Create your own free forum, create forum - Make your forum for free
- free forum hosting, free forum, free forums, forum host, forum hosting, create forum, discussion boards, forum service, forum software, message boards, phpbb, freeforums

free forum hosting - create forum offers free forum -
Zoneforum offers free phpBB forum hosting, with automatic, easy creation. Your free message board will be instantly activated - all that is required is your email address, it takes about 1 minute to sign up, and a further 30 seconds to have your forum fully functional and installed on one of our dedicated servers. Please click here to create your free forum instantly.




Comparison of phpBB to other Popular Forum Solutions

Feature phpBB3 Invision Power Board vBulletin Simple Machines Forum
License:
GPL
Proprietary
Proprietary
Proprietary
License Price:
Free
US$149.99 License PriceIncludes support and updates for six months; US$25 renewal
US$160 License PriceIncludes one year of updates and lifetime support; US$30 renewal
Free
Programming Language:
PHP
PHP
PHP
PHP
Latest Version:
3.0.1
2.3.4
3.6.8-pl2
1.1.4
Release Date:
07 Apr, 2008
09, Jan 2008
05, Nov 2007
27, Sep 2007

Security
Permanent Bans:
Yes Permanent BansIncluding reason shown to user and Moderator comment
Yes
Yes
Yes
Temporary Bans (Suspension):
Yes Temporary Bans (Suspension)Including Reason shown to user and Moderator comment
Yes
Yes
Yes
Permissions:
Yes PermissionsAdvanced and Customisable Permissions System -- See below Permissions Section for additional details
Yes
Yes
Yes
Paid Security Code Audit:
Yes
Yes
No
No
Form Handling:
Yes Form HandlingUser based forms
-
-
Yes
Type Aware Parameter Handling:
Yes
-
Yes
No
Type Aware Database Layer:
Yes
-
-
No
Password Hashing:
Yes Password HashingMethod: Multiple Runs, Salted, and/or MD5
Yes
Yes
Yes

Anti-Spam
CAPTCHA Visual Confirmation:
Yes CAPTCHA Visual ConfirmationCustomise Difficulty and CAPTCHA Noise
Yes
Yes
Yes
Flood Control:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Groups:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
ACLs:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Word Censor:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Banning:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Suspensions:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Warnings:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
User Logging:
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
User Post IP Logging:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Report Posts:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Post Moderation:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No

Data Management
MySQL:
Yes MySQLMySQL 3.23+, MySQLi
Yes MySQLMySQL 4.0+
Yes
Yes
MSSQL Server:
Yes
Yes MSSQL ServerWith an additional driver, US$60
No
No
MSSQL ODBC:
Yes
Yes MSSQL ODBCWith an additional driver, US$60
No
No
PostgreSQL:
Yes
No
No
No
Oracle:
Yes
Yes OracleWith an additional driver, US$60
No
No
Firebird:
Yes
No
No
No
SQLite:
Yes
No
No
No
Database (DBMS) Backups:
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Database (DBMS) Restore:
Yes
-
-
-
Post/Topic Pruning:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Registration
COPPA Registrations:
Yes COPPA RegistrationsToggle On/Off
Yes
Yes
Yes
Limit Registration Attempts:
Yes
-
-
No
Set min/max Username Length:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Set min/max Password Length:
Yes
-
-
Yes
Limit username Chars:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Set Password Complexity Requirements:
Yes
-
-
Yes
Force Password Change:
Yes
-
-
-
Allow/Disallow e-mail Address Re-usage:
Yes Allow/Disallow e-mail Address Re-usageAllow or Disallow Duplicate E-Mail Addresses
-
Yes
No

Posting
Topic Display Method:
Flat
Flat or Threaded
Flat or Threaded
Flat
BBCode:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Custom BBCode Buttons:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
WYSIWYG Editor:
No
Yes
Yes
No
HTML in posts:
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Smilies/Emoticons:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Quoting:
Yes QuotingNested, Configurable maximum nested depth
Yes
Yes QuotingLimited to one level
Yes
Quote Multiple Posts:
Yes Quote Multiple PostsMultiple post quoting through Topic Review
Yes
Yes
Yes
Formatting Toolbar:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Syntax Highlighting:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Attachments:
Yes (Multiple)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Post Drafts:
Yes
No
Yes
No
Polls:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Multiple Poll Option Voting:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
User based Poll Tracking:
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Allow/Disallow Vote Change:
Yes
-
-
Yes
Beaten-to-Posting Review:
Yes
-
Yes
Yes
Posting Preview:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Flood Control:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Attachments
Automatic Image Thumbnails:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Attachment Types:
Yes Attachment TypesImages, Documents, Audio Streams, Video Streams, Archives
Yes
Yes
Yes
Multiple Attachments:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Customisable Attachment Placement:
Yes Customisable Attachment PlacementInline and/or standard
Yes
No
Yes

