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Open Source Forum Software- Finding the right open source forum software can be confusing at times. There are so many open source forum software programs to choose from. Best Forum Hosting has done this review on open source forum software to help you.

A key component of the best forum hosting is what type of open source forum software it provides you. This is also crucial in cheap forum hosting. What good is cheap forum hosting if you don’t have access to open source forum software? None! Luckily for all the readers of Best Forum Hosting, our recommended cheap forum hosting providers offer some of the best open source forum software.

Best Forum Hosting has put together our favorite four open source forum software programs; phpBB, Vanilla, Yet Another Forum, and Quicksilver Forums. We will list the benefits of each one and provide you with links to our favorite cheap forum hosting providers that support and/or offer each software.

phpBB- phpBB is perhaps the best known forum software program. The current version of phpBB is the third version. phpBB is compatible with Linux, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP. phpBB speaks in the PHP language and is compatible with MySQL databases, PostgreSQL databases, SQlite, Microsoft SQL server, and Oracle. Here are some of the features of phpBB:

• Private messages
• Instant messages
• Polls
• Attachments
• Custom BBCodes
• Emoticons
• Thread icons
• Sticky threads
• RSS feeds

Best Forum Hosting favorite phpBB provider- FatCow

Vanilla- Vanilla is a multi-lingual, fully extensible discussion open source software. Vanilla can be used on the following operating systems: Linux, Windows, Solaris, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, and Mac OS. Vanilla is used in conjunction with both PHP 4 and PHP 5 and supports MySQL databases. Here are some features of Vanilla:

• Sticky threads
• Post quoting
• Post rating
• Private messages
• User list
• Friendly URL’s

Best Forum Hosting favorite Vanilla support host- GoDaddy

Yet Another Forum- Yet Another Forum is an open source forum software program designed for ASP.net. It is only compatible on the Windows operating servers and C# or ASP.net languages. When using Yet Another Forum you would use MS SQL databases. Here are some Yet Another Forum features:

• Emoticons
• Sticky threads
• WYSIQYG editor
• Shadow topics
• Post quoting
• Private messages
• Poll creation
• Users list
• Friendly URL’s

Best Forum Hosting favorite Yet Another Forum support host- 1&1

Quicksilver Forums- Quicksilver forums are free for both commercial and personal use. Quicksilver is a fast forum program and runs lightly. A nice feature is that it can be translated into 18 languages. Quicksilver Forums can be run in both Linux and Windows operating systems using PHP 4 or PHP 5. When creating databases you would use MySQL. Here are some features of Quicksilver Forums:

• Emoticons
• Attachments
• Private messaging
• Calendar
• Poll creation

Best Forum Hosting favorite Quicksilver Forums support host- JustHost

bbPress- bbPress is a forum software program that is made by the same creators of WordPress. bbPress is extremely easy to install, easy to modify, and easy for your users to participate in the forums. bbPress can be used on all types of operating systems including Linux, Windows, Solaris, and Mac OS. It uses the PHP language and MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite databases. Here are some features of bbPress:

• Flat forum style
• Sticky threads
• RSS
• Quick reply box
• Remote control access
• Friendly URL’s
• Tag support
• Plugin shadow topics

Best Forum Hosting favorite bbPress support host- BlueHost

Best Forum Hosting hopes that this article on open source forum software programs will help you out the next time you are looking for cheap forum hosting!

JustHost

FatCow

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