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Compare IP.Board vs Simple Machines 2 vs vBulletin 4

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Results
IP.Board Logo
IP.Board
Simple Machines 2 Logo
Simple Machines 2
vBulletin 4 Logo
vBulletin 4
+
Select
Version 3.4.6 2.0.6 4.1.1 -
Last Release October 29, 2013 November 12, 2013 December 26, 2010 -
License Proprietary License BSD License Proprietary License -
Price Standard $175 / Business $299 / Hosting $9.99 per month Free $195 for Forum, $285 for Publishing Suite -
Resources Official Website »
Download » 		Official Website »
Download » 		Official Website »
Download » 		-
Ergonomy Perfection Easy to Use Perfection -
Installation Fast & Simple Easy to Do Fast & Simple -
Administration Really Intuitive Efficient & Fast Efficient & Fast -
Community Size Huge Community Huge Community Huge Community -
Our Opinion -
User Reviews
7.4/10 (367 votes)
4.4/10 (1265 votes)
4.3/10 (464 votes)
-
Demonstration No Live Demo. Simple Machines 2 Demo
Open Demo » 		vBulletin 4 Demo
Open Demo » 		-
Server Requirements IP.Board Simple Machines 2 vBulletin 4
Operating System
  • 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
  • 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
  • PHP 5
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
 -
Databases
  • MySQL
  • MySQL
  • Postgresql
  • SQLite
  • 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
-
Plugins/
Technologies
  • HTML
  • Javascript
  • AJAX
  • CSS
  • HTML
  • Javascript
  • AJAX
  • CSS
  • Javascript
  • AJAX
 -
Localization Yes Yes Yes -
Languages
Supported Languages:
Bosnian
Bulgarian
Portuguese (Brazilian)
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
German
Danish
Spanish
Finnish
French
Georgian
Greek
Croatian
Hebrew
Persian
Icelandic
Italian
Dutch
Polish
Romanian
Serbian
Russian
Arabic
Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian
Vietnamese
Chinese (Traditional)
Supported Languages:
Albanian
Bangali
Bulgarian
Portuguese (Brazilian)
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Czech
German
Danish
Spanish
Finnish
French
Galician
Greek
Croatian
Hungarian
Indonesian
Hebrew
Hindi
Persian
Italian
Japanese
Kurdish
Macedonian
Dutch
Norwegian
Urdu
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Serbian
Russian
Arabic
Swedish
Slovak
Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian
English (British)
English (American)
Uzbek
Vietnamese
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
  • Symbian Phones <em>(Nokia)</em>Symbian Phones (Nokia)
  • HP WebOS <em>(ex-Palm)</em>HP WebOS (ex-Palm)
  • 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)
  • 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
  • Android Market
  • Apple Store
  • Nokia Ovi Store
  • BlackBerry App World
  • Android Market
  • Apple Store
  • Nokia Ovi Store
  • BlackBerry App World
  • Android Market
  • Apple Store
  • Nokia Ovi Store
  • BlackBerry App World
 -
Threads / Topics IP.Board Simple Machines 2 vBulletin 4
Forum Style Flat/Threaded Flat Flat/Threaded -
Forum Organization
  • Forum Categories
  • URL Redirection Forum
  • Sub Sections
  • Trashcan Forum
  • Forum Categories
  • URL Redirection Forum
  • Sub Sections
  • Trashcan Forum
  • Forum Categories
  • URL Redirection Forum
  • Sub Sections
  • Trashcan Forum
  • Tags
 -
Topic Tags Yes Plugin Yes -
Sticky Threads Yes Yes Yes -
Thread Icons Yes Yes Yes -
Hot Topics Yes Yes Yes -
Detect
Duplicate Threads 		No No Yes -
Hidden Topics Yes Yes Yes -
Unread Topics Yes Yes Yes -
Announcements Yes Yes Yes -
Forum Posts IP.Board Simple Machines 2 vBulletin 4
Message
Editing Form
  • Rich Text Editor
  • Formatting Buttons
  • Preview Button
  • WYSIWYG Editor
  • Formatting Buttons
  • Preview Button
  • WYSIWYG Editor
  • Preview Button
 -
Post Editing Format
  • Plain
  • BBCode
  • HTML
  • BBCode
  • Plain
  • HTML
  • BBCode
 -
Spell Checker No Yes No -
Emoticons Yes Yes Yes -
Quick Reply Box Yes Yes Yes -
Syntax Highlighting Plugin Plugin Plugin -
Message Quoting Yes Yes Yes -
Message Rating Yes Plugin Yes -
Attachments Yes Yes Yes -
Image Attachment
  • Upload via Classic Attachments
  • Upload via Advanced Attachments
  • Use BBCode or HTML
  • Upload via Classic Attachments
  • Use BBCode or HTML
