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Compare BulletinBoards vs PunBB vs vBulletin 3.8 vs vBulletin 4

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Results
BulletinBoards Logo
BulletinBoards
PunBB Logo
PunBB
vBulletin 3.8 Logo
vBulletin 3.8
vBulletin 4 Logo
vBulletin 4
Version 8.8 1.4.2 3.8.1 4.1.1
Last Release July 29th, 2009 January 10, 2012 January 27, 2009 December 26, 2010
License Proprietary License GPL License Proprietary License Proprietary License
Price $29.85 quarterly / $101.50 yearly Free $ 180 $195 for Forum, $285 for Publishing Suite
Resources Official Website »
Download » 		Official Website »
Download » 		Official Website »
Download » 		Official Website »
Download »
Ergonomy Normal Easy to Use Perfection Perfection
Installation Easy to Do Classical Fast & Simple Fast & Simple
Administration Classical Categories Efficient & Fast Efficient & Fast Efficient & Fast
Community Size Medium Community Medium Community Huge Community Huge Community
Our Opinion
User Reviews
8/10 (5 votes)
6.8/10 (100 votes)
5.2/10 (112 votes)
4.2/10 (440 votes)
Demonstration BulletinBoards Demo
Open Demo » 		PunBB Demo
Open Demo » 		vBulletin 3.8 Demo
Open Demo » 		vBulletin 4 Demo
Open Demo »
Server Requirements BulletinBoards PunBB vBulletin 3.8 vBulletin 4
Operating System
  • GNU/LinuxGNU/Linux
  • Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows
  • GNU/LinuxGNU/Linux
  • BSD UnixBSD Unix
  • Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows
  • Apple Mac OSApple Mac OS
  • GNU/LinuxGNU/Linux
  • BSD UnixBSD Unix
  • Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows
  • Apple Mac OSApple Mac OS
  • GNU/LinuxGNU/Linux
  • BSD UnixBSD Unix
  • Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows
  • Apple Mac OSApple Mac OS
Web Server
  • Apache 1.3
  • Apache 2.0/2.2
  • Microsoft IIS
  • Apache 1.3
  • Apache 2.0/2.2
  • Microsoft IIS
  • Lighttpd
  • Nginx
  • Apache 1.3
  • Apache 2.0/2.2
  • Microsoft IIS
  • Lighttpd
  • Nginx
  • Apache 1.3
  • Apache 2.0/2.2
  • Microsoft IIS
  • Lighttpd
Languages
  • ColdFusion
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
  • PHP 5
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
Databases
  • MySQL
  • Postgresql
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • MySQL
  • Postgresql
  • SQLite
  • MySQL
  • MySQL
Browsers & Clients
Requirements
Compatible
Browsers
Mozilla FirefoxMozilla Firefox
Internet ExplorerInternet Explorer
Google ChromeGoogle Chrome
OperaOpera
Apple SafariApple Safari
KonquerorKonqueror
Mozilla SeaMonkeyMozilla SeaMonkey
Mozilla FirefoxMozilla Firefox
Internet ExplorerInternet Explorer
Google ChromeGoogle Chrome
OperaOpera
Apple SafariApple Safari
KonquerorKonqueror
Mozilla SeaMonkeyMozilla SeaMonkey
Mozilla FirefoxMozilla Firefox
Internet ExplorerInternet Explorer
Google ChromeGoogle Chrome
OperaOpera
Apple SafariApple Safari
KonquerorKonqueror
Mozilla SeaMonkeyMozilla SeaMonkey
Mozilla FirefoxMozilla Firefox
Internet ExplorerInternet Explorer
Google ChromeGoogle Chrome
OperaOpera
Apple SafariApple Safari
KonquerorKonqueror
Mozilla SeaMonkeyMozilla SeaMonkey
Plugins/
Technologies
  • HTML
  • HTML
  • Javascript
  • AJAX
  • Javascript
  • AJAX
Localization No Yes Yes Yes
Languages No.
