This page researched and written by Tom Irish, owner, webkewl design
and by Donna Sanclemente, owner, Point of View
Message Boards are a great way to get visitors interacting at you site. Features vary widely. The best of the bunch are commercial versions though these offer freeware counterparts. Commercial versions listed here range from $50 to $100 and are well worth it if you need the extra control.
 Ultimate
Message Board |
The freeware version of this message board is less feature filled than the commercial version but is certainly usable. I really like the look of UUB message boards. You can see the commercial version in use at the MacFixIt forums. |
| Discus |
Like Ultimate Message Board, Discus offers a freeware version as well as a commercial version. You can see the commercial version in use at USA Today. |
| Cliff's Message Board | This script has a fairly wide range of features including the ability to include a picture and music of your choice along with the posting. Supports multiple forums, required elements, email responses to the original author, and more. |
| InsideTheWeb Message Board | InsideTheWeb is a free message board service open to all members of the Internet community including commercial websites. You can see a board in use at Rockoids. |
| Bravenet Message Board | Message board forums are among a variety of free web services at Bravenet. For a forum of your own, you need to become a Bravenet member -- also free. Bravenet's boards allow for some customization of graphics albeit from a "canned" selection. Use of your company's logo does not seem to be an option. Message board administration allows for deleting of posts and IP address banning. Email notification and threaded boards are available. Donna: "A cut or two above InsideTheWeb." |
| Web Crossing Message Board | Free 60-day trial version (Bronze) of message board forums. Retail version $495 and up. |
| Casual Forum Message Boards | Free message board forums -- pick a category and make yourself at home. |
| CaMILE Message Board | (Mac-Mounted) CaMILE (Collaborative and Multimedia Interactive Learning Environment) Development of and research with CaMILE is a project sponsored by ARPA, the National Science Foundation, the EduTech Institute, and GTE Foundation. Directed by Dr. Mark Guzdial. License for educational institutions is free. |
| Ceilidh | Threaded bulletin boards with file attachment and e-mail. Mac, OS/2, Win NT/95/98, and UNIX compatible. Regular is free; payment required for professional version. Regular version requires you to host an ad banner; professional version does not. |
| Lasso Solutions | Take a quick trip over to Blueworld's Lasso Solution page where you'll find three freeware Lasso solutions: BitBS from Fabrizio Carioni, Freakboard by Detlef Beyer, and Simple MessageBoard by Martin Spreij. |
| Web-Based Messaging Area - A FileMaker Pro solution by Maria Langer | The January/February issue of "NetProfessional" featured a how-to article by Maria Langer on web-based messaging boards. The article takes you step-by-step through the process using FileMaker Pro and its built-in web capabilities. To compliment the article, Ms. Langer has made the HTML code and database available for downloading as freeware! You can order a copy of the January/February 1999 issue of NetProfessional from the fabulous folks at Developer Depot for a small charge. |
