View source for Comparison of Internet forum software

{{Short description|General features of Internet forum software}}
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This article outlines the general features commonly found in various '''[[Internet forum]] software''' packages. It highlights major features that the manager of a forum might want and should expect to be commonly available in different forum software. These comparisons do not include remotely hosted services which use their own [[proprietary software]], rather than offering a package for [[download]] which [[webmaster]]s can host by themselves.

==General information==
Basic general information about the forums: creator/company, license, etc. Systems listed on a light purple background are no longer in active development. 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%;"
|- style="background: #ececec"
! style="width:12em" |
!Creator
!Latest release date
!Current stable version
![[Programming language]]
!Supported databases
!License
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[bbPress]]<ref>{{cite web |title = bbPress.org |url = http://bbpress.org/ |website = bbpress.org |access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>
| WordPress Foundation
| {{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q13166|P348|P577}}
| {{wikidata|property|edit|reference|Q13166|P348}}
| [[PHP]]<ref name=":2">{{cite web |title = Requirements · bbPress.org |url = https://bbpress.org/about/requirements/|website = bbpress.org|access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>
| [[MariaDB]], [[MySQL]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hosting Requirements for WordPress |url=https://wordpress.org/about/requirements/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=WordPress.org |language=en-US}}</ref>
| [[GNU General Public License|GPL]]<ref>{{cite web |title = License · bbPress.org |url = https://bbpress.org/about/license/|website = bbpress.org |access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>
|-
!style="background: #F4E3FF ;"| [[Beehive Forum]]<ref>{{cite web|title = Project Beehive Forum|url = http://beehiveforum.net/|website = beehiveforum.net|access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>
| Project Beehive Forum Developers
| 2016-11-05
| 1.5.2
| [[PHP]]
| [[MySQL]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Project Beehive Forum |url=https://www.beehiveforum.co.uk/docs/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=www.beehiveforum.co.uk}}</ref>
| [[GNU General Public License|GPL]]
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Discourse (software)|Discourse]]<ref>{{cite web|title = Discourse|url = http://www.discourse.org/|website = www.discourse.org|access-date = 2016-07-26}}</ref>
| Civilized Discourse Construction Kit, Inc.
| {{Discourse (software) version|releasedate}}
| {{Discourse (software) version}}
| [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]], [[JavaScript]]
| [[PostgreSQL]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is Discourse? |url=https://www.discourse.org/about |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Discourse - Civilized Discussion |language=en}}</ref>
| [[GNU General Public License|GPL]]
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Discuz!]]<ref>{{cite web|title = Discuz! X – 产品 – 北京康盛新创科技有限责任公司|url = http://www.comsenz.com/products/discuz|website = www.comsenz.com|access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>
| Comsenz Inc.
| 2022-12-31
| X3.5
| [[PHP]]
| [[MariaDB]], [[MySQL]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disucz! X下载_免费搭建网站_开源建站系统下载_Discuz!官方_为您提供全方位建站服务! - 贰道网络 |url=https://www.discuz.vip/download.html |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=www.discuz.vip}}</ref>
| {{proprietary}}
|-
!style="background: #F4E3FF;"| [[FluxBB]]<ref>{{cite web |title = FluxBB 1.5.9 released |url = http://fluxbb.org/|website = FluxBB.org |access-date = 2015-11-24|archive-date = 2017-08-06 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170806204034/http://fluxbb.org/ |url-status = dead}}</ref>
| FluxBB.org Developers
| 2018-12-31
| 1.5.11
| [[PHP]]
| [[MySQL]], [[PostgreSQL]], [[SQLite]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Installing - FluxBB Wiki |url=https://fluxbb.org/docs/v1.5/installing |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=fluxbb.org |archive-date=2022-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002113714/https://fluxbb.org/docs/v1.5/installing |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| [[GNU General Public License|GPL]]
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[FUDforum]]<ref>{{cite web|title = FUDforum: Welcome to the forum|url = http://fudforum.org/|website = fudforum.org|access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>
