Discussion Forum Software Evaluation - Details
NOTE: This evaluation included software that was found in the following list:

http://www.thinkofit.com/webconf/forumsoft.htm

Non-Windows software and software that is not available for commercial use, i.e., for educational or private home use only, was not included in this evaluation. Summary and recommendations are available here.

Commercial Web Forum Software
Name
Current
Version
Type
(Flat/Threaded)
Requirements
Positive
Comments
Negative
Comments
Price
Support
Example
Active Data Online MessageBoard2000 1.0 Flat ASP.NET - needs Microsoft .NET framework version 1.1, SQL Server 2000 Built-in support for Windows authentication Discussion forum appears inactive $500 Email (note License Agreement, Item 3) or support forum Example
Active Data Online MessageBoard 2.3 Flat ASP.NET - needs Microsoft .NET framework version 1.1, SQL Server 2000 or MS Access Built-in support for Windows authentication Discussion forum is locked $70 Email (note License Agreement, Item 3) or support forum Example
ASP Message Board (AMB) 2.2.1.c Flat ASP, SQL 7.0 & 2000, Access 97/2000 Looks great and runs fast None $150 for 1 server, $30 per year for upgrades Support forums, email Example
ASP Playground.NET Forum 2.1 Both (unique setup) ASP, SQL Server 2000 Standard or Enterprise edition OR MSDE 2000 w/o Case Sensitivity Looks very nice and clean, runs fast, has a calendar with recurring events, many slick features None $297 until October 15 Support forums, email Example
Carbon Communities 2.1 Flat ASP, SQL Server 7.0 or higher, Access Generic-looking board, standard features None $150 Support forums, five "Incident Tickets" Example
DCForum 6.25 Flat Perl 5.005 or later, CGI, "text-delimited datafiles" Seems to run fast, nice clean look We probably want a database instead of text-delimited datafiles $139 Email, Support forum Example
Example
(DCForum+)
Discus Pro 4.00.6 Flat Perl 5.005 or higher , CGI Runs fast, looks good No buttons to format text in posts (users must learn proprietary format codes) $149.95 Email, Support forum Example Example Example Example
DiscussionOnTheWeb Unknown Flat ASP, SQL Server Nothing good to say about it Extremely simple Not shown Unknown Example Example
Encore Web Forum 2.13 Flat "Encore Simplex Database," SQL Server optional, Perl, CGI Very colorful, nice-looking layout, runs fast None $160 (includes Simplex Database) Email, Support forum Example
Gossamer Forum 1.2.0 Both Perl 5 (version 5.004 or better), SQL Server or Oracle, Runs fast, looks good Display format is rather simple $200 Contact form on website, Support forum Example
Interactive Web BBS Systems Unknown Flat Perl, SQL (any) Nothing Overly simple layout $199 Unknown Example
Jive 3.1.4 Flat A servlet container that supports Sun's Servlet 2.3 and JSP 1.2 specifications, Java JDK version 1.3.1 or greater (JDK 1.4.2 or greater recommended), A supported database with a robust JDBC driver. Seems very fast Limited message formatting options, overpriced $2500 $1000/year Example
Synthigence Forum Pro 1.9 Flat, with links above the thread to read previous threads (weird setup) "ASP.NET" server, SQL Server or MS Access Comes with a built in chat program Limited message formatting options $99 Support forum Example
Toast Forums 1.6 Flat Windows, IIS Extensive message formatting options, seems fast None $149, $499 with source code Email, Support forum Example Example Example
WebBoard 6.1 Flat Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003, MSDE (included) or MS SQL Server 7.0 (or later), or Oracle Version: Oracle 8.1.5 (8i) and Oracle Client 8.1.5.5 or later Looks good, runs fast Overpriced $2995 Standard, $4995 Premium Standard $995, Premium $1750 Example
Web Crossing Unknown Either CGI None Limited message formatting options, message views are in a strange format, overpriced 100 seats $1695, 200 seats $2995, 500 seats $5995 Web-based request form, Support forum Example
Free Web Forum Software
Name
Current
Version
Type
(Flat/Threaded)
Requirements
Positive
Comments
Negative
Comments
Price
Support
Example
Net.Polemics 1.32 Flat IIS, ISAPI It's fast No message formatting buttons   Support forum Example
Snitz Forums 3.4.03 Flat ASP, SQL Server 7/2000 Fast, versatile, uses NT Authentication None   Support forum Example Example Example Example
Teemz 0.62.1 Flat CGI, Perl None Most support forum questions aren't answered, forum looks very simple   Support forum Example
Venice Web Communities System Unknown Flat Javascript? None Forum looks very simple, no changes since 2001? Support forum? Example
Disqualified forum software (for the reason highlighted in yellow)
Name
Current
Version
Type
(Flat/Threaded)
Requirements
Positive
Comments
Negative
Comments
Price
Support
Example
01forums 2.0 Threaded ASP, SQL Server None Extremely simple and limited $249 Example
AbleBoard 1.0.0 Unknown Runs as an application on a computer's desktop. Said to be easy to install Website appears very simplistic $35 None None
Advansis Forum Server 3.0 Threaded CGI? None Discussion forum appears inactive $795 Support forum Example
aGNeS News Forum 4.21.1523.0 Threaded CGI Can't find anything good to say about it No authentication $250 Email or ICQ Example
Allaire Forums Website is gone
AnyBoard 9.9.6.2, May, 2003 Threaded CGI, Perl Appears to be fast - maybe because you can only read one post at a time Too expensive. The style is hard to use, even for a threaded forum. $3500?
$55,000?
Email or support forum Example Example Example Example
ASP-DEV Discussion Forum Alpha 3? Flat ASP? None Not a finished product Support forum Example Example
ASP Fast Forum
(formerly Forum 104)
