Where can I buy a license?

**CreativeIdealist** · Nov 17th, 2007, 7:49 pm

I have heard and was under the impression that you need to buy a license to own a forum. Is this true and if so, where?

**iowadawg** · Nov 17th, 2007, 7:59 pm

Unless you buy a vbulletin license, such as runs this site, there are plenty of free forum scripts running around.

PHPBB and SMF are two I can think of right now.

Check your hosting cpanel, in fantastico.
There you will find the free forums you can install in a few clicks.

**CreativeIdealist** · Nov 17th, 2007, 8:01 pm

Iowa, I think you and I should just talk on messenger, you can answer everything for me. I love it! :-P

Jim

**iowadawg** · Nov 17th, 2007, 8:06 pm

I do have my flashes of brilliance.

Don't do IM.

**grim** · Nov 17th, 2007, 8:14 pm

You can also use a free forum script to get going then convert over to vbulletin if your forum gets going

**CreativeIdealist** · Nov 17th, 2007, 8:34 pm

Its not about If, it's about when it gets big :-)

I am doing a forum in a non im idea

**Cyberbite** · Nov 17th, 2007, 8:36 pm

There are many large sites that use phpbb.

**CreativeIdealist** · Nov 17th, 2007, 9:19 pm

whats up with the snitz forum ideals? anyone ever work with them?

Jim

**Colleen** · Nov 17th, 2007, 9:55 pm

vBulletin IS the way to go for professional, and if you wanna look professional.

**CreativeIdealist** · Nov 17th, 2007, 10:29 pm

I have been doing some research on forum software, I may go to vbulletin. I now need to know where to buy it, without paying an arm and a leg.

Jim

**Big Dan** · Nov 17th, 2007, 10:56 pm

It's pretty much only one of two prices:

$160 for a lifetime license and you pay $25/yr for version upgrades - You will still be supplied with security patches for your version after the year

or

$85 for a leased license which lasts 1 year then you either have to renew for another $85, upgrade to an owned license, or remove it from your server.

Otherwise you see licenses for sale on forums, you don't save much buying one second hand as often times you need to pay $25 to extend support for another year anyhow. I bought one used, I wound up paying $120 thus saving $40 but it was from a guy with good rep.

I recommend starting out like me with a leased license and see if things take off. If they do you can upgrade to an owned license within 60 days for just the difference in cost or buy an owned license when your leased expires.

If you don't want to layout the cash for vBulletin. MyBB is the most similar and it's free.