| Advanced Internet Designs Inc.
| {{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q163302|P348|P577}}; {{Time ago|{{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q163302|P348|P577}}}}
| {{wikidata|property|edit|reference|Q163302|P348}} 
| [[PHP]]
| [[MariaDB]], [[MySQL]], [[Oracle Database|Oracle]], [[PostgreSQL]], [[SQLite]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Releases · fudforum/FUDforum |url=https://github.com/fudforum/FUDforum/releases |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=GitHub |language=en}}</ref>
| [[GNU General Public License|GPL]]
|-
!style="background: #F4E3FF;"| [[Ikonboard]]<ref>{{cite web|title = ikonboard|url = http://sourceforge.net/projects/ikonboard/|website = SourceForge|access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>
| Matt Mecham (original creator) Joshua Johnson
| 2012-10-19
| 3.1.5A
| [[Perl]]
| [[MySQL]], [[Oracle Database|Oracle]], [[PostgreSQL]]
| {{proprietary}}
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Invision Power Board]]<ref>{{cite web|title = IPS Community Suite 4 – Forums, CMS, eCommerce & more – IPS Community Suite|url = http://www.invisionpower.com/|website = IPS Community Suite|access-date = 2015-11-24|language = en-US}}</ref>
| [[Invision Power Services|Invision Power Services Inc.]]
| 2023-07-17
| 4.7.12<ref>{{cite web | url=https://invisioncommunity.com/release-notes/ | title=Release Notes | date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>
| [[PHP]]
| [[MariaDB]], [[MySQL]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://invisioncommunity.com/forums/topic/463197-mariadb-which-version-to-use/ | title=Mariadb - which version to use | date=10 May 2023 }}</ref>
| {{proprietary}}
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[MyBB]]<ref>{{cite web|title = MyBB – Free and Open Source Forum Software|url = https://www.mybb.com/|website = www.mybb.com|access-date = 2017-01-23}}</ref>
| MyBB Group
| {{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q1049445|P348|P577}}; {{Time ago|{{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q1049445|P348|P577}}}}
| {{wikidata|property|edit|reference|Q1049445|P348}} 
| [[PHP]]
| [[MariaDB]], [[MySQL]], [[PostgreSQL]], [[SQLite]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Requirements - MyBB Documentation |url=https://docs.mybb.com/1.8/install/requirements/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=docs.mybb.com}}</ref>
| [[GNU Lesser General Public License|LGPL]], moving to [[BSD License|BSD]] in 2.0<ref>{{cite web|title=Change of license for MyBB 2.0|date=9 May 2015 |url=https://blog.mybb.com/2015/05/09/change-of-license-for-mybb-2-0/|access-date = 2016-03-30}}</ref>
|-
!style="background: #F4E3FF;"| [[Phorum]]<ref>{{cite web|title = Phorum {{!}} Open Source PHP Forum Software|url = http://www.phorum.org/|website = www.phorum.org|access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>
| Brian Moon
| 2017-08-23
| 5.2.23
| [[PHP]]
| [[MySQL]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phorum documentation |url=http://www.phorum.org/docs/html/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=www.phorum.org}}</ref>
| Phorum License 2 ([[BSD licenses|BSD]] like)
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[phpBB]]<ref>{{cite web|title = phpBB • Free and Open Source Forum Software|url = https://www.phpbb.com/|website = www.phpbb.com|access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>
| [[phpBB|phpBB Ltd.]]
| {{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q14270|P348|P577}}; {{Time ago|{{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q14270|P348|P577}}}}
| {{wikidata|property|edit|reference|Q14270|P348}}
| [[PHP]]
| [[MariaDB]], [[MySQL]], [[Oracle database|Oracle]], [[PostgreSQL]], [[SQLite]], [[Microsoft SQL Server|SQL Server]]<ref>{{cite web | title=phpBB 3.3 Proteus Documentation | url=https://download.phpbb.com/pub/documentation/3.3/proteus_documentation.pdf | access-date=2024-04-09}}</ref>
| [[GNU General Public License|GPL]]
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[PunBB]]<ref>{{cite web|title = PunBB|url = http://punbb.informer.com/|website = punbb.informer.com|access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>
| PunBB
| {{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q628197|P348|P577}}; {{Time ago|{{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q628197|P348|P577}}}}
| {{wikidata|property|edit|reference|Q628197|P348}} 
| [[PHP]]
| [[MySQL]], [[PostgreSQL]], [[SQLite]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=PunBB |url=https://punbb.informer.com/about.php |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=punbb.informer.com}}</ref>
| [[GNU General Public License|GPL]]