2.7.4, March, 2003 Threaded with frames ASP, SQL Server 7.0/2000 or Access 97/2000 It looks good and it appears easy to use There's no way to preview your message prior to posting, the board appears to be slow, you still have to click on one link to read one post $175, $1195 with source code Support forum Example Example
ASP Forums   Threaded            
aspThread Website is gone
BoardMaster Website is gone
Board Power Website is gone
Ceilidh (or see the UK site) 2.70 Threaded CGI Nothing good to say Very generic looking 1 forum $179, 2 forums $259, 5 forums $399, etc. Support forum Example
CFBoards 1.60 Flat ColdFusion Server 4.01+, MS Access Looks okay but rather simple Support forum appears dead, I don't believe we use ColdFusion $595 Support forum Example
Chatterbox Forums 2.0 Flat IIS and SQL Server? Looks fast Users are complaining about lack of support Support forum Example Example
Code Project Discussion Boards     Requires an Access database          
Cold Fusion based forums I don't believe we use ColdFusion and I couldn't find any forum software for sale.
Comment Board
Thread-ITSQL
Unknown Threaded ASP, SQL Server 7 or 2000 database Has a clean and simple look, runs fast More clicks than usual to read a post, even for a threaded board £199.99, £99.99 for each additional server "Free support" - type not specified Example Example Example
CommuniWare Enterprise Didn't see any forum software on their website
Crankset The most recent news item on this website is January of 2001, so it looks like their product may be old. The forum is a plugin, part of a site management software which we don't use or need.
CrazyWWWBoard Website is in (I think) Korean. I can't read Korean.
D3E - Digital Document Discourse Environment This is more of a web publishing tool than a discussion forum
DarkBoard Website is gone
Deluxe Portal It requires mySQL, and we're not allowed to use mySQL
Dialogue Forums Website is gone, domain is for sale
DigiPosts Didn't see any forum software on their website
Discuss It! Didn't see any forum software on their website
DiscussionWeb No forum software on this website
DNEWS Not a discussion forum
Dr. B's Virtual Message Board Tool 3.3.1 Threaded Perl version 5.004 or later, CGI Nothing good to say about it Seems slow $399 Email? Example
eForum 3.02 Unknown Javascript? Could not evaluate this product because there are no example forums shown Free? $499 per year None shown
Emaze Forums Unknown Threaded ColdFusion, any SQL database Simple I don't believe we use ColdFusion Unknown Unknown Example
eShare Expressions Forums Didn't see any forum software on their website
EZsite Forum Unknown Threaded ASP, ActiveX component, SQL Server optional None Strange layout $349 Email? Example
Flexiforum Website is gone
ForumX Website is in Italian with no forum software to be seen
fuseTalk 4.0 Flat ColdFusion, Oracle or MSSQL Server 7+ Runs fast, looks good I don't believe we use ColdFusion $289 Support forums Example
He Bulletin Board It requires mySQL, and we're not allowed to use mySQL
Hodohi No forum software on this website
Inchima No forum software for sale on this site - it looks like a hosting company that builds websites
Infora The main page has the links to the rest of the pages commented out. Latest message in the demo forum is January 27, 2001. Forum is threaded.
InterBoard Website is gone
InterMix Threaded              
Message Boards Unable to evaluate (blocked by Websense)
Message Foundry Website is gone
Messager No forum software for sale on this site - looks like a B2B software site now
MHonArc This is a "Perl mail-to-HTML converter," not a discussion group
Orchestra A lot of rhetoric but few facts and no pricing information
PHP/FI Webboard   Threaded            
phpBB 2.0 Flat php, SQL Server 7/2000 One of the most popular forums in the world Security problems?   Support forum Example Example Example Example
ProvideTalk Website and product are in French
Remarks Website is gone
Sporum No forum software on this website
TheHUB Website is gone
UBBThreads (formerly WWWThreads) It requires mySQL, and we're not allowed to use mySQL
UBB (Ultimate Bulletin Board) 6.6.1 Flat Perl 5.004 or higher, CGI Access Fast, slick, many options, this board spawned many imitators Have to pay for upgrades, security problems? $199 with one year of upgrades, $475 with 5 years of upgrades, $699 lifetime upgrades Email, Support forum Example Example
UltraBoard Website is gone
vBulletin It requires mySQL, and we're not allowed to use mySQL
W-Agora   Threaded            
WarpWare BBS Didn't see any forum software on their website
WebBBS for NT No forum software on this website
WebForum Website is gone
Web Forums Server Unknown Unknown Runs as an application on a computer's desktop. Could not evaluate, no examples shown $48 Email None
WebLines Website is gone
Web+ Unknown Threaded Windows None Part of a software suite including email, calendar, address book, et. $1995 Unknown Example (username "demo," password "demo")
WikiWikiWeb Although we may want to set up a wiki later, similar to the wikipedia project, this is not the type of discussion forum we're looking for
Wildcat! Interactive Net Server This appears to be a web server, not a discussion forum
Worldgroup This system includes email, a discussion forum, file libraries, chat rooms, auctions, calendar, shopping mall, etc. To get the forum, you have to install the rest.
WowBB It requires mySQL, and we're not allowed to use mySQL
YaBB (Yet another Bulletin Board) 1.3 Flat CGI, Perl Fast and widely used Security problems?   Support forum Example Example Example
Software removed from consideration

The following software was not included in the evaluation, for reasons stated in parentheses: