Comparison: MyBB vs PhpBB 2 vs PhpBB 3 vs Simple Machines

  MyBB PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines
License GPL License GPL License GPL License Custom License
Version 1.4.9 2.0.21 3.0.6 2.0 RC1
Last Release September 21, 2009 06/08/2006 Nov 17, 2009 February 4, 2009
Live Demonstrations
Screenshots
Web Site
Download
Price Free Free Free Free
Installation PositivePositive Good PositivePositive Good PositivePositivePositive Very Good PositivePositive Good
Administration PositivePositive Good PositivePositive Good PositivePositive Good PositivePositive Good
Ergonomy PositivePositive Good PositivePositive Good PositivePositivePositive Very Good PositivePositive Good
Our Opinion FullFullFullFullNone FullFullHalfNoneNone FullFullFullFullHalf FullFullFullFullNone
Users Opinion
9/10 (106 votes)
FullFullFullFullHalf
6/10 (74 votes)
FullFullFullNoneNone
8/10 (199 votes)
FullFullFullFullNone
8/10 (181 votes)
FullFullFullFullNone
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Server Requirements MyBB PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines
Operating SystemDetails
  • Linux
  • Windows Server 2003
  • Windows XP
  • Linux
  • Windows Server 2003
  • Linux
  • Windows Server 2003
  • Windows XP
  • Linux
  • Windows Server 2003
Web ServerDetails
  • Apache 1.3
  • Apache 2.0/2.2
  • Microsoft IIS
  • Lighttpd
  • Apache 1.3
  • Apache 2.0/2.2
  • Microsoft IIS
  • Apache 1.3
  • Apache 2.0/2.2
  • Microsoft IIS
  • Apache 1.3
  • Apache 2.0/2.2
  • Microsoft IIS
  • Lighttpd
  • Nginx
LanguagesDetails
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 4
  • PHP 5
DatabasesDetails
  • MySQL
  • Postgresql
  • SQLite
  • MySQL
  • Postgresql
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Microsoft Access
  • MySQL
  • Postgresql
  • SQLite
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Oracle
  • MySQL
Browsers & Clients
Requirements
MyBB PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines
Compatible BrowsersDetails
  • Mozilla Firefox 3
  • Mozilla Firefox 2
  • Mozilla Firefox 1
  • Opera
  • Safari
  • Konqueror
  • Internet Explorer 7
  • Internet Explorer 6
  • Chrome
  • Mozilla SeaMonkey
  • Opera
  • Safari
  • Konqueror
  • Internet Explorer 6
  • Mozilla SeaMonkey
  • Mozilla Firefox 3
  • Mozilla Firefox 2
  • Mozilla Firefox 1
  • Opera
  • Safari
  • Konqueror
  • Internet Explorer 7
  • Internet Explorer 6
  • Chrome
  • Mozilla SeaMonkey
  • All
Technologies or pluginsDetails
  • HTML and Javascript
  • HTML and AJAX
  • HTML and Javascript
  • HTML and Javascript
  • HTML and Javascript
LocalizationDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Languages Go to the Translation List.
Forum Threads & Posts MyBB PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines
Forum Style Flat Flat Flat Flat
EmoticonsDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
AttachmentsDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Thread Icons Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Post Editing FormDetails
  • Rich Text Editor
  • Format Buttons
  • Preview Button
  • Plain Text
  • Format Buttons
  • Preview Button
  • Rich Text Editor
  • Preview Button
  • Rich Text Editor
  • Format Buttons
  • Preview Button
Post Editing FormatDetails
  • Plain
  • HTML
  • BBCode
  • Plain
  • HTML
  • BBCode
  • HTML
  • BBCode
  • HTML
  • BBCode
Forum Organization
  • Forum Categories
  • URL Redirection Forum
  • Sub Sections
  • Forum Categories
  • URL Redirection Forum
  • Sub Sections
  • Forum Categories
  • URL Redirection Forum
  • Sub Sections
  • Forum Categories
  • URL Redirection Forum
  • Sub Sections
Sticky Threads Yes Yes Unknown Unknown Yes Yes Yes Yes
Detect Duplicate Threads No No Unknown Unknown No No No No
Shadow Topics Yes Yes Unknown Unknown No No Yes Yes
Post Quoting Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Post Rating Yes Yes Plugin Plugin Yes Yes Yes Yes
Syntax Highlighting Plugin Plugin Plugin Plugin Unknown Unknown Plugin Plugin
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Key Features &
Additional Tools
MyBB PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines
Bundled Softwares No. No. No. No.
Private MessagesDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Instant MessagingDetails Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No
CalendarDetails Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Poll CreationDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Users ListDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
Online Users List Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
RSS/Atom SyndicationDetails RSS 2.0 RSS 2.0 RSS 2.0
Remote ControlDetails No. No. No. No.
Friendly URLs Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
User Profiles &
Options
MyBB PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines
User ProfileDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
User AvatarsDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
User SignaturesDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
User RanksDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Unread Topics Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bookmark Threads Yes Yes Yes Yes Unknown Unknown Yes Yes
Quick Reply Box Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Email NotificationsDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Export private messages Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No
Payment Subscriptions No No Plugin Plugin No No No No
Security & Spam
Protection
MyBB PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines
Captcha ProtectionDetails Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Words FilteringDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Guest PostingDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Customization MyBB PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines
PluginsDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
ThemesDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Cache Yes Yes No No Unknown Unknown Yes Yes
Custom BBCodesDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Custom Emoticons Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Custom Thread Icons Yes Yes Plugin Plugin Unknown Unknown Yes Yes
Custom User Profile Fields Yes Yes Plugin Plugin Yes Yes Yes Yes
CMS / Blog integrationDetails No.
  • Drupal
  • WordPress
No. No.
User Accounts integrationDetails No. No.
  • ldap
No.
Template EngineDetails No. No. No. No.
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Administration &
Support
MyBB PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines
Installation Method Installation Wizard Installation Wizard Installation Wizard Installation Wizard
Upgrade Method Upgrade Wizard Upgrade Wizard Upgrade Wizard Upgrade Wizard
Updates Notifications true false true true
User ManagementDetails User Groups User Groups User Groups User Groups
User BanishmentDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mass Mailing Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Move Threads Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Close/Lock Threads Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Backup Database Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Prune Database Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Restore Database Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Statistics Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Error/Notice Log Viewer Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Scheduled Tasks Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No
W3C Norms/Accessibility MyBB PhpBB 2 PhpBB 3 Simple Machines
HTML / XHTMLDetails
  • XHTML 1.0 Transitional
  • HTML 4.01
  • XHTML 1.0 Strict
  • XHTML 1.0 Transitional
Stylesheets (CSS)Details
  • CSS 2
  • CSS 1
  • CSS 2
  • CSS 2
Accessibility (WAI)Details
  • AA
No.
  • AA
  • AA
UTF-8 SupportDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
W3C NormsDetails Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
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