# Inexpensive/easy way to get a message board on my site? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 1, 2004, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-easy-way-to-get-a-message-board-on-my-site/237699 "2004-04-01T09:29:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-easy-way-to-get-a-message-board-on-my-site/237699/1 "2004-04-01T09:29:24Z")
I’ve got a minor bee in my bonnet about this, but I’m basically clueless. I have several domains with [www.readyhosting.com](http://www.readyhosting.com), and I’ve given a passing thought to getting a message board on there. Just a passing thought. My hosting plans include all that are included [here](http://www.readyhosting.com/hosting.cfm). Bear in mind that I’m kind of clueless (I know some HTML and I can get around Dreamweaver pretty well, but that’s about it). I have both an OS X Mac and a Windows XP PC, so I could use either computer for this. (Though the Mac is the one that has Dreamweaver.) Is there any way I can do this without it costing me an arm and a leg and requiring me to learn a whole lot of new stuff? I have a semi-adventuresome spirit, but I’m not a programmer and never will be. (But I’m not afraid to open a computer book and read it—I’ve taught myself Photoshop through books, for instance.) So, any suggestions? Any advice would be appreciated! ---
**Author:** ![LolaBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@LolaBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaBaby)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-easy-way-to-get-a-message-board-on-my-site/237699/2 "2004-04-01T11:22:01Z")
Have you given thought to a board from Ezboard or some other site that has free and/or paid boards? ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-easy-way-to-get-a-message-board-on-my-site/237699/3 "2004-04-01T13:53:48Z")
Thanks Lola, I’ve thought of EZBoard and that’s not been outruled yet, but I figured since I already had this web space bought and paid for, and the host offers certain features (that I linked to in my OP), that _if_ there was a way that I could use my own host, then I’d like to look into that. But if one of these other freebie boards is pretty good, that’s worth considering, definitely! ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-easy-way-to-get-a-message-board-on-my-site/237699/4 "2004-04-01T15:43:24Z")
One good free/inexpensive board is [Discus](http://www.discusware.com/). Their freeware version is very good, and their Pro version is inexpensive (Less than $100 I think) and very powerful. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-easy-way-to-get-a-message-board-on-my-site/237699/5 "2004-04-01T16:00:20Z")
[Snitz Forums](http://forum.snitz.com/) is almost as good as vBulletin, and it’s free (and open source). ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-easy-way-to-get-a-message-board-on-my-site/237699/6 "2004-04-02T00:27:46Z")
I favor [InvisionBoard](http://www.invisionboard.com/) myself. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-easy-way-to-get-a-message-board-on-my-site/237699/7 "2004-04-02T00:29:20Z")
I think [phpBB](http://www.phpbb.com) is the best one out there at any price (and it’s free). > [@](#): > > phpBB is a high powered, fully scalable, and highly customisable open-source bulletin board package. phpBB has a user-friendly interface, simple and straightforward administration panel, and helpful FAQ. Based on the powerful PHP server language and your choice of MySQL, MS-SQL, PostgreSQL or Access/ODBC database servers, phpBB is the ideal free community solution for all web sites. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-easy-way-to-get-a-message-board-on-my-site/237699/8 "2004-04-02T03:41:40Z")
Wow, guys, this is GREAT! Thanks! This gives me a lot to contemplate and explore. Bless your hearts. I always can count on this board to give me some good answers, can’t I? ---
**Author:** ![WaryEri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ea666f/32.png) [@WaryEri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WaryEri)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-easy-way-to-get-a-message-board-on-my-site/237699/9 "2004-04-02T04:00:38Z")
I had to do alot of research into this topic for a site I help run, when our previous forums crashed and burned. The word in almost every discussion I came across was that phpBB and InvisionBoard are more or less equal as the very best options in free forums. We went with phpbb ( there are rumors that Invision might be moving to a pay system, and we didn’t want to deal with that)and certainly haven’t regreted it. [http://www.webhostingtalk.com](http://www.webhostingtalk.com) is a great place to find out about things like this. Of course, I know from experience that almost everyone there will tell you to go with invision or phpbb. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-easy-way-to-get-a-message-board-on-my-site/237699/10 "2004-04-02T15:37:55Z")
Another vote for phpBB.