SMF vs. MyBB vs. Phorum vs. Beehive Forum vs. JForum

General SMF MyBB Phorum Beehive Forum JForum
Version
2.0.6
1.6.3
5.2.9a
1.4.7
2.1.8
Release Date
2013-10-21 (10 years ago)
2011-04-16 (12 years ago)
2008-10-12 (15 years ago)
2015-06-03 (8 years ago)
2008-10-31 (15 years ago)
Last Update here
2013-10-25 (10 years ago)
2011-06-22 (12 years ago)
2008-10-16 (15 years ago)
2016-02-08 (8 years ago)
2008-01-02 (16 years ago)
Author
Simple Machines
MyBB Group
Phorum Dev Team
Matt Beale, Mark Rendle
Rafael Steil
URL
Free and Open Source
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
License
BSD
Custom
The Phorum License (BSD)
GPL
BSD
License cost
0
US$0
0
0
0
Main View
Thread-Type
Flat
Threaded or Flat
Threaded or Flat
Threaded or Flat
Flat
Setup SMF MyBB Phorum Beehive Forum JForum
Installation method
wizard
wizard
wizard
wizard
wizard
Upgrade method
wizard
wizard
wizard
wizard
manual
Hosting available
No
No
No
Yes
No
Technology SMF MyBB Phorum Beehive Forum JForum
Programming Language
PHP
PHP
PHP
PHP
Java
UTF-8 Support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Data Storage
3
MySQL Database, PostgreSQL Database, SQLite File Database
3
MySQL Database, PostgreSQL Database, SQLite File Database
2
MySQL Database, PostgreSQL Database
1
MySQL Database
3
MySQL Database, Oracle Database, PostgreSQL Database
Other Storage
HSQLDB
Source Code Repo
Issue Tracker
Posts SMF MyBB Phorum Beehive Forum JForum
BBCode
Yes
Yes
Optional
No
Yes
HTML
Yes
Yes
Optional
Yes
Yes
Emoticons
Yes
Yes
Optional
Yes
Yes
Formatting Toolbar
Yes
Yes
Optional
Yes
No
WYSIWYG Editor
Yes
Plugin
Plugin
Yes
No
Quoting
Nested
Nested
Nested
Nested
Nested
Syntax Highlighting
Yes
Yes
Plugin
Yes
No
Attachments
Multiple files
Multiple files
Multiple files
Multiple files
Multiple files
Tags
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Mark as solved
Forums SMF MyBB Phorum Beehive Forum JForum
Categories
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Subforums
unlimited
unlimited
multiple levels
No
Last Post
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Redirect Forums
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Trashcan Forum
Yes
Plugin
No
Optional
No
Anti-Spam and Security SMF MyBB Phorum Beehive Forum JForum
CAPTCHA
Yes
Yes
Optional
Optional
Yes
Groups
Multiple groups
Multiple groups
Multiple groups
Multiple groups
Multiple groups
Flood Control
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
ACLs
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Blacklist
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Warnings
Yes
Yes
Plugin
Unknown
No
Suspension
Yes
Yes
Plugin
Yes
Yes
Bans
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
IP-Block
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Audit Logging
Yes
Yes
Optional
Yes
Unknown
User Reports
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Other
An Akismet mod is available
Akismet plugin available.
Aksimet Plugin
Worming, Pilllorying
Notification SMF MyBB Phorum Beehive Forum JForum
RSS/ATOM
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
E-Mail
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Instant Messaging
0
Yes
0
Bookmarks
Plugin
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Community SMF MyBB Phorum Beehive Forum JForum
Avatars
Yes
Yes
Plugin
Yes
Yes
User Ranks
Yes
Yes
Plugin
No
Yes
Rating/Karma System
Yes
Yes
Plugin
Yes
Yes
Signatures
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Users Online List
Yes
Yes
Plugin
Yes
Yes
Private Messaging
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Custom profile fields
Yes
Yes
Yes
Optional
No
Moderation SMF MyBB Phorum Beehive Forum JForum
Moderators
global, forums and threads
global and forums
global and forums
global, forums and threads
global and forums
Move Threads
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Split Threads
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Close Threads
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Shadow Topics
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Sticky Threads
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Important Threads
Plugin
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Search SMF MyBB Phorum Beehive Forum JForum
Full-text search
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Author search
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Advanced search
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Unread Topics
Database tracked
Database tracked
Database tracked
Database tracked
Database tracked
Customization SMF MyBB Phorum Beehive Forum JForum
Languages
0
0
0
0
0
Mobile View
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Templates
global and forum specific
global and forum specific
global and forum specific
CSS only
global
Custom BBCodes
Plugin
Yes
Plugin
No
Yes
Skin-Editor
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Smiley Packs
Yes
Yes
Plugin
Yes
Yes
Plugins
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Special Features SMF MyBB Phorum Beehive Forum JForum
Statistics
Yes
Yes
Plugin
Yes
Yes
Polls
Yes
Yes
Plugin
Yes
Yes
Calendar
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Friendly URLs
Plugin
Plugin
Plugin
No
Yes
Data Management SMF MyBB Phorum Beehive Forum JForum
Available Importers
Pruning
Yes
Plugin
Yes
No
No
Archiving
Plugin
No
No
Unknown
No
Export Formats
WAP(2), IMode
Export private messages
Plugin
Yes
No
Yes
No
Lo-Fi View
Yes
Yes
Optional
Yes
No
remove SMF remove MyBB remove Phorum remove Beehive Forum remove JForum