IPb v. VB comparison

[hphinizy]

Naturally people have their preferences--however, I am being asked to potentially purchase and support IPB instead of VB. Even though my company uses VB already for three of its forums and I have had ZERO problems (great job VB!) I need to handle this with a bit of tact. I asked the individual to give me reasons why we should go IPB over VB, here they are. I call upon the masses to look this over and let me know if the reasons given are legit (ITHO). I realize I am posting on VB's site for a response to this and the response may be bias--I am sold on VB already... I just need a consensus response to these reasons:

Note on Sys req's. I got a trial version of IPB up, IPB req's Zend optimizer... VB does not.

Regards

Price:
* The full license of Vbulletin is $160.00
* The full license of Invision is $185.00
- Vbulletin is slightly cheaper

Minimum System Requirements:
* Vbulletin: PHP 4.06, MySQL 3.23.33
* Invision: PHP 4.06, MySQL 3.23.33
- No difference

Portal System:
* Vbulletin: Not included in base package; available as add-on "VBAdvanced²
* Invision: IPB Portal included in base package.
- Invision is superior in this respect.

Skinning and Languages:
* Vbulletin: Can be customized, uses templates and css, language packs
available.
* Invision: Integrated skin, css, language editor, uses template and css,
language packs available.
- Invision carries this field, with the editors integrated into the package.

Maintenance and Repair:
* Vbulletin: Integrated database manager for repair, backup and
optimization
* Invision: Integrated database manager for repair, backup and optimization
- No difference

Promotion:
* Vbulletin: No Tools
* Invision: Bulk Mailer, search engine spider controls
- Invision is superior

Posting:
* Vbulletin: Multiple attachments, Custom BBCodes, Multi-quote, BBCodes,
Emoticons, Bad-word filters
* Invision: Multiple attachments, Custom BBCodes, Multi-quote, BBCodes,
Emoticons, Bad-word filters
- No difference

Viewing Topics and Posts:
* Vbulletin - Linear, Threaded, Hybrid display views available.
* Invision - Outline, Standard & Linear+ topic views, User-selectable
pagination, Topic & post subscriptions
- Invision carries this category.

Installation:
* Vbulletin - Integrated installer, Supported RDBMS'
* Invision - Integrated installer, Supported RDBMS'
- No difference.

Users & Groups:
* Vbulletin - Permission system, based on user, usergroup or forums
* Invision - Permissions masks, Multi-user groups, Group promotion, Custom
profile fields
- Invision is slightly superior

Forum Control:
* Vbulletin: Basic
* Invision: Unlimited sub-forums, Independent forum skins, Redirect
forums, Trash-can forum, Password-protected forums.
- Invision has more of these features.

Moderation:
* Vbulletin: Topic multi-moderation, Global and forum moderators,
moderation queue.
* Invision: Topic multi-moderation, Inline moderation, Global and
forum moderators, Moderation queue.
- Invision has a big lead with inline moderation features.

Searching:
* Vbulletin: Easy and advanced search options.
* Invision: Full-text searching, Easy and advanced search options.
- Invision has the edge here with full text searching.

[Andy Huang]

Skinning and Languages:
* Vbulletin: Can be customized, uses templates and css, language packs
available.
* Invision: Integrated skin, css, language editor, uses template and css,
language packs available.
- Invision carries this field, with the editors integrated into the package.

Actually, vB has it built in to the admin cp as well, you can find it and give it a try through the admin demo.

Promotion:
* Vbulletin: No Tools
* Invision: Bulk Mailer, search engine spider controls
- Invision is superior

VB have these as well; again, the admin demo will give you more insight

Users & Groups:
* Vbulletin - Permission system, based on user, usergroup or forums
* Invision - Permissions masks, Multi-user groups, Group promotion, Custom
profile fields
- Invision is slightly superior

Actually, VB permission system is based on primary usergroup and then you can override it with secondary usergroups AND individual user permission. Additionally, VB's permission settings are much more indepth as opposed to the light toy version IPB offers. For more information about VB's permission system, please feel free to check out the Usergroups and Permission section of the manual.