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"|{{nowrap|[[Simple Machines Forum]]}}<ref name="www.simplemachines.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.simplemachines.org |title=Simple Machines Forum – Free & open source community software |publisher=Simple Machines |access-date=2021-07-03}}</ref>
| Simple Machines
| {{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q1141743|P348|P577}}; {{Time ago|{{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q1141743|P348|P577}}}}
| {{wikidata|property|edit|reference|Q1141743|P348}}
| [[PHP]]
| [[MariaDB]], [[MySQL]], [[PostgreSQL]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=SMF2.1:Requirements and recommendations - Online Manual |url=https://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/SMF2.1:Requirements_and_recommendations |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=wiki.simplemachines.org}}</ref>
| [[BSD License]]
|-
!style="background: #F4E3FF;"| [[Syndie]]<ref>{{cite web|title = Syndie|url = https://www.syndie.de/|website = www.syndie.de|access-date = 2015-11-24|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160112042347/http://syndie.de/|archive-date = 2016-01-12|url-status = dead}}</ref>
| Anonymous (related to [[I2P]])
| 2016-08-14
| 1.107b
| [[Java (programming language)|Java]]
|
| Open source, multiple licenses
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Vanilla Forums]]<ref>{{cite web|title = Community Forum Software|url = https://open.vanillaforums.com/|website = Vanilla Forums|access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>
| [[Vanilla Forums]]
| 2022-09-27
| 2022.019<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tags · vanilla/vanilla |url=https://github.com/vanilla/vanilla/tags |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=GitHub |language=en}}</ref>
| [[PHP]]
| [[MariaDB]], [[MySQL]], [[Percona Server for MySQL|Percona Server]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Developer Tooling |url=https://success.vanillaforums.com/kb/articles/154-developer-tooling |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Vanilla Success |language=en}}</ref>
| [[GNU General Public License|GPL]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Vanilla Forums |url=https://open.vanillaforums.com |title=Open Source Forum Software |publisher=Vanilla Forums |access-date=2017-04-22}}</ref>
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[vBulletin]]<ref>{{cite web|title = vBulletin Announcements – vBulletin Community Forum|url = http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/forum/vbulletin-announcements/vbulletin-announcements_aa|website = www.vbulletin.com|access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>
| vBulletin Solutions Inc.
| {{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q44338|P348|P577}}; {{Time ago|{{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q44338|P348|P577}}}}
| {{wikidata|property|edit|reference|Q44338|P348}} 
| [[PHP]]<ref>{{cite web|title = vBulletin Manual|url = http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html|website = www.vbulletin.com|access-date = 2017-12-29}}</ref>
| [[MariaDB]], [[MySQL]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=vBulletin System Requirements |url=https://forum.vbulletin.com/forum/vbulletin-sales-and-feedback/vbulletin-pre-sales-questions/4387853-vbulletin-system-requirements |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=vBulletin Community Forum |date=12 March 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
| {{proprietary}}<ref>{{cite web|title = vBulletin FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions|url = http://www.vbulletin.com/en/faq/|website = www.vbulletin.com|access-date = 2017-12-29}}</ref>
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[XenForo]]
| [[XenForo|XenForo Limited]], Kier Darby, Mike Sullivan
| {{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q1139757|P348|P577}}; {{Time ago|{{wikidata|qualifier|raw|Q1139757|P348|P577}}}}
| {{wikidata|property|edit|reference|Q1139757|P348}} 
| [[PHP]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://xenforo.com/xf2-docs/manual/install-upgrade/|title=XenForo Installation and upgrades, XenForo 2 Manual|publisher=xenforo.com|access-date=2018-02-17}}</ref>
| [[MySQL]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Installation and upgrades - XenForo 2 Manual |url=https://xenforo.com/docs/xf2/install-upgrade/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=xenforo.com}}</ref>
| {{proprietary}}
|-
![[:de:WoltLab_Burning_Board|WoltLab Suite Forum]]
!WoltLab GmbH
!2025-04-15
!6.1.7
![[PHP]]
![[MariaDB]], [[MySQL]]
![[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] [[Internet forum|(Forum)]]; [[GNU Lesser General Public License|LGPL 2.1]] [[Software framework|(Core)]]
|- style="background: #ececec" class="sortbottom"
!
!Creator
!Latest release date
!Current stable version
![[Programming language]]
!Supported databases
!License
|}