Profiles / Memberlist
Custom Profile Fields:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
User Posting Stats:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
User Instant Messengers:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
User Profile details:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Memberlist Searching:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
User Rating:
No
Yes
Yes
No

Search System
Fulltext Search:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Customised Topic Search:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Customised Forum Search:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Author Search:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Advanced Search:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Unread Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Active Topics:
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Posts Since Last Visit:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Search Flood Control:
Yes
Yes
-
No

Forums
Categories:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Password Protected Forums:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Forum Specific Styles:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
URL Link Redirect Forums:
Yes URL Link Redirect ForumsToggle on/off Redirect Count
Yes
Yes
No
Forum Rules:
Yes
Yes
No
No
Subforums:
Yes SubforumsUnlimited Nested Levels
Yes
Yes
Yes
Last Post:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Forum Pruning:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Display Active Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Subscribe to Forums:
Yes Subscribe to ForumsE-mail, Jabber/XMPP Notifications
Yes
Yes
No
Subscribe to Topics:
Yes Subscribe to TopicsE-mail, Jabber/XMPP Notifications
Yes
Yes
Yes
Bookmark Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Topic Sorting:
Yes Topic SortingSort by Author, Selectable Post Time, Replies, Subject and Views in descending or ascending order
Yes
Yes
Yes
Post Sorting:
Yes Post SortingSort by Author, Selectable Post Time, and Subject in descending or ascending order
No
No
No
Topic Participation Tracking:
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Print Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
E-mail Topics:
Yes E-mail TopicsE-mail Topic to friend with Language choice
Yes
Yes
Yes

User Control Panel
User Signatures:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
User Avatars:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
User Ranks:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Users Online List:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
User Preferences:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
User Profile Settings:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Manage Saved PM/Post Drafts:
Yes
Yes
No
No
Manage Bookmarks:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Manage Attachments:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Manage Subscribed Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Custom Profile Fields:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Friends/Foe List:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Private Messaging
Additional PM Folders:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes Additional PM FoldersLabels
Customisable PM Filter Rules:
Yes
No
No
No
Send to Multiple Recipients:
Yes Send to Multiple RecipientsGroups and/or Users
Yes
Yes
Yes
Send Blind Carbon Copies:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Send to Groups:
Yes
No
No
No
Forward Messages:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Address Book:
Yes Address BookUsing Friends list
Yes
No
No
Message Drafts:
Yes
Yes
No
No
Export Messages:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Attachments for Messages:
Yes
Yes
No
No
Conversation View:
Yes
-
No
No
Custom Message Handling Rules:
Yes
No
No
No

Usergroups
Group Types:
Yes Group TypesHidden, Closed, Open, Request
Yes
-
Yes
UCP Group Management:
Yes
-
Yes
No
UCP Manage Group Memberships:
Yes
-
No
No
Multiple Group Leaders:
Yes Multiple Group LeadersMultiple Group Leaders
-
Yes
No
Custom Group Colours:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Group Ranks:
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Group Avatars:
Yes
Yes
-
-
Group-based Memberlist Display:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No

Moderation Control Panel
Global Moderators:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Forum Moderators:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Post Moderation Queue:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Manage Reported Topics/Posts:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Topic History:
Yes
Yes
-
-
Forum/Topic Logs:
Yes
-
-
No
Localised Moderator Logs:
Yes
-
Yes
No
Post Editing:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Post Locking:
Yes Post LockingPost Locking prevents user from editing post
Yes
-
No
Post Details:
Yes
-
-
No
Change Post Author:
Yes
-
-
No
Quick-Mod Tools:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Moving Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Move Multiple Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Merging Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Merging Posts:
Yes
Yes
-
-
Merging Multiple Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Split Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Locking Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Deleting Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Copying Topics:
Yes
No
-
No
Global Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Announcement Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Sticky Topics:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Manage Bans:
Yes Manage BansManage Suspensions (Temporary Bans), Permanent Bans, plus reason for ban
Yes
-
No
Manage User Warnings:
Yes
Yes
-
No
Banning by Username:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Banning by E-mail Address:
Yes
No
No
No
Banning by IP Address:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
User Notes:
Yes
No
-
No