Forum Control:
* Vbulletin: Basic
* Invision: Unlimited sub-forums, Independent forum skins, Redirect
forums, Trash-can forum, Password-protected forums.
- Invision has more of these features.

VB's got all the mentioned features; perhaps you would want to try with the admin demo for further insight.

Moderation:
* Vbulletin: Topic multi-moderation, Global and forum moderators,
moderation queue.
* Invision: Topic multi-moderation, Inline moderation, Global and
forum moderators, Moderation queue.
- Invision has a big lead with inline moderation features.

As far as I am aware of, there is a simple hack available for in-line moderation. Personally I like the inline feature as well and it is rumoured that it will be added in the next major release.

Searching:
* Vbulletin: Easy and advanced search options.
* Invision: Full-text searching, Easy and advanced search options.
- Invision has the edge here with full text searching.

Again, vb have full-text search feature as well as advance search features built in. You may once again wish to check out the admin demo for a better insight.

If you have any more questions or concerns, please feel free to post again and we the community members as well as Jelsoft would be more than glad to address the issues for you.

Cheers.

[hphinizy]

Like I said, I am sold aready--running VB on three other forums. It just seems ridiculous to go with IPB when we have established ourselves as a VB house... Thanks for the response.

[Steve Machol]

Have you compared support? You also might find this thread interesting for the perspective of customers that have recently switched from IPB to vB:

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117178

[Cole2026]

Naturally people have their preferences--however, I am being asked to potentially purchase and support IPB instead of VB. Even though my company uses VB already for three of its forums and I have had ZERO problems (great job VB!) I need to handle this with a bit of tact. I asked the individual to give me reasons why we should go IPB over VB, here they are. I call upon the masses to look this over and let me know if the reasons given are legit (ITHO). I realize I am posting on VB's site for a response to this and the response may be bias--I am sold on VB already... I just need a consensus response to these reasons:

Note on Sys req's. I got a trial version of IPB up, IPB req's Zend optimizer... VB does not.

Regards

Price:
* The full license of Vbulletin is $160.00
* The full license of Invision is $185.00
- Vbulletin is slightly cheaper

Minimum System Requirements:
* Vbulletin: PHP 4.06, MySQL 3.23.33
* Invision: PHP 4.06, MySQL 3.23.33
- No difference

Portal System:
* Vbulletin: Not included in base package; available as add-on "VBAdvanced²
* Invision: IPB Portal included in base package.
- Invision is superior in this respect.

Skinning and Languages:
* Vbulletin: Can be customized, uses templates and css, language packs
available.
* Invision: Integrated skin, css, language editor, uses template and css,
language packs available.
- Invision carries this field, with the editors integrated into the package.

Maintenance and Repair:
* Vbulletin: Integrated database manager for repair, backup and
optimization
* Invision: Integrated database manager for repair, backup and optimization
- No difference

Promotion:
* Vbulletin: No Tools
* Invision: Bulk Mailer, search engine spider controls
- Invision is superior

Posting:
* Vbulletin: Multiple attachments, Custom BBCodes, Multi-quote, BBCodes,
Emoticons, Bad-word filters
* Invision: Multiple attachments, Custom BBCodes, Multi-quote, BBCodes,
Emoticons, Bad-word filters
- No difference

Viewing Topics and Posts:
* Vbulletin - Linear, Threaded, Hybrid display views available.
* Invision - Outline, Standard & Linear+ topic views, User-selectable
pagination, Topic & post subscriptions
- Invision carries this category.

Installation:
* Vbulletin - Integrated installer, Supported RDBMS'
* Invision - Integrated installer, Supported RDBMS'
- No difference.

Users & Groups:
* Vbulletin - Permission system, based on user, usergroup or forums
* Invision - Permissions masks, Multi-user groups, Group promotion, Custom
profile fields
- Invision is slightly superior

Forum Control:
* Vbulletin: Basic
* Invision: Unlimited sub-forums, Independent forum skins, Redirect
forums, Trash-can forum, Password-protected forums.
- Invision has more of these features.

