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Comments
phpbb and they have a crap load of themes.
Appearance is very important
Not pretty
Not modern enough
I like https://forem.dev
We used SMF, back than. Very old, i don't think it is getting any new updates either.
flarum looks the best from the free ones.. by far.. but, definitely not simple to be set up
--
though - BBpress is the easiest to be maintained (it runs on WP).. bbprss sample: ibf.lv (one of my communities - Latvian webmaster forum.. almost dead)
Ok let's start.
Free Forums
SMF(Simples Machine Forum) - Actually I think this is one of best, they are very close to end development of SMF 2.1 (you can use it for tests purposes, but is not final)
Pros
Large of Free Themes
Support
Community
Active Development
Good features
Easy to install and configure
Premium themes available in good scale.
Tons of Mods
Cons
They Editor is terrible, seems like OLD.. I don't like it.
Security features (lack of some of them, in case of moderation, but in 2.1 it will be better)
Mybb
Pros
Easy to install
Medium themes available for free
Security updates
Easy to install
Cons
Not to much premium themes / skins, they lack in it.
Some vulnerabilities that have been fixed already, but sometimes can be easily hacked.
Phpbb
Pros
Good Security && updates
Easy to install and manage
Good free themes to use
Cons
Low themes premium available (I mean, there isn't large themes premium available to buy)
My final is SMF > PhpBB > MyBB
**Paid **
Xenforo > IPB > vBulletin
Don't think to much, vBulletin was losing market they don't revamp their installation and they lack in optimization, vBulletin is losing clients to Xenforo.
At this moment Xenforo is still being the king.
Some will agree with me, others not. But at this moment you can have good features with Free Forum Software
Take some examples
nulledbb > MyBB
Anime-forum.info > MyBB
MyBB is very popular due to HF any other forums like that.
If you want a custom theme or doing some beautiful and different forum
MyBB is your answer and SMF does it well also.
They lack of Premium Themes... SMF have better free themes and Premium themes, you should be surprised if you take a look in SMF.
Xenforo
No love for Vanilla?
I chose flarum
Another vote for SMF. Too ugly? Change the theme and customize, it's not hard.
xiuno bbs
phpbb is good
There is also Woltlab forum suite. It is paid, looks a bit of Xenforo rip-off, but it is older and is non-USA (Germans).
Is mobile-friendliness important when choosing a forum program?
Discourse
Nop, people wants a stable, flexible, easy to turn on and work on it.
Vanilla doesn't have half of database of free themes that SMF, MyBB or PhpBB have.
That's why is not very popular, yes probably popular for Gaming Companies, since they can make their own custom theme.
But not reliable for who search for stability and put forum online and then work in it.
Vanilla is my personal choice no need any junk templates like other forums do have.
Exactly my thoughts. Vanilla is usually a great choice.
the vanilla style with no subforums etc is nice, but i think discourse is the modern equivalent.
my favorite forum is mybb
phpBB
mybb seems to be having active development, great free plugins but lacks in themes.