==Features==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%; border:gray solid 1px; text-align:center; table-layout:fixed;"
|- style="background: #ececec"
!style="width:12em"|
![[#Flat vs. threaded|Flat]]
![[#Flat vs. threaded|Threaded]]
![[#User-selectable themes|User selectable themes]]
![[#Unread message tracking|Unread message tracking]]
![[WYSIWYG|WYSIWYG Editor]]
![[#Export, portability|Export, portability]]
![[Email]] / [[NNTP]] interface
![[#Languages|Languages]]
![[Single sign-on|SSO]]
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[bbPress]]
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix>{{cite web|url=https://www.forummatrix.org/compare/xmb+phpbb+smf+vbulletin+bbpress+beehive-forum+fluxbb+fudforum+invision-power-board+mybb+phorum+ubb-threads+vanilla+xenforo|title=ForumMatrix on XMB, phpBB, SMF, vBulletin, bbPress, Beehive Forum, FluxBB, FUDforum, Invision Power Board, MyBB, Phorum, punBB, UBB.threads, Vanilla, XenForo|date=2007–2016|access-date=2020-11-26|publisher=CosmoCode}}</ref>
| 
| 
| 
| 
| {{no}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/pippinsplugins/bbPress-Export-and-Import|title=pippinsplugins/bbPress-Export-and-Import|website=GitHub|date=20 October 2020 }}</ref>
| {{partial|Plugin}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/rmccue/Falcon|title=rmccue/Falcon|website=GitHub|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bbpress.org/forums/topic/post-by-email-social-media-integration/#post-141352|title=Topic: Post by Email & Social Media Integration · bbPress.org|website=bbpress.org|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://codex.bbpress.org/getting-started/bbpress-in-your-language/|title=bbPress in Your Language · bbPress Codex|website=codex.bbpress.org|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
|
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Beehive Forum]]
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{partial}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes|Full}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/> (using [[TinyMCE]])
| {{partial}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/BeehiveForum/BeehiveForum/blob/master/forum/pm_export.php|title=BeehiveForum/BeehiveForum|website=GitHub|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
|
| 
|
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Discourse (software)|Discourse]]
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-are-threaded-replies-echoed-in-the-main-topic-stream/31329 |title=Why are threaded replies echoed in the main topic stream? - feature - Discourse Meta |access-date=2018-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116081329/https://meta.discourse.org/t/why-are-threaded-replies-echoed-in-the-main-topic-stream/31329 |archive-date=2018-01-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://meta.discourse.org/t/allow-users-to-select-dark-light-theme/60857?source_topic_id=12624|title=Allow users to select dark / light theme|website=Discourse Meta|date=12 April 2017 |access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
| {{yes|Full}}
| {{partial|Real-time side-by-side preview}}
| {{yes|Full}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Move your Discourse to a different server|date=16 May 2014 |url=https://meta.discourse.org/t/move-your-discourse-instance-to-a-different-server/15721|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>
| {{partial}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Discourse&oldid=15337466#What_we.27d_lose_.28user_experience.29|title=Discourse – Meta|website=meta.wikimedia.org|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.discourse.org/2014/05/translating-discourse-with-transifex/|title=Translating Discourse with Transifex|website=Discourse Blog|date=12 May 2014 |access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transifex.com/discourse/discourse-org/|title=Discourse Translations|date=2016-04-15|access-date=2016-04-15|archive-date=2016-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503103447/https://www.transifex.com/discourse/discourse-org/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| {{yes|[[OAuth2]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://learndiscourse.org/configuring-google-oauth2-login-for-discourse/ |title=Configuring Google OAuth2 login for Discourse - Discourse Documentation |access-date=2016-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019003423/http://learndiscourse.org/configuring-google-oauth2-login-for-discourse/ |archive-date=2016-10-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Custom<ref>{{cite web|url=https://meta.discourse.org/t/official-single-sign-on-for-discourse-sso/13045|title=Official Single-Sign-On for Discourse (sso)|website=Discourse Meta|date=25 February 2014 |access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>}}
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Discuz!]]
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://addon.dismall.com/library/front/forum/forum_repost.html/|title=楼层回复|website=Discuz资料库}}</ref>
| {{no}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gitee.com/Discuz/DiscuzX/issues/I5X6HD|title=请问对于楼中楼功能是如何规划的？|website=gitee}}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://addon.dismall.com/library/admcp/view/view_style.html|title=风格管理|website=Discuz资料库}}</ref>