Moderation:
* Vbulletin: Topic multi-moderation, Global and forum moderators,
moderation queue.
* Invision: Topic multi-moderation, Inline moderation, Global and
forum moderators, Moderation queue.
- Invision has a big lead with inline moderation features.

Searching:
* Vbulletin: Easy and advanced search options.
* Invision: Full-text searching, Easy and advanced search options.
- Invision has the edge here with full text searching.

Many of these comparisons are not accurate. It almost seems biased.

First off, I can almost guarantee there are more language packs for vBulletin through the staff & community, than IPB. And the skinning system, IPB is true junk compared to vBulletin's Styling and skinning system, I have administered an IPB forum before; the skinning system compares to vBulletin 2, vBulletin 3 is a huge step above IPB 2.

Next you said that IPB has better forum control, I disagree. The trashcan feature is the only thing I see there that IPB has and that vBulletin does not have, and I would not see an advantage over even having a trash can. vBulletin also has the feature of setting a forum to active, but only accessable by URL as well.

Next, Inline moderation is the only feature that vBulletin does not have, that IPB does, and there is a mod for vBulletin 3 at the hack database at vBulletin.org that adds on this feature.

Then, there is group promotion in vBulletin, there is Search Engine Spider Controls, there is a Bulk Mailer, slightly more advanced, so you can send out to all users, or send out to specific usergroups, or users only fulfilling certain conditions. It also has custom profile fields, everything that IPB has in that category.

Then, you did not include support, just look and see how nasty IPB staff are(from what I have heard). Then, compare them to vBulletin Staff. No contest there.

Not to mention, vBulletin has a huge hacks and mods database at vBulletin.Org, and template modifications at vbulletintemplates.com.

And, what about WYSIWYG editing for vBulletin, does IPB have that? No

[ManagerJosh]

I'm a bit more interested to see what version are you comparing. Some of the comparisons do seem biased, assuming the versions are generations apart.

[Bunny]

I once comapired vB to IPB with the 2 feature lsist and acp.
vBulletin won. vBulletin is a lot better than IPB and this list is lacking. To many "IPB wins"

[Reeve of Shinra]

Because I am bored.

Price:
* The full license of Vbulletin is $160.00
* The full license of Invision is $185.00
- Vbulletin is slightly cheaper

Vbulletin is cheaper but also comes with free unlimited lifetime support. Invision requires you to purchase support after 1 year.

Minimum System Requirements:
* Vbulletin: PHP 4.06, MySQL 3.23.33
* Invision: PHP 4.06, MySQL 3.23.33
- No difference

Portal System:
* Vbulletin: Not included in base package; available as add-on "VBAdvanced²
* Invision: IPB Portal included in base package.
- Invision is superior in this respect.

Free add-on however and this shouldnt be a decision breaker.

Skinning and Languages:
* Vbulletin: Can be customized, uses templates and css, language packs
available.
* Invision: Integrated skin, css, language editor, uses template and css,
language packs available.
- Invision carries this field, with the editors integrated into the package.

VB3's editors are as robust as IPB's if not more so.

Maintenance and Repair:
* Vbulletin: Integrated database manager for repair, backup and
optimization
* Invision: Integrated database manager for repair, backup and optimization
- No difference

- Cant talk about this personally.

Promotion:
* Vbulletin: No Tools
* Invision: Bulk Mailer, search engine spider controls
- Invision is superior

Vbulletin has emailing tools and tools to change member subscription options in bulk (along with other user specific options).

Posting:
* Vbulletin: Multiple attachments, Custom BBCodes, Multi-quote, BBCodes,
Emoticons, Bad-word filters
* Invision: Multiple attachments, Custom BBCodes, Multi-quote, BBCodes,
Emoticons, Bad-word filters
- No difference

Vbulletin has Tachy Goes to Coventry - a global ignore where the user in question doesnt know that they were put on auto-ignore by the admin. Good for twerp control.

