vbulletin vs. Invision (IPB)

[agip33]

Just out of curiousity, how does IPB compare with vB2 and vB3?

I'm at a point in choosing between the two. From what I understand (from reading many threads),

- vB has REALLY good support
- vB costs $160USD

- IPB has comparable features as vB
- IPB is free


I'm not sure what features IPB has over vB and what features vB has over IPB (that warrants a price tag of $160USD).


I read that IPB software has holes and forum sites get hacked due to it. And that these hacked sites would have to pay to get support to get help to bring their site back.


Anyway, I hope the members here can provide me with some insight on the two forum softwares (specifically what features vB2x or vB3 has over IPB). I posted a similar thread at invision's site and I'll let you know what kind of responses I get.


Thanks a lot for your time.

[ManagerJosh]

I have yet to see an invision power board withstand 1,000+ users online at the same time with 1,000,000+ posts...

vBulletin has a repuitation of being able to handle 1,000+ users line and 1,000,000+ posts, so rest assure that you are buying something that will last :)

[unlocking4u]

well you only get what you pay for in life :cool:

i have used ipb and when i changed to vb i never looked back
vb supplies excellent support and i find it more stable than ipb also more easy to customise and add hacks to
just my opinion

rob

[agip33]

Just an update, invision is closing the thread saying they do not do comparisons between software.
I don't think they like the name "vbulletin" mentioned.

I think I'm almost sold to vB...

Just alittle more reading to do about vB ... hope I could get some more feedback about vB features over other forum softwares (like IPB, which I think is next best to vB).

[ManagerJosh]

Why guess what features there are when you can mess with the real thing?

http://www.vbulletin.com/admindemo/

http://www.vbulletin.com/admindemo/admin/

Username: admin
Password: admin

Have fun :) I know I did :D

[John Round]

Don't forget you had to pay $60 a year extra to Invision for their support ;) - Add another $50 if you want the subscription feature for Invision Board ;)

[jmottle]

For what it's worth I've been looking at the two very carefully and was/am leaning to IB only becuase they have just released a new MSSQL driver, but do you think I can get anyone to email me back. I emailed the info email and their President!! 2 and a half days later the only reply I have recieved was on their support forums from a guy who used to program their convertors. No one at the actual company has bother to get back to me yet.....

Also it's worth noting that while the IB is free, they are charging for support. You can view the details of that here http://www.invisionboard.com/download.cgi They have similar options to VB now for pricing. Whether you pay for support and get a free board or pay for the board and get free support, it's all the same. But if you actually get the support that is the difference.

I am going to have to agree so far that VB pre-sales support has been very good. I emailed them the same questions I emailed IB and had a reply back in less than 5 minutes! (This was at 8pm at night too) My request was ticketed and is being escalated to the head developer, so thus far I have to agree that VB support is WAY better.

Jeff

[Scott MacVicar]

Well we have various support staff who's timezone range from GMT - PST.

If we were to work 9-6 in each timezones we basically cover
9am GMT - 2am GMT and you'll find that most of the support staff do an hour or so at night.

At the moment the support reply time is 15 minutes.

MSSQL support would be possible in vB3 with a few changes, but it was optimized for MySQL and makes best use of the performance features available.

[jmottle]

Thanks Scott. I have a few questions about what you said, but started a new thread so as not to get OT.

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?p=520543#post520543

Cheers,
Jeff

[iDavid]

Don't forget you had to pay $60 a year extra to Invision for their support ;) - Add another $50 if you want the subscription feature for Invision Board ;)
If you register for support, the subscription module is actually free. :)

[PET]

Even if IBF 1.2 brings manny new good things, i still go for vBulletin. Especialy vB 3, witch i see that he hase greate things. I hope the price will be goon, when it will be finished.

Abut support. I can tell you about IBF. NONE ! If you try to put a question to ibfplanet...if i ever see a help post...

So, vBulletin my option. I'm looking for a buy !

[ManagerJosh]

Now let's not get into bashing Invision Board for their support. They have a competitive product against vBulletin and their support is probably very good since they rather get it right the first time and send it to the right person rather than be wrong.

[jmottle]

They have a competitive product against vBulletin and their support is probably very good..

I'm not yet a Vbulletin customer nor an IB customer, but I'd love to know what about 3 days, 2 emails, 4 posts and not a single reply from IB so that I can actually pay for custom support and services implies very good support. There is another guy over there who is on day 5 and 4 emails and many more posts and still no one is getting in touch with people. I'm not trying to put one forum above the other, I'm just relaying my experience thus far with IB. And so far it implies they have no support or thet have all taken a vacation at once. Either way this is of no use to a commercial site looking for an enterprise level product and support. Anyway...I am much more impressed with VB to date. Things just seem more professional over here.


Jeff

[0ptima]

In the long run, VB will be cheaper than IPB if you pay for IPB support and you can sell your 'used' vb for at least $100.00. VB support is top-notch and requests have often been answered in minutes!

