Home

Compare esoTalk vs IceBB vs MesDiscussions vs ProBoards

Comparison
Results
esoTalk Logo
esoTalk
IceBB Logo
IceBB
MesDiscussions Logo
MesDiscussions
ProBoards Logo
ProBoards
Version 1.0.0b2 1.0 2007.1 4.5
Last Release December 9, 2009 December 2, 2010 July, 2006 January 28th, 2011
License GPL License GPL License Proprietary License Proprietary License
Price Free Free Free Free with Ads, $7 / 50,000 views, $14 / 100,000 views,...
Resources Official Website »
Download » 		Official Website »
Download » 		Official Website »
Download » 		Official Website »
Download »
Ergonomy Easy to Use Easy to Use Easy to Use Easy to Use
Installation Fast & Simple Easy to Do Fast & Simple Fast & Simple
Administration Efficient & Fast Efficient & Fast Classical Categories Efficient & Fast
Community Size Small Community Small Community Huge Community Huge Community
Our Opinion
User Reviews
8.5/10 (11 votes)
5.6/10 (339 votes)
8.2/10 (74 votes)
4.5/10 (580 votes)
Demonstration esoTalk Demo
Open Demo » 		IceBB Demo
Open Demo » 		MesDiscussions Demo
Open Demo » 		ProBoards Demo
Open Demo »
Server Requirements esoTalk IceBB MesDiscussions ProBoards
Operating System
  • Apple Mac OSApple Mac OS
  • Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows
  • BSD UnixBSD Unix
  • GNU/LinuxGNU/Linux
  • Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows
  • GNU/LinuxGNU/Linux
  • Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows
  • GNU/LinuxGNU/Linux
  • GNU/LinuxGNU/Linux
Web Server
  • Apache 1.3
  • Apache 2.0/2.2
  • Apache 1.3
  • Apache 2.0/2.2
  • Microsoft IIS
  • Apache 2.0/2.2
  • Microsoft IIS
  • Apache 2.0/2.2
Languages
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
  • Perl
Databases
  • MySQL
  • MySQL
  • 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
  • Javascript
  • AJAX
  • AJAX
  • Javascript
  • HTML
  • Javascript
  • CSS
Localization Yes Yes Yes No
Languages
Supported Languages:
Chinese (Simplified)
German
Spanish
Chinese (Traditional)
Supported Languages:
German
Danish
Spanish
French
Italian
Russian
Turkish
English (British)
English (American)
No. No.
Compatibility with
Smartphones
Compatible
SmartPhones 		No. No. No.
  • AndroidAndroid
  • iPhoneiPhone
Distribution No. No. No.
  • Android Market
  • Apple Store
Threads / Topics esoTalk IceBB MesDiscussions ProBoards
Forum Style Flat Threaded Flat
Forum Organization
  • Tags
  • Forum Categories
  • URL Redirection Forum
  • Sub Sections
 No.
  • Forum Categories
  • Sub Sections
Topic Tags Yes Yes - No
Sticky Threads Yes No - Yes
Thread Icons No Yes - Yes
Hot Topics No No - Yes
Detect
Duplicate Threads 		No No - No
Hidden Topics No No - Yes
Unread Topics Yes Yes - Yes
Announcements No Yes - Yes
Forum Posts esoTalk IceBB MesDiscussions ProBoards
Message
Editing Form
  • Plain Text
  • Formatting Buttons
  • Preview Button
  • Formatting Buttons
  • Preview Button
  • WYSIWYG Editor
  • Formatting Buttons
  • Preview Button
  • Rich Text Editor
  • Formatting Buttons
  • Preview Button
Post Editing Format
  • HTML
  • HTML
  • BBCode
  • HTML
  • BBCode
  • Plain
  • BBCode
Spell Checker No No - Yes
Emoticons Plugin Yes Yes Yes
Quick Reply Box Yes Yes - Yes
Syntax Highlighting No No - No
Message Quoting Yes Yes - Yes
Message Rating Yes No - -
Attachments No Yes Yes Yes
Image Attachment
  • Use BBCode or HTML
  • Upload via Classic Attachments
 No.
  • Upload via Classic Attachments
  • Use BBCode or HTML
Embedded Videos No. No. No. No.