Viewing Topics and Posts:
* Vbulletin - Linear, Threaded, Hybrid display views available.
* Invision - Outline, Standard & Linear+ topic views, User-selectable
pagination, Topic & post subscriptions
- Invision carries this category.

Vbulletin also has post subscriptions and a variety of features for users to subscribe or unsubscribe to threads.

Installation:
* Vbulletin - Integrated installer, Supported RDBMS'
* Invision - Integrated installer, Supported RDBMS'
- No difference.

Users & Groups:
* Vbulletin - Permission system, based on user, usergroup or forums
* Invision - Permissions masks, Multi-user groups, Group promotion, Custom
profile fields
- Invision is slightly superior

As someone else explained,... vbulletin has a multi-permission system including primary user-groups, unlimited secondary usergroups, and custom individual usergroups. Trust me, unlimited secondary usergroups makes live alot easier!

Now lets get to the meat...

The admin panel has its own set of permissions - meaning you can have admins who can edit certain things another admin couldn't - or shouldnt based on thier role.

Forum Control:
* Vbulletin: Basic
* Invision: Unlimited sub-forums, Independent forum skins, Redirect
forums, Trash-can forum, Password-protected forums.
- Invision has more of these features.

vbulletin has unlimited sub-forums, independant forum skins, redirection of forums and password protected forums. Vbulletin's skinning system can also inherit custom templates and designs from parent skins/styles.

[quote]
Moderation:
* Vbulletin: Topic multi-moderation, Global and forum moderators,
moderation queue.
* Invision: Topic multi-moderation, Inline moderation, Global and
forum moderators, Moderation queue.
- Invision has a big lead with inline moderation features.

Cant speak on this one personally but inline moderation tools is a free add on at vb.org.

Searching:
* Vbulletin: Easy and advanced search options.
* Invision: Full-text searching, Easy and advanced search options.
- Invision has the edge here with full text searching.
[quote]

Vbulletin also has full text searching if you enable it.

---------------------

BIGGEST REASON TO GO WITH VBULLETIN IS THE FACT THAT IPB HAS CHANGED THIER PRICING STRUCTURE AND POLICIES A HALF DOZEN TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR - VBULLETIN HAS MAINTAINED THE SAME POLICIES - AND EVEN THE SAME PRICES - FOR OVER FOUR YEARS.

Face it, if your looking for reliability, its more than just the software, its the company and the staff. As a customer you dont want the drastic and rapid changes that IPB has had in the last year.

Additionally, although you cant find it because IPB deleted the threads, their support and responses to trouble tickets, haven't always been spectacular. Vbulletin has a response time of like 30 minutes or less.

[Zachery]

Viewing Topics and Posts:
* Vbulletin - Linear, Threaded, Hybrid display views available.
* Invision - Outline, Standard & Linear+ topic views, User-selectable
pagination, Topic & post subscriptions
- Invision carries this category.

vBulletin supports user selectable pagination, as well, if any there its no difference...

[MatraX]

Well.. I`m not into comparing two sciprt because there always will be someone that will find in other script something that for him/her is better and more comfortable. All I can say is about nme and my experience with both.. IPB and vB.
Before I bought the licence on vB I was using IPB 2.0 (trial) version and it was fine.. great even till it start to eat the server resources like mad. I don`t know and now even don`t care what was the reason.. some bug or something else.. The fact is that then my server administrator decide to urn down my site because of the huge load it generated. Believe me or not but sometime it was about 130.00 90.00 80.00 and couple minutes after shuting it down the server was running great with load of 0.50 0.70
After buying the vB licence and converting the database everything is fine and the load is very very low.

Beside the support.. just try to ask something on the IPB official forum They will answer you that if you don`t have the licence you can`t know anything and are just unpleasant. Here you may ask any question before deciding to buy the script and I doubt that it would be left without answer.