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://addon.dismall.com/library/x3/admincp/template/editor.html|title=2.7. 编辑器设置|website=Discuz! X3.4 使用教程文档}}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://addon.dismall.com/library/x3/admincp/founder/db.html#id1|title=12.9. 数据库|website=Discuz! X3.4 使用教程文档}}</ref>
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discuz.dismall.com/library/library/plug/plugin/plugin_language.htm|title=模板和语言包|website=Discuz资料库}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dzdashi.com/news-15236139-1-1.html|title=Discuz!X3.2多国语言实现方法及教程|website=大师网}}</ref>
| {{no}}
|-
! style="background: #ececec;" | [[FluxBB]]
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{no}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{partial}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{partial|Session}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{no}}<ref name=forummatrix/><!-- source says "patch" -->
|
|
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fluxbb.org/resources/translations/|title=Language packs – FluxBB|website=fluxbb.org|access-date=27 February 2018|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052345/https://fluxbb.org/resources/translations/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[FUDforum]]
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes|Full}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/><!-- 2014 source says plugin -->
| {{partial}}<ref>For admins: http://fudforum.org/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=120851</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref>Native NNTP gateway: http://fudforum.org/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=120406&goto=167140&#msg_167140</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forummatrix.org/show/fudforum#item_47|title=ForumMatrix / FUDforum Features – Compare Them All|website=www.forummatrix.org|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
|
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Invision Power Board]]
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| 
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes|Full}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
|
| {{no}}<ref>Only 3 languages updated in one year. https://invisionpower.com/files/category/107-language-packs/?sortby=file_name&filter=file_free&sortby=file_updated&sortdirection=desc&page=1 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424022210/https://invisionpower.com/files/category/107-language-packs/?sortby=file_name&filter=file_free&sortby=file_updated&sortdirection=desc&page=1 |date=2016-04-24 }}</ref>
|
| {{yes}} (LDAP, OAuth, Others) <ref>{{cite web|url=https://invisioncommunity.com/services/sso/|title=Single Sign-On (SSO)|website=Invision Community|access-date=15 January 2023}}</ref>
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[MyBB]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = Features – MyBB|url = http://www.mybb.com/features/|website = www.mybb.com|access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes|Full}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/><!-- 2011 source says "plugin" -->
| {{no}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mods.mybb.com/view/export-thread-v1.0.0|title=MyBB – Mods – Export Thread v1.0.0|first=MyBB|last=Group|website=mods.mybb.com|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
| {{no}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mods.mybb.com/view/post-via-email|title=MyBB – Mods – Post Via Email|first=MyBB|last=Group|website=mods.mybb.com|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://community.mybb.com/thread-135066-post-977336.html#pid977336|title=Allow users to post via email or web service|website=community.mybb.com|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://community.mybb.com/mods.php?action=browse&category=19&by=lastup|title=Extend MyBB – Translations – MyBB 1.8 Language Packs|first=MyBB|last=Group|website=community.mybb.com|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
|
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Phorum]]
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes|Full}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/><!-- 2008 source says "plugin" -->
| {{partial|Plugin}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phorum.org/phorum5/read.php?16,14081|title=Phorummail for Phorum 5|website=www.phorum.org|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
|
| {{no}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phorum.org/phorum5/list.php?65|title=Phorum Support Forums :: 5.2 Language Files|website=www.phorum.org|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
| 
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[phpBB]]<ref name=phpbbfeatures>{{cite web|title=Features|url=https://www.phpbb.com/about/features/|website=phpbb.com|access-date=24 November 2015|ref=phpbbfeatures}}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{no}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes|Full}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{no}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{no}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nejc.skoberne.net/2011/02/phpbb-export-all-posts-for-a-user-into-a-file/|title=phpBB: Export all posts for a user into a file – Nejko's randomness|date=29 March 2016|access-date=27 February 2018|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329044858/http://nejc.skoberne.net/2011/02/phpbb-export-all-posts-for-a-user-into-a-file/|archive-date=29 March 2016}}</ref>
