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Compare BulletinBoards vs PhpBB 3 vs Simple Machines 2

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BulletinBoards Logo
BulletinBoards
PhpBB 3 Logo
PhpBB 3
Simple Machines 2 Logo
Simple Machines 2
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Version 8.8 3.1.2 2.0.6 -
Last Release July 29th, 2009 November, 25 2014 November 12, 2013 -
License Proprietary License GPL License BSD License -
Price $29.85 quarterly / $101.50 yearly Free Free -
Resources Official Website »
Download » 		Official Website »
Download » 		Official Website »
Download » 		-
Ergonomy Normal Perfection Easy to Use -
Installation Easy to Do Fast & Simple Easy to Do -
Administration Classical Categories Efficient & Fast Efficient & Fast -
Community Size Medium Community Huge Community Huge Community -
Our Opinion -
User Reviews
8/10 (5 votes)
8.4/10 (832 votes)
4.4/10 (1265 votes)
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Demonstration BulletinBoards Demo
Open Demo » 		PhpBB 3 Demo
Open Demo » 		Simple Machines 2 Demo
Open Demo » 		-
Server Requirements BulletinBoards PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
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
 -
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
 -
Languages
  • ColdFusion
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
 -
Databases
  • MySQL
  • Postgresql
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • MySQL
  • Postgresql
  • SQLite
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Oracle
  • MySQL
  • Postgresql
  • SQLite
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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
  • AJAX
  • HTML
  • Javascript
  • AJAX
  • CSS
 -
Localization No Yes Yes -
Languages No.
Supported Languages:
Albanian
Basque
Bulgarian
Portuguese (Brazilian)
Belarusian
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Czech
German
Danish
Estonian
Spanish
Finnish
French
Galician
Greek
Croatian
Hungarian
Indonesian
Hebrew
Persian
Italian
Japanese
Kurdish
Lithuanian
Dutch
Norwegian
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Serbian
Russian
Arabic
Swedish
Slovene
Sindhi
Slovak
Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian
English (British)
English (American)
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)
-
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)
  • 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)
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Distribution
  • Web Application
  • Android Market
  • Apple Store
  • Nokia Ovi Store
  • BlackBerry App World
  • Android Market
  • Apple Store
  • Nokia Ovi Store
  • BlackBerry App World
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Threads / Topics BulletinBoards PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
Forum Style Flat/Threaded Flat Flat -
Forum Organization
  • Forum Categories
  • Forum Categories
  • URL Redirection Forum
  • Sub Sections
  • Forum Categories
  • URL Redirection Forum
  • Sub Sections
  • Trashcan Forum
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Topic Tags - Plugin Plugin -
Sticky Threads Yes Yes Yes -
Thread Icons No Yes Yes -
Hot Topics - - Yes -
Detect
Duplicate Threads 		No Plugin No -
Hidden Topics Yes No Yes -
Unread Topics Yes Yes Yes -
Announcements Yes Yes Yes -
Forum Posts BulletinBoards PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
Message
Editing Form
  • Plain Text
  • WYSIWYG Editor
  • Rich Text Editor
  • Preview Button
  • WYSIWYG Editor
  • Formatting Buttons
  • Preview Button
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Post Editing Format
  • Plain
  • HTML
  • HTML
  • BBCode
  • HTML
  • BBCode
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Spell Checker Yes Plugin Yes -
Emoticons Yes Yes Yes -
Quick Reply Box No Yes Yes -
Syntax Highlighting No Plugin Plugin -
Message Quoting Yes Yes Yes -
Message Rating Yes Plugin Plugin -
Attachments Yes Yes Yes -
Image Attachment
  • Upload via Classic Attachments
  • Upload via Classic Attachments
  • Use BBCode or HTML
  • Upload via Classic Attachments
  • Use BBCode or HTML
 -
Embedded Videos No. No.
  • YouTube
  • Dailymotion
  • Vimeo
  • Attachment
  • HTML 5 <video>
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Forum Features BulletinBoards PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
Poll Creation Yes Yes Yes -
Private Messages Yes Yes Yes -
Instant Messaging No Yes Yes -
Calendar Yes No Yes -
Members List Yes Yes Yes -
Online Users List Plugin Yes Yes -
Technical Features BulletinBoards PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
Bundled Software No. No.
  • Portal
  • Blog
  • Downloads Manager
  • Gallery
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RSS/Atom
Syndication
  • RSS 2.0
  • ATOM 1.0
  • RSS 1.0
  • RSS 2.0
  • ATOM 1.0
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Friendly URLs No Yes Yes -
Remote Control No. No. No. -
Cache System No Yes Yes -
Template Engine
  • Custom Template Engine
  • Custom Template Engine
  • Custom Template Engine
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Post By Email Yes No Plugin -
User Profiles &
Options		 BulletinBoards PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
User Profile Yes Yes Yes -
Avatars Yes Yes Yes -
Signatures Yes Yes Yes -
Ranks No Yes Yes -
Bookmark Threads No Yes Plugin -
User Selectable
Themes		 No Yes Yes -
Email Notifications Yes Yes Yes -
Export
Private Messages		 No Yes Plugin -
Payment
Subscriptions		 No No Yes -
Security & Spam
Protection
CAPTCHA Yes Yes Yes -
CAPTCHA Complexity [++[ Normal -
Abnormal Behavior
Detection		 No No Yes -
Words Filtering Yes Yes Yes -
User Blacklist Yes Yes Yes -
IP Blocking Yes Yes Yes -
Customization BulletinBoards PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
Plugins No
~0 Available Plugins.
Yes
~433 Available Plugins.
Yes
~1883 Available Plugins.
-
Plugin Installation [++[ Very Easy -
Themes Yes
~100 Available Themes.
 Yes
~525 Available Themes.
 Yes
~1326 Available Themes.
 -
Custom BBCodes No Yes Yes -
Custom Emoticons No Yes Yes -
Custom
Thread Icons		 No Yes Yes -
Custom
Profile Fields		 No Yes Yes -
Third Applications &
Websites
Social Networks -
CMS / Blog Bridges No.
  • Drupal
  • Joomla
  • Drupal
  • Joomla
  • Mambo
  • WordPress
  • e107
  • XOOPs
  • iGaming CMS
 -
User Accounts
Integration 		No.
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Content Aggregation No. No. No. -
Moderation &
Threads Management		 BulletinBoards PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
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
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Moderator
per Section		 Yes Yes Yes -
Global Moderator Yes Yes Yes -
Move Threads Yes Yes Yes -
Shadow Topics No Yes Yes -
Close/Lock Threads Yes Yes Yes -
Users
Management
User Groups 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
  • Free Registration
  • Registration needs Approval
  • User Account created by Administrator
  • Confirmation sent by email for validation
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New Users
Limitation 		No 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		 BulletinBoards PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
Installation Method Installation Wizard Installation Wizard Installation Wizard -
Upgrade Method Upgrade Wizard Upgrade Wizard Upgrade Wizard -
Update
Notifications		 No Yes Yes -
Forum Migration No 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		 No Yes Yes -
Tasks Scheduler No Yes Yes -
W3C Norms &
Accessibility
HTML / XHTML
  • HTML 4.01
  • XHTML 1.0 Strict
  • XHTML 1.0 Transitional
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Stylesheets (CSS)
  • CSS 1
  • CSS 2
  • CSS 2
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Accessibility (WAI)
  • A
  • AA
  • AA
 -
UTF-8 Support No Yes Yes -
W3C Norms No Yes Yes -
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