MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQLite

MyBB (Previously MyBulletinBoard) started off from XMB and DevBB. MyBB was originally a forked version of XMB, became DevBB, and is now MyBB. MyBB has recently changed its license from a custom one to the GNU GPL lvl3.

MyBB is the best of the three software, in my honest opinion. It has a built in templates/css editor that is very easy to use. However, it does not have a macro/image editor built in, so you need FTP for that. This is good, because the default skin looks horrible.

It has a global plugin manager, and has many hooks built into its code, so plugins are easy to make. However, the mod community is still small, as MyBB has not had much exposure. I currently make themes for MyBB however, so contact me if you are interested in buying a custom one

MyBB has many features built in, including a warning, reputation, mod tools, custom MyCode (known better as BBCode), custom profile fields, support for multiple calendars, and RSS Syndication.

Conclusion: MyBB has kind of the opposite stature as SMF. It does not have a good theme, but the theme is easily editable. While having a smaller mod community (still has lots of great mods), it has lots of core features you wouldn't even find in payed solutions.

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Based on the above three analysis, I suggest MyBB to all forum administrators.

I recommend everyone share their opinion below, and their experiences with other bulletin board software.

 

[prettylolita]

I have tried all 3 of those softwares include one paid on IBP. I dislike phpbb there is alot of coding to install mods. I still have no clue why its so popular. One mistake and you have to start all over. It an take hours to install a mod thats crazy.
I like mybb is nice and simple.
But I really love SMF currently I am using 1.1.10 about and I am about to upgrade to 2.0. One reason I love it is for its auto installer of mods. And with 2.0 if you add lets say a gallery the link will be added to all your themes. SMF have really thought about making it easy to customize your board. So I really love it.

I know phpbb has a auto installer as well but it has ALOT of bugs and non of the mods I tried installed correctly.
I'm fed up with phpbb I guess. but i can do my share of coding so I'd use it if it was the only thing left.

 

[Cosmic]

phpBB
Latest Stable Release: 3.0.4

It is actually 3.0.5.

I found editing styles and such extra annoying, and I cannot stand the way you set permissions. It's a very slow process.

I like it. the permissions system helps a lot when removing a single user's permissions, such as PM using. You don't have to give them a unique group.

It has a built in templates/css editor that is very easy to use.

phpBB3 has the same thing.

MyBB has many features built in, including a warning, reputation, mod tools, custom MyCode (known better as BBCode), custom profile fields, support for multiple calendars, and RSS Syndication.

Most softwares have most of the listed things. MyBB does have a reputation system but it is generally considered to be bad to my perception.

 

[Stephon]

MyBB
Latest Stable Release: 1.4.6

You also got that wrong. The latest version is 1.4.9

 

[spyka]

I found editing styles and such extra annoying, and I cannot stand the way you set permissions. It's a very slow process.

I like it. the permissions system helps a lot when removing a single user's permissions, such as PM using. You don't have to give them a unique group.

I think putting them into groups is often a lot easier, that way if you want to add more users, just add them to the group. No need to bother going through all the permissions for every user.

It has a built in templates/css editor that is very easy to use.

phpBB3 has the same thing.

Not like MyBB it doesn't. phpBB3 just has a text box, MyBB's editor has syntax highlighting and automated text. e.g. if you type #div { it'll automatically add the } on another line and move the cursor ready for the first style line.

 

[Watch Me Sink]

Latest Stable Release: 1.1.9

Nope. It's 1.1.10

Simple Machines has the award for the best looking out of the box.

You actually like that default theme? I'm SMFcrazy and I hate it.

Firstly, you cannot edit themes via ACP. This means that if you wish to make any changes, you need FTP access. You are able to upload themes via the ACP, but not edit them.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. (Unless you are using the default theme) Go to Admin->Current Theme->Modify the index template. (To modify the index.template.php) or Admin->Current Theme->Modify the style.css file. (For colors and fonts). The latter is even WYSIWYG.
To edit the main templates (default theme), or if you don't have a custom theme go to http://yoursite.com/index.php?action=th ... edit;sesc=[yoursession id]
Since those are the default templates, if you screw them up, it screws up all the themes that don't have a custom version of that file.

SMF doesn't have a plugin manager either, so you won't be able to manage plugins from the ACP (at least before you install them).

You're joking right?

SMF doesn't have features like a Warning system either, only a ban list.

Feature in 2.0, MOD for 1.1.

They do have a reputation, or Karma, system.

Well, you got one thing in that last paragraph right :great:

 

[Minor]

I like MyBB. But the only thing I hate about it that you have to pay for the cool plugins....

 

[Dean]

Sorry guys for un-updated infos. I wrote those from the time I actually used them and mainly from my experiences. Well the main point still stays input, MyBB rates in the best of free-open source forum software's.

 

[Gimgak]

This you then?