Forum Features esoTalk IceBB MesDiscussions ProBoards
Poll Creation No Yes Yes Yes
Private Messages No Yes Yes Yes
Instant Messaging No No No Yes
Calendar No Yes No Yes
Members List No Yes Yes Yes
Online Users List No Yes - Yes
Technical Features esoTalk IceBB MesDiscussions ProBoards
Bundled Software No.
  • Portal
 No. No.
RSS/Atom
Syndication
  • RSS 2.0
  • RSS 2.0
  • RSS 1.0
 No.
Friendly URLs Yes No - No
Remote Control No. No.
  • XML/RPC
 No.
Cache System No No - Yes
Template Engine No. No. No. No.
Post By Email No No - No
User Profiles &
Options		 esoTalk IceBB MesDiscussions ProBoards
User Profile Yes Yes Yes Yes
Avatars Yes Yes Yes Yes
Signatures No Yes Yes Yes
Ranks No Yes Yes Yes
Bookmark Threads Yes Yes - Yes
User Selectable
Themes		 No - - No
Email Notifications Yes Yes Yes Yes
Export
Private Messages		 No No - Yes
Payment
Subscriptions		 No No - No
Security & Spam
Protection
CAPTCHA Plugin Yes No Yes
CAPTCHA Complexity [++[ Normal [++[ Normal
Abnormal Behavior
Detection		 No No - No
Words Filtering No Yes Yes Yes
User Blacklist No Yes No Yes
IP Blocking No Yes Yes Yes
Customization esoTalk IceBB MesDiscussions ProBoards
Plugins Yes
~4 Available Plugins.
Yes Yes No
Plugin Installation [++[ Easy [++[ Normal
Themes Yes
~2 Available Themes.
 Yes
~1 Available Themes.
 Yes Yes
Custom BBCodes No No No No
Custom Emoticons No No Yes Yes
Custom
Thread Icons		 No No - Yes
Custom
Profile Fields		 No No - No
Third Applications &
Websites
Social Networks No. No. No.
CMS / Blog Bridges No. No. No. No.
User Accounts
Integration 		No.
No.
Content Aggregation No. No. No. No.
Moderation &
Threads Management		 esoTalk IceBB MesDiscussions ProBoards
Moderation
  • Post-Moderation
  • Reactive Moderation
  • Post-Moderation
  • Reactive Moderation
  • Distributed Moderation
 No.
  • Post-Moderation
  • Reactive Moderation
Moderator
per Section		 No Yes No Yes
Global Moderator Yes Yes No Yes
Move Threads No Yes Yes Yes
Shadow Topics No No - Yes
Close/Lock Threads Yes Yes Yes Yes
Users
Management
User Groups No Yes Yes Yes
User Registration
  • Free Registration
  • Confirmation sent by email for validation
  • Free Registration
  • User Account created by Administrator
  • Confirmation sent by email for validation
 No.
  • Free Registration
  • Registration needs Approval
  • Invitation Only
  • 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		 No No No Yes
Access Control List No Yes No Yes
User Banishment No Yes Yes Yes
Mass Mailing No No Yes Yes
Installation &
Upgrading		 esoTalk IceBB MesDiscussions ProBoards
Installation Method Installation Wizard Installation Wizard Installation Wizard Installation Wizard
Upgrade Method Upgrade Wizard Upgrade Wizard Upgrade Wizard
Update
Notifications		 No No Yes Yes
Forum Migration No Yes - No
Database
Management
Backup Database No No No Yes
Prune Database No No No Yes
Restore Database No No No Yes
Administration
Tools
Statistics No Yes Yes Yes
Error/Notice
Log Viewer		 No Yes - Yes
Tasks Scheduler No No - No
W3C Norms &
Accessibility
HTML / XHTML
  • XHTML 1.1 Strict
  • XHTML 1.0 Transitional
  • XHTML 1.0 Transitional
  • HTML 4.01
Stylesheets (CSS)
  • CSS 2
  • CSS 2
  • CSS 2
  • CSS 1
Accessibility (WAI)
  • AA
  • AA
  • AA
  • A
UTF-8 Support Yes Yes Yes No
W3C Norms Yes Yes Yes No
Found a Mistake? Tell us »
  Top Top