vBulletin - is it inexpendible?

[blackwater]

Ok as I understand it vBulletin is something like ~100$ while many similar applications such as MyBB, SMF, or phpBB are absolutely free.

One thing I have noticed is that almost all of the best communities I know are powered by vBulletin and I figure that people wouldn't dish out 100$ for something they could also get for free.

So my question is: In setting up my first forum (which I eventually hope to grow into a lagrge community), is vBulletin absolutely necessary? What is the best free alternative?

For the record I know that WIKIPEDIA has a comparison page between different types of forum software which I have read.

[Bloggeries]

Just go vBulletin and fork out the 150$ for vBseo. They run it here and I run it on my forum. It's absolutely awesome. Organic SE traffic soars with this thing.

The other free ones are free for a reason, limited tech support and such. If you are super serious like it's in your mind and your doing it just go vb and consider it a cost of doing business.

Rob

Originally Posted by blackwater

Ok as I understand it vBulletin is something like ~100$ while many similar applications such as MyBB, SMF, or phpBB are absolutely free.

One thing I have noticed is that almost all of the best communities I know are powered by vBulletin and I figure that people wouldn't dish out 100$ for something they could also get for free.

So my question is: In setting up my first forum (which I eventually hope to grow into a lagrge community), is vBulletin absolutely necessary? What is the best free alternative?

For the record I know that WIKIPEDIA has a comparison page between different types of forum software which I have read.

[tobyhede]

I am a fan of Vanilla.

The interface is very elegant.

And even the best SEO tool will do anything if you've got an empty forum with no members.

[blackwater]

Originally Posted by Bloggeries

The other free ones are free for a reason

I appreciate your reply but I have to ask: Wordpress is also free but also state of the art.

[AndrewJ]

The best free alternative would probably be SMF - simple machines forum.
However, I'm also starting a new forum and I will be using vbulletin.

Andrew

[Bloggeries]

Originally Posted by blackwater

I appreciate your reply but I have to ask: Wordpress is also free but also state of the art.

We are talking about forum software here; not blogs software. Forum software is much more complicated. You can start with whatever you want, but on the net appearances go along away. Also as far as usability vB is simply in it's own league.

Regards,

[richie]

Though phpbb has more mods than any other forum software but its unsecure, easy to hack.On the other hand Vb is really secured and has good support.

[Bloggeries]

*IF* You use another program, be sure to check that it is upgradeable to vB what I mean is some of thoes programs you can take the data and implement them into vB. Others you can't... Might want to look into that idea if you are not certain. Although the transfer IS possible for some Im sure it would still be somewhat of a headache especially if you had an active / busy forum.

Originally Posted by blackwater

Ok as I understand it vBulletin is something like ~100$ while many similar applications such as MyBB, SMF, or phpBB are absolutely free.

One thing I have noticed is that almost all of the best communities I know are powered by vBulletin and I figure that people wouldn't dish out 100$ for something they could also get for free.

So my question is: In setting up my first forum (which I eventually hope to grow into a lagrge community), is vBulletin absolutely necessary? What is the best free alternative?

For the record I know that WIKIPEDIA has a comparison page between different types of forum software which I have read.