 

[Murder he Wrote]

In the Web 2.0 look, phpBB was the first forum software not to use tables in its design. The table-free source code makes it easier for SEO purposes, but also makes it harder to skin.

Two problems here, firstly there's nothing Web 2.0 about phpBB. It doesn't use tabless, correct, but it certainly doesn't "look" Web 2.0 or even feel it. Also whether a site is coded with tables or not has no effect on SEO, or if it does it's extremely minimal. phpBB is hardly SEO friendly anyway so the template makes next to no difference.

I found editing styles and such extra annoying

Really? I have publicly released 3 free phpBB3 Styles and working on a range of premium styles as we speak - in my opinion phpBB is the easiest of the three to edit. You can open the various HTML files for the header, footer, index page, viewtopic page in seperate tabs in dreamweaver and get to work. With Admin Panel editors you're restricted to a little box on the screen and it can be tricky to modify several files at the same time - especially if you're constantly switching between them.

 

[Jonathan]

Those are not the three most popular forum softwares. Maybe the most popular free ones, but not the most popular. vBulletin and IPB come in...

 

[Watch Me Sink]

Those are not the three most popular forum softwares. Maybe the most popular free ones, but not the most popular. vBulletin and IPB come in...

I can't see those being the most popular. For the most part, free software is more popular than paid software.

 

[Mr Happy]

I've used them all and have writen and released mods for them all. I totally depends on what your after and the time your picking one.

eg. If it was a two months ago when IPB3 was released it was useless as their were no mods available and only a handfull of crap skins but now their are hundreds.

Currently IPB is by far the best ''looking out of the box'' and has far superior system for adding mods. It also has a built in SEO system. Saying SMF is the best of the box is pointless anyway as any half decent site will change the skin anyway from default whatever type of board they are using.

True phpbb is slow to install mods but if your good at coding you can do lots more with them and modify them to your own needs. Anyway how often do you install a mod. It's installed once and it's done forever. PHPBB 3.0.6 is a lot more feature reach and has a lot of useful features.

vBulletin at the moment has the most mods and skins but that will all change very soon as V4 is about to be released and all the mods will have to be re-written or edited. Problem with a lot of the mods is their are serious security issues with a lot of them leaving your board prone to hacking.

 

[Nathan54AB]

I've used phpBB3 and SMF1. Haven't used MyBB, though.

I favor phpBB3. I know it's not fair to pick it over SMF1 because there is an SMF2 now, which I haven't used, but I've also used phpBB2 and I favor it over SMF1 also (minus the fact that phpBB2 didn't have a subforum feature and SMF1 did). To me, SMF is just too simple. I know, that word is in their title, but still. There were things that bugged me about SMF. It's been so long since I used it so I don't remember specifically what bugged me, but I know I didn't enjoy working with the admin panel and didn't care for the arrangement of everything as a whole.

phpBB3 feels very solid to me. So did phpBB2. Everything is straightforward and well self-explained, and I feel like I know what I am doing. It doesn't seem to be lacking in features to me, and I really don't understand why some are saying it's not very Web 2.0 like. I've done styling with phpBB2 and 3 as well. It seems pretty easy to me, even when in 3 you do it in the admin panel. Organizing permissions seems very straightforward as well. phpBB3 even looks the best, and hey it was good enough for Forum Promotion to use it.

I think this is all relative, though. Depending on the variety of ways people's thought processes work, different people will be more strongly inclined to operate one software over another.

 

[Jonathan]

Those are not the three most popular forum softwares. Maybe the most popular free ones, but not the most popular. vBulletin and IPB come in...

I can't see those being the most popular. For the most part, free software is more popular than paid software.

http://www.big-boards.com/statistics/

lol

 

[Nebulous]

All of these software comparrison threads get tiring after a while.

Anyone can navigate any forum software as a regular member. You, the admin, are the one who has to do all the technical stuff so you should be using whatever you are most comfortable with.

 

[Watch Me Sink]

Those are not the three most popular forum softwares. Maybe the most popular free ones, but not the most popular. vBulletin and IPB come in...

I can't see those being the most popular. For the most part, free software is more popular than paid software.

http://www.big-boards.com/statistics/

lol

Those are just the big forums. You know how many phpbb forums ff.org hosts?

 

[1029384756]

MyBB is the best!

 

[Zenrer]

Those are not the three most popular forum softwares. Maybe the most popular free ones, but not the most popular. vBulletin and IPB come in...

I can't see those being the most popular. For the most part, free software is more popular than paid software.

http://www.big-boards.com/statistics/

lol

And also, they can probably afford it, using Ad's and such with such a high amount of traffic.

 

[Jonathan]

I was going to reply to this yesterday, but while doing so my computer froze... Anyway.

It appears the most popular forums are usually using vBulletin, thus on the user end of things the most popular. Most forums? Nah. The most used forum software. Definitely vBulletin.