  • Upload via Advanced Attachments
  • Use BBCode or HTML
 -
Embedded Videos
  • YouTube
  • YouTube
  • Dailymotion
  • Vimeo
  • Attachment
  • HTML 5 <video>
  • YouTube
 -
Forum Features IP.Board Simple Machines 2 vBulletin 4
Poll Creation Yes Yes Yes -
Private Messages Yes Yes Yes -
Instant Messaging Plugin Yes Yes -
Calendar Yes Yes Yes -
Members List Yes Yes Yes -
Online Users List Yes Yes Yes -
Technical Features IP.Board Simple Machines 2 vBulletin 4
Bundled Software
  • Portal
  • CMS
  • Pictures Album Manager
  • Downloads Manager
  • Portal
  • Blog
  • Downloads Manager
  • Gallery
  • Website Home Page
  • CMS
  • Blog
  • Bug Tracker
  • Projet Manager
  • Pictures Album Manager
 -
RSS/Atom
Syndication
  • RSS 2.0
  • RSS 1.0
  • RSS 2.0
  • ATOM 1.0
  • RSS 2.0
 -
Friendly URLs Yes Yes Yes -
Remote Control
  • XML/RPC
 No. No. -
Cache System Yes Yes Yes -
Template Engine
  • Custom Template Engine
  • Custom Template Engine
  • Custom Template Engine
 -
Post By Email Yes Plugin No -
User Profiles &
Options		 IP.Board Simple Machines 2 vBulletin 4
User Profile Yes Yes Yes -
Avatars Yes Yes Yes -
Signatures Yes Yes Yes -
Ranks Yes Yes Yes -
Bookmark Threads Yes Plugin Yes -
User Selectable
Themes		 Yes Yes Yes -
Email Notifications Yes Yes Yes -
Export
Private Messages		 Yes Plugin Yes -
Payment
Subscriptions		 Plugin Yes Yes -
Security & Spam
Protection
CAPTCHA Yes Yes Yes -
CAPTCHA Complexity [++[ Hard [++[ Normal [++[ Normal -
Abnormal Behavior
Detection		 No Yes No -
Words Filtering Yes Yes Yes -
User Blacklist Yes Yes Yes -
IP Blocking Yes Yes Yes -
Customization IP.Board Simple Machines 2 vBulletin 4
Plugins Yes Yes
~1883 Available Plugins.
Yes -
Plugin Installation [++[ Easy [++[ Very Easy [++[ Normal -
Themes Yes
~90 Available Themes.
 Yes
~1326 Available Themes.
 Yes -
Custom BBCodes Yes Yes Yes -
Custom Emoticons Yes Yes Yes -
Custom
Thread Icons		 Yes Yes Yes -
Custom
Profile Fields		 Yes Yes Yes -
Third Applications &
Websites
Social Networks -
CMS / Blog Bridges
  • Joomla
  • WordPress
  • Drupal
  • Joomla
  • Mambo
  • WordPress
  • e107
  • XOOPs
  • iGaming CMS
  • Drupal
  • Joomla
  • WordPress
 -
User Accounts
Integration
-
Content Aggregation No. No. No. -
Moderation &
Threads Management		 IP.Board Simple Machines 2 vBulletin 4
Moderation
  • Pre-Moderation
  • Post-Moderation
  • Reactive Moderation
  • Distributed Moderation
  • Pre-Moderation
  • Post-Moderation
  • Reactive Moderation
  • Distributed Moderation
  • Pre-Moderation
  • Post-Moderation
  • Reactive Moderation
  • Distributed Moderation
 -
Moderator
per Section		 Yes Yes Yes -
Global Moderator Yes Yes Yes -
Move Threads Yes Yes Yes -
Shadow Topics Yes Yes Yes -
Close/Lock Threads Yes Yes Yes -
Users
Management
User Groups Yes Yes Yes -
User Registration
  • Free Registration
  • Registration needs Approval
  • Invitation Only
  • User Account created by Administrator
  • Confirmation sent by email for validation
  • Free Registration
  • Registration needs Approval
  • User Account created by Administrator
  • Confirmation sent by email for validation
  • Free Registration
  • Registration needs Approval
  • User Account created by Administrator
  • Confirmation sent by email for validation
 -
New Users
Limitation 		Yes Yes Yes -
Guest Posting Yes Yes Yes -
Multiple
Administrators		 Yes Yes Yes -
Send Warnings
to Users		 Yes Yes Yes -
Access Control List Yes Yes Yes -
User Banishment Yes Yes Yes -
Mass Mailing Yes Yes Yes -
Installation &
Upgrading		 IP.Board Simple Machines 2 vBulletin 4
Installation Method Installation Wizard Installation Wizard Installation Wizard -
Upgrade Method Upgrade Wizard Upgrade Wizard Upgrade Wizard -
Update
Notifications		 Yes Yes Yes -
Forum Migration Yes Yes Yes -
Database
Management
Backup Database Yes Yes Yes -
Prune Database Yes Yes Yes -
Restore Database Yes Yes Yes -
Administration
Tools
Statistics Yes Yes Yes -
Error/Notice
Log Viewer		 Yes Yes Yes -
Tasks Scheduler Yes Yes Yes -
W3C Norms &
Accessibility
HTML / XHTML
  • XHTML 1.0 Strict
  • XHTML 1.0 Transitional
  • XHTML 1.0 Transitional
 -
Stylesheets (CSS)
  • CSS 2
  • CSS 2
  • CSS 2
 -
Accessibility (WAI)
  • AA
  • AA
  • AA
 -
UTF-8 Support Yes Yes Yes -
W3C Norms Yes Yes Yes -
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