Administration Control Panel
Founder Status/Board Creator:
Yes
Yes
No
No
Load Settings:
Yes
-
-
Yes
Automatic MOD Installer:
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Prune Inactive Users:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Manage Ranks:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Manage Groups:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Manage Group Memberships:
Yes
-
No
Yes
Manage Attachments and Settings:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Manage User Attachments:
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
User Editing:
Yes User EditingAdvanced Interface -- Complete User Administration: Overview, profile, preferences, permissions, groups, avatar, signature, and settings
Yes
Yes
Yes
Topic Icons:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Mass e-mail:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Manage report/denial Reasons:
Yes
Yes
-
No
Module Management:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Custom BBCodes:
Yes
Yes
Yes
-
Custom Profile Fields:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Manage Bans:
Yes Manage BansManage Suspensions (Temporary Bans), Permanent Bans, plus reason for ban
Yes
Yes
Yes
Banning by Username:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Banning by E-mail Address:
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Banning by IP Address:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Styles
User Selectable Styles:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Install/Manage Custom Styles:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Customise/Edit Templates:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Customise/Edit Themes:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Customise/Edit Imagesets:
Yes
Yes
No
No

Notifications
E-mail:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Instant Messaging:
Yes Instant MessagingJabber Support
No
-
No
Bookmarks:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
RSS/Syndication:
No
Yes
Yes
Yes

Localisation
Support for Multiple Language Packs:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Number of Translations:
61
-
4 (officially)
37
Right to Left Support:
Yes
-
-
-
Language Pack Web-Editor:
Yes
Yes
Yes
No

Installation / Upgrade
Installation Wizard:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Update Wizard:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Convertor Wizard:
Yes
Yes Convertor WizardConvertors from some boards are at additional charge
Yes
-
File Merge Diff Update Engine:
Yes
No
-
Yes

Technical Features
CMS Software Integration:
Yes CMS Software IntegrationThird Party Bridge with Joomla! auth plug-in
Yes CMS Software IntegrationTo at-extra-charge IPS products
Yes CMS Software IntegrationWith at-extra-charge Jelsoft products.
Yes CMS Software IntegrationMambo
XHTML Compliant:
Yes XHTML CompliantXHTML 1.0 Strict Compliant
No
Yes XHTML CompliantXHTML 1.0 Transitional Compliant
Yes XHTML CompliantXHTML 1.0 Transitional Compliant




About PhpBB



phpBB was first created by James Atkinson (theFinn) in June 2000 as a UBB-like forum solution for his wife. Once released to the public through SourceForge, it gained popularity very quickly, and by December of the same year v1.0.0 was released.




Two additional major releases, 1.2 and 1.4, were made in February and April of 2001. During this time, the development team expanded to include Bart van Bragt (BartVB) and Paul S. Owen (psoTFX).

Work on phpBB 2.0.x began in February of 2001. phpBB2 was built entirely from scratch, and took an entire year to complete. Finally, in April of 2002, phpBB 2.0.0 was made available to the public. The 2.0.x line of phpBB has since risen to become the most successful opensource bulletin board software worldwide.

Work on phpBB 2.2 was started almost immediately and continued over the following years. On January 14, 2005, it was announced that phpBB 2.2 would be no more. Due to the large scale changes made to the codebase and the lack of backwards compatibility with phpBB 2.0.x., it was decided that the next version of phpBB would have to be 3.0.0, as is required under the Linux Kernal numbering system. Thus, phpBB3 “Olympus” was born.

The new phpBB.com website presenting phpBB3 Beta5 was made available in March 2007. The first release candidate, marking full support for the 3.0 line, was published in May of 2007. phpBB 3.0.0 was released on December 13th 2007.

Zoneforum offers free phpBB forum hosting, with automatic, easy creation. Your free message board will be instantly activated - all that is required is your email address, it takes about 1 minute to sign up, and a further 30 seconds to have your forum fully functional and installed on one of our dedicated servers. Please click here to create your free forum instantly.