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Compare PhpBB 2 vs PhpBB 3 vs Simple Machines 2

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Results
PhpBB 2 Logo
PhpBB 2
PhpBB 3 Logo
PhpBB 3
Simple Machines 2 Logo
Simple Machines 2
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Version 2.0.21 3.1.2 2.0.6 -
Last Release 06/08/2006 November, 25 2014 November 12, 2013 -
License GPL License GPL License BSD License -
Price Free Free Free -
Resources Official Website »
Download » 		Official Website »
Download » 		Official Website »
Download » 		-
Ergonomy Easy to Use Perfection Easy to Use -
Installation Easy to Do Fast & Simple Easy to Do -
Administration Efficient & Fast Efficient & Fast Efficient & Fast -
Community Size Huge Community Huge Community Huge Community -
Our Opinion -
User Reviews
6.5/10 (90 votes)
8.4/10 (832 votes)
4.4/10 (1265 votes)
-
Demonstration PhpBB 2 Demo
Open Demo » 		PhpBB 3 Demo
Open Demo » 		Simple Machines 2 Demo
Open Demo » 		-
Server Requirements PhpBB 2 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
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
 -
Databases
  • MySQL
  • Postgresql
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Microsoft Access
  • MySQL
  • Postgresql
  • SQLite
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Oracle
  • MySQL
  • Postgresql
  • SQLite
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Browsers & Clients
Requirements
Compatible
Browsers
Internet ExplorerInternet Explorer
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
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Plugins/
Technologies
  • Javascript
  • AJAX
  • HTML
  • Javascript
  • AJAX
  • CSS
 -
Localization Yes 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
  • iPhoneiPhone
  • 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
  • Apple Store
  • Android Market
  • Apple Store
  • Nokia Ovi Store
  • BlackBerry App World
  • Android Market
  • Apple Store
  • Nokia Ovi Store
  • BlackBerry App World
 -
Threads / Topics PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
Forum Style Flat Flat Flat -
Forum Organization
  • Forum Categories
  • URL Redirection Forum
  • Sub Sections
  • 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 -
Thread Icons Yes Yes Yes -
Hot Topics - - Yes -
Detect
Duplicate Threads 		- Plugin No -
Hidden Topics - No Yes -
Unread Topics Yes Yes Yes -
Announcements - Yes Yes -
Forum Posts PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
Message
Editing Form
  • Plain Text
  • Formatting Buttons
  • Preview Button
  • Rich Text Editor
  • Preview Button
  • WYSIWYG Editor
  • Formatting Buttons
  • Preview Button
 -
Post Editing Format
  • Plain
  • HTML
  • BBCode
  • HTML
  • BBCode
  • HTML
  • BBCode
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Spell Checker - Plugin Yes -
Emoticons Yes Yes Yes -
Quick Reply Box Yes Yes Yes -
Syntax Highlighting Plugin Plugin Plugin -
Message Quoting Yes Yes Yes -
Message Rating Plugin Plugin Plugin -
Attachments Yes Yes Yes -
Image Attachment No.
  • 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>
 -
Forum Features PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
Poll Creation Yes Yes Yes -
Private Messages Yes Yes Yes -
Instant Messaging No Yes Yes -
Calendar No No Yes -
Members List Yes Yes Yes -
Online Users List Yes Yes Yes -
Technical Features PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
Bundled Software No. No.
  • Portal
  • Blog
  • Downloads Manager
  • Gallery
 -
RSS/Atom
Syndication 		No.
  • ATOM 1.0
  • RSS 1.0
  • RSS 2.0
  • ATOM 1.0
 -
Friendly URLs No Yes Yes -
Remote Control No. No. No. -
Cache System No Yes Yes -
Template Engine No.
  • Custom Template Engine
  • Custom Template Engine
 -
Post By Email - No Plugin -
User Profiles &
Options		 PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
User Profile Yes Yes Yes -
Avatars Yes Yes Yes -
Signatures Yes Yes Yes -
Ranks Yes Yes Yes -
Bookmark Threads Yes Yes Plugin -
User Selectable
Themes		 - Yes Yes -
Email Notifications Yes Yes Yes -
Export
Private Messages		 No Yes Plugin -
Payment
Subscriptions		 Plugin No Yes -
Security & Spam
Protection
CAPTCHA No Yes Yes -
CAPTCHA Complexity [++[ Normal -
Abnormal Behavior
Detection		 - No Yes -
Words Filtering Yes Yes Yes -
User Blacklist Yes Yes Yes -
IP Blocking Yes Yes Yes -
Customization PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines 2
Plugins Yes Yes
~433 Available Plugins.
Yes
~1883 Available Plugins.
-
Plugin Installation [++[ Very Easy -
Themes Yes Yes
~525 Available Themes.
 Yes
~1326 Available Themes.
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Custom BBCodes Yes Yes Yes -
Custom Emoticons Yes Yes Yes -
Custom
Thread Icons		 Plugin Yes Yes -
Custom
Profile Fields		 Plugin Yes Yes -
Third Applications &
Websites
Social Networks No. -
CMS / Blog Bridges
  • Drupal
  • WordPress
  • 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		 PhpBB 2 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
 -
Moderator
per Section		 No Yes Yes -
Global Moderator No Yes Yes -
Move Threads Yes Yes Yes -
Shadow Topics - Yes Yes -
Close/Lock Threads Yes Yes Yes -
Users
Management
User Groups Yes Yes Yes -
User Registration No.
  • 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
 -
New Users
Limitation 		- Yes Yes -
Guest Posting Yes Yes Yes -
Multiple
Administrators		 Yes Yes Yes -
Send Warnings
to Users		 No Yes Yes -
Access Control List Yes Yes Yes -
User Banishment Yes Yes Yes -
Mass Mailing Yes Yes Yes -
Installation &
Upgrading		 PhpBB 2 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 - Yes Yes -
Database
Management
Backup Database Yes Yes Yes -
Prune Database Yes Yes Yes -
Restore Database No 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
 -
Accessibility (WAI) No.
  • AA
  • AA
 -
UTF-8 Support Yes Yes Yes -
W3C Norms Yes Yes Yes -
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