[andrewbernard]

Hello Guys,

I mean I am still confused between PHPBB or Expression Engine or Vbulletin. Why should I pay for Vbulletin instead of a Free PHP BB. I do have money to spare. but can some people who are already using it tell me why I should put my money on it?

Feedback appreciated guys

Andrew

[Jeff Ledger]

The most different and used to be the most advantage of vbulletin is this community (vbulletin.org).

Being a licensed customer you are able to download around thoudsands of free mods and styles, receiving support from developers here.

In general, all discussion software board has the same features for a fresh installation.

Jeff

[Post Reader]

just answer why phpBB is free? if it contains all of the functions available in vbulletin they why they do not put it for sale?

and the answer to your question is quite easy.... vBulletin offers fully functional and user friendly bulletin board and that what no one is offering. if free is the solution of any thing than these 400000 members here have wasted their time and money

[Rahstyles]

Dude trust me.. your only paying for the name... i been a vbulletin customer.. since 05 .. It used to be ubb vs vb .. but now all your doing is paying for the vb name.. cause everybody knows vb

[BirdOPrey5]

If you use phpbb and vbulletin and honestly can't tell a difference maybe it isn't for you. I know when I have to use a phpbb forum for something, IT HURTS. I have joined and been active on dozens of VB forums over the years. I never stick around a phpbb forum longer than I absolutely have to because it's just so annoying IMO. People are universally used to vbulletin- it will make getting and keeping members much easier.

[grey_goose]

It also legitimizes your site, to some degree. It means you're serious, you're invested. You're not going to disappear overnight. Free forums say "Eh, I'm trying this out."

[MaryTheG(r)eek]

Originally Posted by andrewbernard

Hello Guys,
.....between PHPBB or Expression Engine...
Andrew

Hello Andrew,

Comparing phpBB with vBulletin has no sense. vBulletin is far ahead than phpBB in everything. But I seen that you mentioned Expression Engine too. What's for? EE is for publishing articles, even if it has an addon forum module (nothing special, just basic features).

What's your main scope? User discussions or publishing articles? If its publishing articles then just keep away from vB. It's CMS is buggy like a hell. 20 months now since the original v4 Suite (with CMS) release, still can't have a really stable version in CMS section. Please pay attention to it: In CMS section. Forum has not such problem other than usal bugs that all scripts have.

Maria

[TheLastSuperman]

Hmm...

Ride around in a car built for free, and where they mechanic works on it in his spare time or for fun and risk it breaking down or a car theif breaking into it because the door locks are messed up.

OR

Ride around in a car where the dealership pays the mechanic good money, he makes it a point to ensure the locks work, the car runs fine and is maintained on schedule.

Now of course by locks I mean security, by maintained I mean vBulletin's staff is paid to ensure the product is secure and is actively being developed (despite some wanting one feature or bug added/fixed more so than someone else etc etc what is new there). For me it's simple, you pay more to receive more (old saying "You get what you pay for" basically) and I've worked on phpBB forums in the past and I feel the same as BOP5, I never want to visit or login to another phpBB forum for that matter to be quite honest.

[borbole]

Originally Posted by andrewbernard

Hello Guys,

I mean I am still confused between PHPBB or Expression Engine or Vbulletin. Why should I pay for Vbulletin instead of a Free PHP BB. I do have money to spare. but can some people who are already using it tell me why I should put my money on it?

Feedback appreciated guys

Andrew

Hi Andrew. What is your forum going to be about? If it is for something that you will do for a hobby or to pass the time then go first with a free forum. At least until it grows and you will be using it seriously. My sugegstion would be MyBB in that case.

If it will be business oriented, then go with vB.

[River J]

PHPBB forums aren't nearly as professional as a vBulletin forum. If you want your community to have the most powerful forum possible go with vBulletin. Vbulletin.org offers hundreds of free modifications and template edits, if you want a powerful forum go with vB.

[y2ksw]

Originally Posted by andrewbernard

Hello Guys,

I mean I am still confused between PHPBB or Expression Engine or Vbulletin. Why should I pay for Vbulletin instead of a Free PHP BB. I do have money to spare. but can some people who are already using it tell me why I should put my money on it?

Feedback appreciated guys

Andrew

If you have a lot of free time (weeks & months) to fix all issues you may come over with phpBB, and also have the technical knowhow (PHP, MySQL, HTML, JS, CSS), then phpBB may be a good base to start off with, just to see if your site takes off or not. For example, in free hosting environments vbulletin would be a waste anyway.

However, if you have no time or knowledge and hosted on good servers, vBulletin is definitively the way to go with. It is worth the 10-15 hours of work you are paying for ($20-25 each), since coming up with something reasonably similar to vBulletin with a modified phpBB, you would spend at least 800 hours of professional work ($100+ each).

[Domenic_U]

evrybody knows that vbulletin board is the best and strongest and reliable board in this world....