| {{no}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phpbb2refugees.com/viewtopic.php?p=7505#7505|title=I'm struggling with phpBB2 and mail2forum|website=www.phpbb2refugees.com|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=434&t=603719|title=phpBB • [ABD] Mail2forum for phpBB 3|website=www.phpbb.com|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.phpbb.com/languages/|title=phpBB • Language Packs|website=www.phpbb.com|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
| {{yes}} (LDAP, OAuth)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.phpbb.com/support/docs/en/3.1/ug/adminguide/general_client|title=phpBB • 3.1 User Guide|website=www.phpbb.com|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[PunBB]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = comparison_to_other_discussion_boards – PunBB Wiki|url = http://punbb.informer.com/wiki/comparison_to_other_discussion_boards|website = punbb.informer.com|access-date = 2015-11-24}}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| 
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{partial|Session}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| 
|
|
| {{no}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://punbb.informer.com/forums/forum/83/language-packs/|title=Language packs (Page 1) — PunBB Forums|website=punbb.informer.com|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/punbb/langs|title=punbb/langs|website=GitHub|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
|
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Simple Machines Forum]]
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{no}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes|Full}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{partial}} <ref>PM: http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?action=search;basic_search=export</ref>
| {{no}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=168|title=Post from Email|website=custom.simplemachines.org|date=29 May 2023 }}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://download.simplemachines.org/?smflanguages|title=Downloads|website=download.simplemachines.org|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
| 
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[Vanilla Forums]]
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| 
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{partial|Plugin}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{partial|Plugin}} <ref>Attachments: http://vanillaforums.org/addon/myattachments-plugin</ref><ref>Admin-only: http://vanillaforums.org/addon/porter-core</ref>
| 
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transifex.com/vanilla/vanilla/|title=Vanilla languages|date=2016-04-15}} 2 languages 100 % translated.</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://docs.vanillaforums.com/features/sso/|title=Vanilla forums|website=docs.vanillaforums.com|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[vBulletin]]<ref name=vbfeatures>{{cite web|title=vBulletin Forum Features|url=http://www.vbulletin.com/en/features/|website=vbulletin.com|access-date=24 November 2015|ref=vbfeatures}}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes|Full}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{partial|Plugin}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=151222|title=Major Additions – Email Integration (New threads/replies by email) – vBulletin.org Forum|website=www.vbulletin.org|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>vB 4: https://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showpost.php?p=2489379&postcount=1069</ref>
|  {{no}}
| {{no}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/forum/customizing-vbulletin/vbulletin-languages-phrases?87-vBulletin-Languages-Phrases=|title=vBulletin Languages & Phrases – vBulletin Community Forum|website=vBulletin Community Forum|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>
|
|-
!style="background: #ececec;"| [[XenForo]]
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{no}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://xenforo.com/community/threads/does-xenforo-have-threaded-nested-or-linear-format.39909/|title= Does xenForo have threaded / nested or linear format?|date= 29 October 2012}}</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes|Full}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref name=forummatrix/>
| {{yes}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://xenforo.com/xf2-docs/manual/importing/|title = The import system - XenForo 2 Manual}}</ref>
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}<ref>https://xenforo.com/community/resources/categories/xenforo-translations.14/ Available translations for latest version.</ref>
| {{yes}}<ref>https://xenforo.com/xf2-docs/manual/connected-accounts/ OAuth SSO provided by Connected accounts feature.</ref>
|}

