Forums or Online communities are the most sort after in Internet. This is one place where people meet and take part in discussions and express their views and concerns. Have you ever thought of starting a forum? If you have you must have thought of the scripts. There are lots of Php scripts both free and paid that lets you start your own forum.

What exactly is an Internet Forum?
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people participate in discussions and express their opinion.

Top Internet Forum Hosting Scripts

• VBulletin
  Vbulletin is the best Forum software around in the internet. Its paid and its more hacker safe. It’s cost $180 for owned license and $100 for leased license. This is the highly recommended forum software and most used.
• Invision Power board (IPB)
  The second best forum hosting scripts around in internet is undoubtedly IPB. This is also paid and costs around $150 to $300 for a license depending on personnal or business.
• PhpBB
  If you are looking for free forum hosting scripts. PhpBB is the leader in Forum Hosting. Its free, its rich in features and a strong community with lots of modules,addons and plugins for the software.
• Simple Machines Forum (SMF)
  SMF is powerful and its free. This is the most sort after forum hosting script after PhpBB and one of the fastest in gaining popularity.
• MyBB
  Yet another Free forum hosting script. This looks similar to phpbb  and you can easily convert (migrate) from other boards to MyBB.
• Burning Board
  Its Paid and costs around $70. This is also a good Forum hosting software.
• PunBB 
  Its Free. Its not that feature rich as the above scripts. Its simple and clean and it does have vulnerabilities.

The Final Verdict

If you are planning to do it professionally and have a long foresight you must for in for Vbulletin (or IPB) and if you do not want to spend money on the script go for PhpBB( or SMF).

Forums are more prone to hack attack and i have never heard or seen a Vbulletin forum hacked.