Is IPB less used than before?

**David** · 03-14-2008, 09:09 PM

A couple of years ago there were tons of sites with IPB. Now a days the majority of the sites are either VBulletin, phpBB, SMF or even some other forum script, but I think those three are the top three. I visit a lot of forums and I haven't seen an IPB forum in a while in my daily travels online.

Could it be that 1.3 and the other free versions are very old now and people that were using it have switched to free/paid scripts with more features? Also could the whole licensing strategy they use actually alienate clients (not allowing transfers having to turn over your whole account if you want to sell your license)?

Every once in a blue moon I do bump into an IPB forum when doing searches on google but it seems like they've lost a lot of market share compared to a couple of years ago.

Am I wrong and blind here or has anyone else noticed this trend?

**BamaStangGuy** · 03-14-2008, 09:14 PM

The people that are using the free version or were using the free version probably got tired of it and switched to another supported free version with more options. Coupled with stiff competition in the paid area by vBulletin they don't keep up with the ones ditching the free version and those paying for it, which gives the impression that they have a sudden drop off of users.

**David** · 03-14-2008, 09:18 PM

Maybe they should come out with a free limited lite version or something. They've really lost visibility in the last few years. I think I'm even seeing more WowBB forums than IPB and I never use to see those anywhere.

**CultZero** · 03-14-2008, 10:11 PM

I have quite a few ipb forums. I'm not sure why ipb is not catching up on vb more quickly considering the quality of the software.

There are bound to be a lot less ipb boards around since they went payed and there are several good free alternatives around.

**Ashley** · 03-14-2008, 11:11 PM

You've brought up a very good point here... where is IPB? I honestly can't remember the last time I came across an IPB forum. I'm glad I went for VB.

**Will** · 03-15-2008, 12:26 AM

The only IPB board i know of is Invisions own forum

**bcmtouring** · 03-15-2008, 02:47 AM

I guess the main problem is that vBulletin has gotten popular and people are used to its interface, a testament to this fact is the number of free forum softwares, which try to look like vb.

**Moelman** · 03-15-2008, 04:09 AM

Now that you bring it up it does seem like I have been seeing less and less IPB boards as of late. I do agree that their licensing strategy doesn't make sense to me and I think a lot of people are used to vBulletin forums so when they go to start their own forum that is what they think of first.

**DeathByPixels** · 03-15-2008, 07:18 PM

According to the comparison tool on this website, vBulletin has very similar features to IPB and is cheaper. Therefore, I agree with Moelman about IPB's licensing strategy.

**CultZero** · 03-15-2008, 08:08 PM

I think ipbs standard license($150) is equivelant to vbs owned license($160) which makes ipb cheaper. ipb doesn't have a leased license equivelant but if you use your vb for more than 1 year it is more expensive. Would anyone here want a forum for less than 1 year?

03-14-2008, 09:09 PM	#1
David Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 304	Is IPB less used than before? A couple of years ago there were tons of sites with IPB. Now a days the majority of the sites are either VBulletin, phpBB, SMF or even some other forum script, but I think those three are the top three. I visit a lot of forums and I haven't seen an IPB forum in a while in my daily travels online. Could it be that 1.3 and the other free versions are very old now and people that were using it have switched to free/paid scripts with more features? Also could the whole licensing strategy they use actually alienate clients (not allowing transfers having to turn over your whole account if you want to sell your license)? Every once in a blue moon I do bump into an IPB forum when doing searches on google but it seems like they've lost a lot of market share compared to a couple of years ago. Am I wrong and blind here or has anyone else noticed this trend?

03-14-2008, 09:14 PM	#2
BamaStangGuy Forum Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,483	The people that are using the free version or were using the free version probably got tired of it and switched to another supported free version with more options. Coupled with stiff competition in the paid area by vBulletin they don't keep up with the ones ditching the free version and those paying for it, which gives the impression that they have a sudden drop off of users. __________________ *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.* More to be listed soon.

03-14-2008, 10:11 PM	#4
CultZero Apprentice Join Date: May 2006 Location: UK Posts: 213	I have quite a few ipb forums. I'm not sure why ipb is not catching up on vb more quickly considering the quality of the software. There are bound to be a lot less ipb boards around since they went payed and there are several good free alternatives around. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Probably the best MMORPG list in the world. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Guru.com News - Digg for MMORPGs. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Database.

03-14-2008, 11:11 PM	#5
Ashley ... Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Devon, United Kingdom Posts: 1,017	You've brought up a very good point here... where is IPB? I honestly can't remember the last time I came across an IPB forum. I'm glad I went for VB. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-15-2008, 12:26 AM	#6
Will Forum Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Maryland, US Posts: 2,138	The only IPB board i know of is Invisions own forum __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.* Submit your sites -> *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.*

03-14-2008, 09:18 PM	#3
David Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 304	Maybe they should come out with a free limited lite version or something. They've really lost visibility in the last few years. I think I'm even seeing more WowBB forums than IPB and I never use to see those anywhere.

03-15-2008, 02:47 AM	#7
bcmtouring Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 585	I guess the main problem is that vBulletin has gotten popular and people are used to its interface, a testament to this fact is the number of free forum softwares, which try to look like vb. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-15-2008, 04:09 AM	#8
Moelman The Webmaster Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,328	Now that you bring it up it does seem like I have been seeing less and less IPB boards as of late. I do agree that their licensing strategy doesn't make sense to me and I think a lot of people are used to vBulletin forums so when they go to start their own forum that is what they think of first. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - The Largest LucasArts Gaming Community on the Internet To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - tell me your comments! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Your #1 place to discuss all things World of Warcraft.

03-15-2008, 07:18 PM	#9
DeathByPixels Apprentice Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 174	According to the comparison tool on this website, vBulletin has very similar features to IPB and is cheaper. Therefore, I agree with Moelman about IPB's licensing strategy.

03-15-2008, 08:08 PM	#10
CultZero Apprentice Join Date: May 2006 Location: UK Posts: 213	I think ipbs standard license($150) is equivelant to vbs owned license($160) which makes ipb cheaper. ipb doesn't have a leased license equivelant but if you use your vb for more than 1 year it is more expensive. Would anyone here want a forum for less than 1 year? __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Probably the best MMORPG list in the world. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Guru.com News - Digg for MMORPGs. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Database.

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