===Flat vs. threaded===
* A '''flat''' forum is one where each message is added onto the end of the discussion, with no set relation to any prior messages (other than being on the same discussion topic — except in case of [[Off-topic|Off-Topic]] posting). But, there is normally a feature to 'quote' another user's post, to allow referencing back to other posts.
* A '''[[Threaded discussion|threaded]]''' forum is one where users can specify their message is a reply to an existing message. Threaded forums can display relationships between message topics and associated replies, such as by [[Indentation (typesetting)|indenting]] replies and placing them below the post they reference. Threaded forums are most commonly used for discussions where individual messages tend to be short, such as on [[social news]] sites (e.g. [[Slashdot]] or [[reddit]]), or in commenting systems like [[Disqus]].

===User-selectable themes===
Most forums provide an option for the forum owner to customize the look and feel. Some forums also allow the administrator to create multiple styles or themes, and allow the user to choose which one they wish to view. Themes may simply be a different set of colors and graphics, or they may involve a different layout to the forum, such as one optimized for [[Mobile browser|small-screen device]]s.

The comparison table shows whether a forum software allows forum administrators to customise the "template" of the forum (or specific sections thereof) without altering the released code. Support is considered partial where it is only possible to add CSS rules in this way.<ref name=forummatrix/>

===Unread message tracking===
Unread message tracking refers to the way that is used by forum software to track and display messages that have not yet been read by the current user. This can be one of the following:
* '''Session''' — when a user's session starts, this method relies on the user's "last visit time" to display all messages created since that date as unread. Everything that was posted before "last visit time" is considered "read" regardless of whether the user has actually seen it or not. Until the user's session expires, this method properly tracks read/unread messages, starting with messages that were selected as "unread" when the user's session started. This method is broadly used, due to the simplicity and speed benefits of only storing and checking against a single database value.
* '''Full''' — forum software which records in the persistent database what messages have been read or unread by each user, regardless of user session expiration. Some forum software also allows the user to 'mark as unread', so that they can come back to a message later.

===Export, portability===

This column judges the ability to allow users to [[Import and export of data|export data]] from the forum installation and then import it in new installations of the same software (cf. [[right to fork]] and [[data portability]]) or feed it to data conversion tools.

[[Software portability]] is a key assessment criterion for the choice and procurement of software.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://fsfe.org/activities/policy/eu/digital-single-market-comments.en.html|title=FSFE's Comments on the EU Digital Single Market Strategy|work=FSFE – Free Software Foundation Europe|access-date=2018-02-27|language=en|archive-date=2017-12-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052035/https://fsfe.org/activities/policy/eu/digital-single-market-comments.en.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== [[Email]]/[[NNTP]] interface===

Whether the software can be used with standard [[Email]] or [[NNTP]] clients. Adoption of standard protocols is key for [[interoperability]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/78891/Review-of-the-Evidence_CIPPM.pdf|title=Open Standards in Government IT: A Review of the Evidence|publisher=Centre for Intellectual Property & Policy Management at Bournemouth University|date=25 October 2012}}</ref>

===Languages===

Whether the [[internationalization and localization]] of the software are sufficient to both allow and actually provide grammatically correct support for the native language of the target users.<ref name="SFW">{{cite book|title=Software Without Frontiers: A multi-platform, multi-cultural, multi-nation approach|isbn=9780471969747|editor=Patrick A.V. Hall |editor2=Martyn A. Ould|others=With contributions and leadership by Ray Hudson, Costas Spyropoulos, Timo Honkela et al.|publisher=Wiley|year=1996}}</ref>

For the purposes of this table, we consider languages used by a number of installations/users equal to at least 1% of the top million web properties using that software,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://trends.builtwith.com/cms/forum-software|title=Forum Software technologies Web Usage Statistics|website=trends.builtwith.com|language=en|access-date=2018-02-27}}</ref> without major reported bugs in support.

===Single sign-on===

[[Single sign-on]] is often required to enhance web accessibility of the application.<ref>{{cite book|first1=S.|last1=Za|first2=E.|last2=D’Atri|first3=A.|last3=Resca|title=Information Technology and Innovation Trends in Organizations|chapter=Single Sign-On in Cloud Computing Scenarios: A Research Proposal|url=http://eprints.luiss.it/1141/1/CloudComputing_post_print.pdf|publisher=Physica-Verlag HD|date=1 January 2011|isbn=9783790826319|pages=45–52|doi=10.1007/978-3-7908-2632-6_6|access-date=15 April 2016|archive-date=26 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426074657/http://eprints.luiss.it/1141/1/CloudComputing_post_print.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> This can be accomplished with standards like [[OAuth]] and [[OpenID]].

=== Post drafts ===
To prevent loss of content from browser crashes and the like, forum software may be equipped with the ability to automatically save unfinished posts as drafts, like some [[word processor]] and [[text editor]] software.

Drafts may be stored server-side (in the forum account) or client-side (browser's local storage). The former benefits from the ability to immediately resume drafts on another device, whereas the latter allows saving drafts while internet is disconnected and slightly reduces bandwidth consumption.

