forum software recommendations

[TheButcher]

It depends on your budget and skills to set them up

Not necessarily but I agree with the premise. I have used a free and paid script over the years here and quite truthfully I like phpbb not only because it is free but the support. And yes not paying $400-%500 for a script that has a free alternative with great support never hurts.

[24alex]

When you went with phpBB here I was a little confused. I am so used to VBulletin but it took me all of 10 minutes to get a hang of it and it looks just similar and as easy to work with, add on that this is free, it makes a compelling argument to use phpBB for boards.