🎨 Theme Design Best default forum theme

[Cedric]

In your opinion, which forum script has the best default design? And which one is your personal favorite? XenForo, MyBB, vBulletin, IP.Board, phpBB, etc.

I have always like the IPB ones more than any other forum script.

 

[Aaron]

I love IPB & XF.

 

[Cory]

XenForo's default theme is pretty appealing.

 

[capnsquarepants]

I think Misago has a really clean look to it.

 

[Cedric]

I think Misago has a really clean look to it.

It's a tad boring for me. I much rather have https://flarum.org/ or https://flatboard.org/index.php/forum
We need some color!

 

[capnsquarepants]

It's a tad boring for me. I much rather have https://flarum.org/ or https://flatboard.org/index.php/forum
We need some color!

That is fair! Flarum is pretty nice, Flatboard just seems a little over the top for me.

*hides*

 

[Cedric]

That is fair! Flarum is pretty nice, Flatboard just seems a little over the top for me.

*hides*

Hey it could be worse though https://www.tehforum.co.uk/forum/

 

[Aaron]

Hey it could be worse though https://www.tehforum.co.uk/forum/

Oh my goodness what is that abomination?

 

[Cedric]

Oh my goodness what is that abomination?

I know, it got stuck in the 90s sadly. But at least it's still being updated!

 

[capnsquarepants]

Hey it could be worse though https://www.tehforum.co.uk/forum/

In all seriousness though, it's a pretty neat concept. Just not exactly updated for modern sensibilities. It does have a responsive mode though.

 

[an0nym0us]

My vote goes to Xenforo theme, practical and simple.

 

[Ken]

Proboards hands down.

 

[Arantor]

I'm going to be that guy and say that I miss SMF 1.1's default theme before curves and gradients were everywhere. It was simple, it was elegant, it was classy - and yes, it was a product of its time, but I still miss it.

https://smfthemedemos.levertine.org/index.php?media/item/core.3/ in case anyone doesn't remember/hasn't seen it. I also miss the default theme Wedge had at once stage during its development but since that wasn't released and the theme changed afterwards, it's hard to say. Lost in time, like tears in rain.

Of the current iteration of platforms, I'm kinda eh about all of them. I think XF 1.x was more opinionated and had a point of view in a way 2.x's doesn't and that doesn't do it favours. IPB is *fine* I guess but it doesn't wow me. They're all functional but.... that's it really.

 

[capnsquarepants]

I'm going to be that guy and say that I miss SMF 1.1's default theme before curves and gradients were everywhere. It was simple, it was elegant, it was classy - and yes, it was a product of its time, but I still miss it.

https://smfthemedemos.levertine.org/index.php?media/item/core.3/ in case anyone doesn't remember/hasn't seen it. I also miss the default theme Wedge had at once stage during its development but since that wasn't released and the theme changed afterwards, it's hard to say. Lost in time, like tears in rain.

Of the current iteration of platforms, I'm kinda eh about all of them. I think XF 1.x was more opinionated and had a point of view in a way 2.x's doesn't and that doesn't do it favours. IPB is *fine* I guess but it doesn't wow me. They're all functional but.... that's it really.

That default SMF theme brings me back. I actually miss that kind of style. Everyone had their own take on it and every product had its own distinct look.

 

[ten thousand]

Hey it could be worse though https://www.tehforum.co.uk/forum/

I actually like this, haha. But my design sensibilities are firmly rooted in the 2000s.

I'm going to be that guy and say that I miss SMF 1.1's default theme before curves and gradients were everywhere. It was simple, it was elegant, it was classy - and yes, it was a product of its time, but I still miss it.

https://smfthemedemos.levertine.org/index.php?media/item/core.3/ in case anyone doesn't remember/hasn't seen it. I also miss the default theme Wedge had at once stage during its development but since that wasn't released and the theme changed afterwards, it's hard to say. Lost in time, like tears in rain.

Of the current iteration of platforms, I'm kinda eh about all of them. I think XF 1.x was more opinionated and had a point of view in a way 2.x's doesn't and that doesn't do it favours. IPB is *fine* I guess but it doesn't wow me. They're all functional but.... that's it really.

I loved the Babylon theme (https://smfthemedemos.levertine.org/index.php?media/item/babylon.2/). I miss it so much.

Anyway I think we peaked at IPB 2.x. I was always more of a fan of vBulletin, but dang this style screams.

 

[Matt C.]

IPS I think has the best out of the box default theme because the layout and color scheme can be used for many forums.

While XF is my favorite software, I’m not a fan of the default theme.

I’m not really sure what is, I just feel that IPS has a more professional feel out of the box.

 

[Tracy]

None of them... they ALL really suck.
They are ALL basic and simplistic... which is all they really need to be.

 

[TwitchisMental]

I think IPB has the best default theme nowadays. Xenforo would be a close second.

 

[Ravenfreak]

Hands down I have to say that Simple Machines forum has the best default forum theme now. I never really cared for the default theme on previous versions though.

 

[Steve]

IPB has always had my favourite default theme. I like how clean it is and how it can be used for many different types of forum.