Concluding..
vB is a great script and with support it`s worth the price.

[KimmiKat]

If this comparison was posted on IPB's support board in their pre-sales area, it would've been binned faster then the speed of light.

I used to use IPB for my mboard, but made the switch almost a year ago. Any feature that's not built can be added with the help of vBulletin.org and it's possible they could be included in a future version of vB.

Then, you did not include support, just look and see how nasty IPB staff are(from what I have heard). Then, compare them to vBulletin Staff. No contest there.

[HenryG2]

Price:
* The full license of Vbulletin is $160.00
* The full license of Invision is $185.00
- Vbulletin is slightly cheaper

vBulletin has superior customer support as well. Everyone will tell you this.

Portal System:
* Vbulletin: Not included in base package; available as add-on "VBAdvanced²
* Invision: IPB Portal included in base package.
- Invision is superior in this respect.

Having worked with both forum softwares and their corresponding portals, I can honestly say that vBadvanced is an amazing add-on that perfectly compliments vBulletin's easy-to-use template system. IPB's portal, however, lacks many features

Skinning and Languages:
* Vbulletin: Can be customized, uses templates and css, language packs
available.
* Invision: Integrated skin, css, language editor, uses template and css,
language packs available.
- Invision carries this field, with the editors integrated into the package.

vBulletin has a 'Phrase' System, which allows you to edit every aspect of the language pack.

Promotion:
* Vbulletin: No Tools
* Invision: Bulk Mailer, search engine spider controls
- Invision is superior

While IPB does indeed have those features, if you delve a bit deeper into vBulletin's admin panel, you will notice that vBulletin also has them. vBulletin also has the ability to divide its members into different usergroups based on a promotion system.

Posting:
* Vbulletin: Multiple attachments, Custom BBCodes, Multi-quote, BBCodes,
Emoticons, Bad-word filters
* Invision: Multiple attachments, Custom BBCodes, Multi-quote, BBCodes,
Emoticons, Bad-word filters
- No difference

The difference I see is that vBulletin has a WYSIWYG editor, which I find very useful.

Viewing Topics and Posts:
* Vbulletin - Linear, Threaded, Hybrid display views available.
* Invision - Outline, Standard & Linear+ topic views, User-selectable
pagination, Topic & post subscriptions
- Invision carries this category.

vBulletin has user-selectable pagination. It also has topic and post subscriptions. I don't know where you're getting your information...

Users & Groups:
* Vbulletin - Permission system, based on user, usergroup or forums
* Invision - Permissions masks, Multi-user groups, Group promotion, Custom
profile fields
- Invision is slightly superior

vBulletin has all of those features you've listed for IPB.

Forum Control:
* Vbulletin: Basic
* Invision: Unlimited sub-forums, Independent forum skins, Redirect
forums, Trash-can forum, Password-protected forums.
- Invision has more of these features.

Basic? vBulletin has all of the features you've listed for Invision too.

Moderation:
* Vbulletin: Topic multi-moderation, Global and forum moderators,
moderation queue.
* Invision: Topic multi-moderation, Inline moderation, Global and
forum moderators, Moderation queue.
- Invision has a big lead with inline moderation features.

There is currently a hack available at vBulletin.org that offers a very nice in-line moderation tool. I've also heard rumors that the next major release of vBulletin will include this feature as a standard.

Searching:
* Vbulletin: Easy and advanced search options.
* Invision: Full-text searching, Easy and advanced search options.
- Invision has the edge here with full text searching.

What do you mean by "Full-Text" searching?

[Zachery]

I think he might of goten that feature list backwords for the most part

[KimmiKat]

Probably! They'll be comparing vB vs. IPB until the cows come home...

I think he might of goten that feature list backwords for the most part

[Matthew Gordon]

The only thing I see lister there that vB doesn't have is the portal (and we are comparing forum software, not "lets make a website" software, and vBa CMPS is a great addon) and the trash can forum. Other than that, vB has all of those features and more, plus better support.