Supported Languages:
Bosnian
Bangali
Bulgarian
Portuguese (Brazilian)
Belarusian
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Czech
German
Danish
Spanish
French
Greek
Croatian
Hungarian
Indonesian
Hebrew
Hindi
Persian
Icelandic
Italian
Japanese
Korean (South)
Kurdish
Lithuanian
Latvian
Macedonian
Dutch
Norwegian
Urdu
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Serbian
Russian
Arabic
Swedish
Slovak
Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian
Vietnamese
Afrikaans
Chinese (Traditional)
Supported Languages:
Portuguese (Brazilian)
Chinese (Simplified)
German
Danish
French
Greek
Italian
Dutch
Portuguese
Romanian
Swedish
English (British)
English (American)
Chinese (Traditional)
Supported Languages:
Portuguese (Brazilian)
Chinese (Simplified)
German
Danish
French
Greek
Italian
Dutch
Portuguese
Romanian
Swedish
English (British)
English (American)
Chinese (Traditional)
Compatibility with
Smartphones
Compatible
SmartPhones
  • AndroidAndroid
  • iPhoneiPhone
  • BlackBerryBlackBerry
  • Windows Phone 7Windows Phone 7
  • Windows MobileWindows Mobile
  • Symbian Phones <em>(Nokia)</em>Symbian Phones (Nokia)
  • HP WebOS <em>(ex-Palm)</em>HP WebOS (ex-Palm)
No. No.
  • AndroidAndroid
  • iPhoneiPhone
  • BlackBerryBlackBerry
  • Windows Phone 7Windows Phone 7
  • Symbian Phones <em>(Nokia)</em>Symbian Phones (Nokia)
  • HP WebOS <em>(ex-Palm)</em>HP WebOS (ex-Palm)
Distribution
  • Web Application
 No. No.
  • Android Market
  • Apple Store
  • Nokia Ovi Store
  • BlackBerry App World
Threads / Topics BulletinBoards PunBB vBulletin 3.8 vBulletin 4
Forum Style Flat/Threaded Flat Flat/Threaded Flat/Threaded
Forum Organization
  • Forum Categories
  • Forum Categories
  • URL Redirection Forum
  • Sub Sections
  • Forum Categories
  • URL Redirection Forum
  • Sub Sections
  • Trashcan Forum
  • Forum Categories
  • URL Redirection Forum
  • Sub Sections
  • Trashcan Forum
  • Tags
Topic Tags - No - Yes
Sticky Threads Yes Yes Yes Yes
Thread Icons No No Yes Yes
Hot Topics - Yes Yes Yes
Detect
Duplicate Threads 		No No Yes Yes
Hidden Topics Yes Plugin Yes Yes
Unread Topics Yes Yes Yes Yes
Announcements Yes Yes - Yes
Forum Posts BulletinBoards PunBB vBulletin 3.8 vBulletin 4
Message
Editing Form
  • Plain Text
  • WYSIWYG Editor
  • Plain Text
  • Preview Button
  • WYSIWYG Editor
  • Preview Button
  • WYSIWYG Editor
  • Preview Button
Post Editing Format
  • Plain
  • HTML
  • Plain
  • BBCode
  • Plain
  • BBCode
  • Plain
  • HTML
  • BBCode
Spell Checker Yes No No No
Emoticons Yes Yes Yes Yes
Quick Reply Box No Yes Yes Yes
Syntax Highlighting No Plugin Plugin Plugin
Message Quoting Yes Yes Yes Yes
Message Rating Yes Plugin Yes Yes
Attachments Yes Plugin Yes Yes
Image Attachment
  • Upload via Classic Attachments
  • Use BBCode or HTML
 No.
  • Upload via Advanced Attachments
  • Use BBCode or HTML
Embedded Videos No. No. No.
  • YouTube
Forum Features BulletinBoards PunBB vBulletin 3.8 vBulletin 4
Poll Creation Yes Plugin Yes Yes
Private Messages Yes Plugin Yes Yes
Instant Messaging No Plugin Yes Yes
Calendar Yes Plugin Yes Yes
Members List Yes Yes Yes Yes
Online Users List Plugin Yes Yes Yes
Technical Features BulletinBoards PunBB vBulletin 3.8 vBulletin 4
Bundled Software No. No.
  • Website Home Page
  • Blog
  • Bug Tracker
  • Projet Manager
  • Pictures Album Manager
  • Website Home Page
  • CMS
  • Blog
  • Bug Tracker
  • Projet Manager
  • Pictures Album Manager
RSS/Atom
Syndication
  • RSS 2.0
  • RSS 2.0
  • RSS 2.0
  • RSS 2.0
Friendly URLs No Yes No Yes
Remote Control No. No. No. No.
Cache System No No Yes Yes
Template Engine
  • Custom Template Engine
 No.