==Other features==

===Duplicate thread prevention===

Automatic recommendation systems based on content and users can help forum users find existing discussions similar to those they are browsing or on the topic they are searching,<ref>{{cite book|first1=Jun|last1=Zhao|first2=Jiajun|last2=Bu|first3=Chun|last3=Chen|first4=Ziyu|last4=Guan|publisher=ACM|date=2010-01-01|location=New York, NY, USA|isbn=9781450300995|pages=559–568|series=CIKM '10|doi=10.1145/1871437.1871511|first5=Can|last5=Wang|first6=Cheng|last6=Zhang|title=Proceedings of the 19th ACM international conference on Information and knowledge management |chapter=Learning a user-thread alignment manifold for thread recommendation in online forum |s2cid=17296355}}</ref> or else reach the correct users with their posts, avoiding to "spam" the forum with duplicate or off-topic posts.<ref>{{cite journal|first1=Yung-Ming|last1=Li|first2=Tzu-Fong|last2=Liao|first3=Cheng-Yang|last3=Lai|title=A social recommender mechanism for improving knowledge sharing in online forums|journal=Information Processing & Management|date=2012-09-01|pages=978–994|volume=48|series=Large-Scale and Distributed Systems for Information Retrieval|issue=5|doi=10.1016/j.ipm.2011.10.004}}</ref>

Many users do not bother to search a forum and directly create new threads to seek an answer to a question. On some forums, when the user types a new thread subject, the forum software brings up similar threads automatically on the side. This helps keep the number of redundant threads (or the overall forum pollution) to a lower level as users who neglect to search for a topic and are posting a thread may find the answer to their question as they are creating the new thread.

===Forum spam defenses===
Most forums are at risk of continuous attack by [[forum spam]]mers, largely promoting websites with no relevance to the forum's niche. Systems vary in how they are geared to defense, and checking the offering is an important consideration before selection. A forum cannot succeed unless there is an effective system of defense, and an efficient set of tools for spam removal.

[[CAPTCHA]]s are a common feature used among most internet forum software and are often used to prevent automated registrations.

Banning or deleting membership should come as standard, with the ability to blacklist the username, email address or [[IP address]] for variable time spans.

Reference to an anti-forum spam database can be built into the forum software, or offered as add-ons for specific databases.

===User-friendly URLs===
{{main|Semantic URL}}
Human-friendly forum URLs do not have a [[query string]] and instead contain only the path of the topic. A user-''un''friendly URL may contain cryptic parameters, numeric IDs, or file type extensions (e.g. <kbd>.php</kbd>) that do not matter to the user and could change if the forum is reimplemented using a different programming language. User-friendly URLs are easy to remember and to type, and may enhance [[search engine optimization]] (SEO).
* user-unfriendly URL example: <kbd><nowiki>http://example.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&th=120029</nowiki></kbd>
* user-friendly URL example: <kbd><nowiki>http://example.com/usability-issues/user-friendly-urls</nowiki></kbd>

In general this is accomplished via [[URL mapping]], however, historically in many forum software packages, human-friendly URLs are an afterthought implemented via [[URL rewriting]], and URLs often contain a numeric ID which represents the thread, while the remainder of the URL can in reality be any string: <kbd><nowiki>http://example.com/forum/12345/lets-use-friendly-urls</nowiki></kbd> and <kbd><nowiki>http://example.com/forum/12345/bogus-path-actually</nowiki></kbd> point to the same thread, <kbd><nowiki>http://example.com/forum/12345/</nowiki></kbd>. These are also known as [[URL slug]]s.

The only non-controversial counter-argument to using user-friendly URLs is that they would be leaked in the [[HTTP referer]] header field when a user clicks on an external link from a post, which is undesirable for private (sub)forums, since a URL derived from the topic title could convey sensitive information.<ref>{{cite web|last=Frèrejean|first=Erik|title=SEO URLs|url=http://area51.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=218091#p218091|work=phpBB "Arsia" 3.2 Development|publisher=Area51 phpBB|access-date=2011-06-25}}</ref> This issue can be resolved by rewriting external links to point to a redirection page that performs [[HTTP referer#Referer hiding|referer hiding]].

==See also==
{{Portal|Internet}}
* [[Comparison of civic technology platforms]]
* [[Comparison of Q&A sites]]
* [[List of Internet forums]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Comparison Of Internet Forum Software}}
[[Category:Network software comparisons|Internet forum software]]
[[Category:Internet forum software| ]]
[[Category:Social software|Forum software]]