Vbulletin or IPB

[HappyFox]

I have questions regarding IPB and Vbulletin. I would like to compare them.



I was wondering , in the new vb 4 , it doesn't have a license expiry date. Does that means that I have that VB software for the rest of my life till the next upgrade i.e vb 5.X ?



Is it easier to add modifications to vb than ipb ? Example , maybe adding a cash mod ?



If you would to choose 1 , which would you choose ? IPB or VB 4 ?

 

[Crusader]

vBulletin. It has always been the best and even though it has a had a bad few months with IB taking ove,r it will remain the best. The vB 4 License includes all updates in the 4.x seires and when vB 5 hits you will then most likely have to pay an renewal fee if you want to upgrade from vB 4.x to vB 5.



vBulletin has much stronger modding community. http://vbulletin.org is the place to go for mods.

 

[TayneC8]

I say vBulletin 3, but not 4. I've used 4 and I hated it.

 

[akiratheoni]

I have questions regarding IPB and Vbulletin. I would like to compare them.



I was wondering , in the new vb 4 , it doesn't have a license expiry date. Does that means that I have that VB software for the rest of my life till the next upgrade i.e vb 5.X ?



Is it easier to add modifications to vb than ipb ? Example , maybe adding a cash mod ?



If you would to choose 1 , which would you choose ? IPB or VB 4 ?

As far as I am aware with vB4, if you buy it, you get access to all the upgrades for the life of vB4. But when vB5 comes out, you have to buy that.



Both software has a hooks system where you just upload a single file and it mods it automatically for you. Both of them have a cash mod too.



vB3 has a stronger mod community, not too sure about vB4, I think mods will have to be re-written for that but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

IPB charges you $25 every six months if you want upgrades and support. Over time you will end up giving IPB a lot more money than you will ever give vB.

 

[Blake]

Personally i like VB allot more, its easy to work with, cheap(kind a

) and just overall better.

 

[akiratheoni]

IPB charges you $25 every six months if you want upgrades and support. Over time you will end up giving IPB a lot more money than you will ever give vB.

It's an optional $25. Some people bought IPB when it was in its early 2.x stages and didn't pay the $25 until 3.0 came out. So it all depends on what you really want to do.



I don't mind paying the $25 every six months because I really like Invision Power's business model. So I want to support them.

 

[Naviero X]

With IPB (2.X at least), you had to edit system files. It was a pain, in my opinion. For vBulletin, you mainly have to upload files (like IPB) but you edit the templates instead of the files. Thus, you can do this via the Admin CP, whereas you needed to edit the source files on IPB. That was one thing I really liked about vBulletin in comparison to IPB. I'm not sure with 4.0 and 3.0 of vB and IPB, respectively, whether that is still the case. If so, I'd say vB would be a better bet. (Plus, I generally like vB more.)

 

[IcarusForde]

I say vBulletin 3, but not 4. I've used 4 and I hated it.

Just thought i'd point out that you have not used vB4, you've used the Beta's/RC's.



Overall, vBulletin is a brilliant system. I've had experience with the ACP in IPB, and it's a real pain in the butt to use, whereas the vB one is a breeze... I love it. And the amount of mods/hacks/skins for it is baffling.

 

[Nathan]

Just thought i'd point out that you have not used vB4, you've used the Beta's/RC's.



Overall, vBulletin is a brilliant system. I've had experience with the ACP in IPB, and it's a real pain in the butt to use, whereas the vB one is a breeze... I love it. And the amount of mods/hacks/skins for it is baffling.

Well I disagree with you there, the IPB 3.0.x ACP system is great whereas the vB 3.x.x and vB 4.x.x (till 4.1 is released) ACP is very confusing. Ive tried the beta of vB 4 and im not very impressed with it honestly. However since it's still beta, there are A LOT of bugs, so ill have to wait till gold is released

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

All ACP's can be confusing until you get the hang of it. I remember when I went from phpbb2 to phpbb3 and I was lost for weeks. Once I got it down, it was no biggie. Same goes with all ACP's.

 

[HappyFox]

Just to say that I've decided on IPB and i'm loving it.



IcarusForde , why do you say that IPB's ACP is hard to use ?



In my opinion , IPB 3 ACP is easy to use and it provides easy modding with its hook system.

 

[Kyrin]

I have used both ipb is nice and all but vb will always have my vote for the best.