  • Custom Template Engine
  • Custom Template Engine
Post By Email Yes No - No
User Profiles &
Options		 BulletinBoards PunBB vBulletin 3.8 vBulletin 4
User Profile Yes Yes Yes Yes
Avatars Yes Yes Yes Yes
Signatures Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ranks No Yes Yes Yes
Bookmark Threads No No Yes Yes
User Selectable
Themes		 No Yes - Yes
Email Notifications Yes Yes Yes Yes
Export
Private Messages		 No Plugin Yes Yes
Payment
Subscriptions		 No No Yes Yes
Security & Spam
Protection
CAPTCHA Yes Plugin Yes Yes
CAPTCHA Complexity [++[ Normal [++[ Normal
Abnormal Behavior
Detection		 No No - No
Words Filtering Yes Yes Yes Yes
User Blacklist Yes Yes Yes Yes
IP Blocking Yes Plugin Yes Yes
Customization BulletinBoards PunBB vBulletin 3.8 vBulletin 4
Plugins No
~0 Available Plugins.
Yes
~447 Available Plugins.
Yes Yes
Plugin Installation [++[ Very Easy [++[ Normal
Themes Yes
~100 Available Themes.
 Yes
~199 Available Themes.
 Yes Yes
Custom BBCodes No Plugin Yes Yes
Custom Emoticons No Plugin Yes Yes
Custom
Thread Icons		 No No Yes Yes
Custom
Profile Fields		 No Plugin Yes Yes
Third Applications &
Websites
Social Networks No. No.
CMS / Blog Bridges No.
  • WordPress
  • Drupal
  • Joomla
  • Drupal
  • Joomla
  • WordPress
User Accounts
Integration 		No. No. No.
Content Aggregation No. No. No. No.
Moderation &
Threads Management		 BulletinBoards PunBB vBulletin 3.8 vBulletin 4
Moderation
  • Pre-Moderation
  • Post-Moderation
  • Reactive Moderation
  • Distributed Moderation
  • Post-Moderation
  • Reactive Moderation
  • Post-Moderation
  • Pre-Moderation
  • Post-Moderation
  • Reactive Moderation
  • Distributed Moderation
Moderator
per Section		 Yes Yes Yes Yes
Global Moderator Yes Yes Yes Yes
Move Threads Yes Yes Yes Yes
Shadow Topics No Yes Yes Yes
Close/Lock Threads Yes Yes Yes Yes
Users
Management
User Groups Yes Yes Yes Yes
User Registration
  • Free Registration
  • Registration needs Approval
  • User Account created by Administrator
  • Confirmation sent by email for validation
  • Free Registration
  • Registration needs Approval
  • Invitation Only
  • Confirmation sent by email for validation
 No.
  • Free Registration
  • Registration needs Approval
  • User Account created by Administrator
  • Confirmation sent by email for validation
New Users
Limitation 		No No - Yes
Guest Posting Yes Yes Yes Yes
Multiple
Administrators		 Yes Yes Yes Yes
Send Warnings
to Users		 Yes No Yes Yes
Access Control List Yes No Yes Yes
User Banishment Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mass Mailing Yes Yes Yes Yes
Installation &
Upgrading		 BulletinBoards PunBB vBulletin 3.8 vBulletin 4
Installation Method Installation Wizard Installation Wizard but manual database setup Installation Wizard Installation Wizard
Upgrade Method Upgrade Wizard Upgrade Wizard Upgrade Wizard Upgrade Wizard
Update
Notifications		 No Yes Yes Yes
Forum Migration No Yes - Yes
Database
Management
Backup Database Yes No Yes Yes
Prune Database Yes No Yes Yes
Restore Database Yes No Yes Yes
Administration
Tools
Statistics Yes No Yes Yes
Error/Notice
Log Viewer		 No No No Yes
Tasks Scheduler No No Yes Yes
W3C Norms &
Accessibility
HTML / XHTML
  • HTML 4.01
  • XHTML 1.0 Strict
  • XHTML 1.0 Transitional
  • XHTML 1.0 Transitional
Stylesheets (CSS)
  • CSS 1
  • CSS 2
  • CSS 2
  • CSS 2
Accessibility (WAI)
  • A
  • AA
  • AA
  • AA
UTF-8 Support No Yes Yes Yes
W3C Norms No Yes Yes Yes
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