IPB
Year 1 60
Year 2 60
Year 3 60
Year 4 60
4 Year Cost 240

VB
Year 1 160
Year 2 30
Year 3 30
Year 4 30
4 Year Cost 250
Sell VB -100
Total Cost 150

[ManagerJosh]

Hi Jeff

I'm pleased to hear you are having an excellent vBulletin experience.



I don't know how the support over at Invision Power is since I've never used it or ever used an Invision Product (administratively) however I am giving them the benefit of the doubt that their service is excellent.

[ManagerJosh]

In the long run, VB will be cheaper than IPB if you pay for IPB support and you can sell your 'used' vb for at least $100.00. VB support is top-notch and requests have often been answered in minutes!

IPB
Year 1 60
Year 2 60
Year 3 60
Year 4 60
4 Year Cost 240
VB
Year 1 160
Year 2 30
Year 3 30
Year 4 30
4 Year Cost 250
Sell VB -100


Total Cost:150



Make it year five and that's when you starting seeing the real costs. Don't forget that $30.00/year renewal is for download access only and is COMPLETELY Optional. You can purchase it at any time you want. Support is lifetime (at least for now).

Can't Complain

[iDavid]

In the long run, VB will be cheaper than IPB if you pay for IPB support and you can sell your 'used' vb for at least $100.00. VB support is top-notch and requests have often been answered in minutes!

IPB
Year 1 60
Year 2 60
Year 3 60
Year 4 60
4 Year Cost 240

VB
Year 1 160
Year 2 30
Year 3 30
Year 4 30
4 Year Cost 250
Sell VB -100
Total Cost 150
That's a very unfair comparison. First of all, IPB has a lifetime support license for $149; there are no annual fees at any time if you purchase that support plan.

Secondly, you're assuming a $100 sale of vB so that your (heavily skewed) comparison will look better.

And personally, I've found their support excellent, but you have to judge that for yourself. Also, PET, if you're judging Invision Power's support by response times at IBPlanet, you're not getting an accurate comparison -- it's not an IPB support site. ;)

[0ptima]

That's a very unfair comparison. First of all, IPB has a lifetime support license for $149; there are no annual fees at any time if you purchase that support plan.
I was not aware of the lifetime support for $149.


Secondly, you're assuming a $100 sale of vB so that your (heavily skewed) comparison will look better.

Why cant you sell a 'used' VB license for $100? It does not depreciate in value.

[squall14716]

1. An 0wn3d vB license is $160, support is liefetime, only pay $30 more a year for updates.

2. vB2 has the largest amount of hacks I have ever seen, I'm pretty sure vB.org passed 1500 full release hacks a while ago, not counting beta hacks and template modifications. vB3 will most likely have a hell of a lot of hacks released at vB.org when they start accepting them when it hits RC1.

3. vB has more features, and vB3 is probably a lot easier on the server with the new post caching feature. When there were 2,000 guests viewing the Rubix Cube thread, I think one of the devs said that the server load never went over 1.

4. vB has great support. I've never used the ticket system except for one time, and that was to change my member's area password, and it didn't take long. Add to that the fact that there are 3 official English sites to get support and modifications - vB.com for stock vB support and some template mods as well, vB.org - for hacks and source code modifications and support (and template mods as well), and vBTemplates.com - for template mods galore really, and some phpinclude 'hacks'.

5. Language system and template system are far better than IB's.

6. More tools in the admincp. vB2 beats IB, and vB3 just blows everything else out of the water. vB is great.

I spent all of my birthday money one year to buy vB and I have never regretted it since. vB2 >>>>> all except for vB3.
vB3 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> all.

[f-a_org]

1. An 0wn3d vB license is $160, support is liefetime, only pay $30 more a year for updates.

2. vB2 has the largest amount of hacks I have ever seen, I'm pretty sure vB.org passed 1500 full release hacks a while ago, not counting beta hacks and template modifications. vB3 will most likely have a hell of a lot of hacks released at vB.org when they start accepting them when it hits RC1.

3. vB has more features, and vB3 is probably a lot easier on the server with the new post caching feature. When there were 2,000 guests viewing the Rubix Cube thread, I think one of the devs said that the server load never went over 1.

4. vB has great support. I've never used the ticket system except for one time, and that was to change my member's area password, and it didn't take long. Add to that the fact that there are 3 official English sites to get support and modifications - vB.com for stock vB support and some template mods as well, vB.org - for hacks and source code modifications and support (and template mods as well), and vBTemplates.com - for template mods galore really, and some phpinclude 'hacks'.

5. Language system and template system are far better than IB's.

6. More tools in the admincp. vB2 beats IB, and vB3 just blows everything else out of the water. vB is great.

I spent all of my birthday money one year to buy vB and I have never regretted it since. vB2 >>>>> all except for vB3.
vB3 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> all.
Agrees, cep't I didn't use my b-day money.

[Zachery]

i used my money from my job :\

vB is a great thing regardless, IBP is still abit too graphic intensive for my liking