Websites using IPB

Okay, let s break down IPB (Invision Power Board/Invision Community) covering the overview, revenue (estimates), alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

1. IPB (Invision Community) Overview

• What it is: Invision Community (formerly Invision Power Board or IPB) is a popular, commercially licensed internet forum software package. It s designed to create and manage online communities, typically used for discussions, support forums, gaming communities, and more.

• Key Features:

  • Forums: Core discussion boards with categories, topics, and replies.
  • Blogs: Integrated blogging functionality.
  • Gallery: Image and video galleries.
  • Calendar: Event management and scheduling.
  • Downloads: File sharing and management.
  • Clubs: (More recent addition) Enables subgroups and specialized communities within the broader forum.
  • Commerce: E-commerce/store features for selling products and subscriptions.
  • Pages: Customizable page creation for static content.
  • REST API: Allows integration with other applications.
  • Mobile-Responsive Design: Works well on various devices.
  • SEO Friendly: Features designed to improve search engine rankings.
  • Moderation Tools: Tools to manage users, content, and enforce community rules.
  • Extensibility: Support for plugins and themes to customize the look and functionality.

• Target Audience: Businesses, organizations, hobbyists, and individuals who want to create and manage online communities. Suitable for small to large communities.

• Pros:

  • Comprehensive Feature Set: Provides a wide range of features in a single package.
  • Customizable: Highly customizable through themes, plugins, and code modifications.
  • Scalable: Can handle large communities with proper configuration.
  • Established Reputation: Has been around for a long time and has a large user base.
  • Integrated Apps: The bundled applications (blog, gallery, etc.) are designed to work seamlessly together.

• Cons:

  • Commercial License: Requires a paid license, unlike some open-source alternatives.
  • Can be Complex: The extensive feature set can make it somewhat complex to configure and manage initially.
  • Resource Intensive: Can require more server resources than simpler forum software, especially for large communities.
  • Plugin Compatibility: Updating to new versions of Invision Community can sometimes cause compatibility issues with plugins.

2. Revenue (Estimates)

• Privately Held: Invision Power Services (the company behind Invision Community) is a privately held company. This means they do not publicly disclose their financial information.

• Revenue Model: Their revenue is primarily generated through:

  • Software Licenses: Selling licenses for Invision Community.
  • Renewals: Annual renewal fees for continued access to support, updates, and downloads.
  • Services: Offering professional services such as installation, customization, and support.
  • Marketplace Fees: Earning commissions on sales of plugins and themes in their marketplace.

• Estimates: It s challenging to provide an accurate revenue figure without inside information. However, based on the popularity of the software, the pricing structure, and the size of their team, it is likely in the millions of dollars annually. Anything more specific would be pure speculation.

3. Alternatives to Invision Community

Here are some popular alternatives, categorized by whether they are self-hosted or hosted:

• Self-Hosted (You install and manage the software on your own server):

  • XenForo: A commercial forum software known for its performance and features. Often considered a direct competitor to Invision Community.
  • vBulletin: Another long-standing commercial forum software. Has had a somewhat turbulent history but still used by many.
  • MyBB: A free, open-source forum software. A good option for smaller communities on a budget.
  • phpBB: A very popular, free, and open-source forum software. Highly customizable and has a large community for support.
  • Simple Machines Forum (SMF): A free, open-source forum software known for its simplicity and ease of use.
  • Flarum: A modern, free, and open-source forum software with a focus on simplicity and a clean design. Uses JavaScript extensively.

• Hosted (The forum software is hosted and managed by the provider):

  • Discourse: A modern, open-source forum platform with a strong focus on community engagement. Offers both hosted and self-hosted options.
  • Vanilla Forums: A cloud-based forum platform with a focus on customer support and community engagement.
  • Circle.so: A more modern community platform that combines forum-like discussions with other features like courses, memberships, and events.
  • Reddit: While not strictly forum software, Reddit provides similar community functionality and is a very popular option for many.

Factors to consider when choosing an alternative:

• Budget: Free vs. paid software.
• Technical Skills: Self-hosted software requires more technical expertise to install and manage.
• Features: Determine which features are essential for your community.
• Scalability: Choose software that can handle your expected growth.
• Customization: How much customization do you need?
• Support: What level of support is available?
• Ease of Use: Consider the user experience for both administrators and community members.

4. Pricing

• License-Based: Invision Community uses a license-based pricing model. You purchase a license to use the software.
• Subscription: Licenses are generally sold as a subscription, usually on an annual basis.

• Key Considerations:

  • Renewal Fee: Be aware of the annual renewal fee. If you don t renew, you typically lose access to support, updates, and the ability to download the software. The forum may continue to function (check the specific license terms), but it will no longer receive updates or security patches.
  • App Purchases: You can purchase individual apps, or the entire community suite of apps.
  • Commerce App: Includes e-commerce functionality.
  • Support: Included in the subscription.

• Current Pricing (as of late 2023/early 2024): It is crucial to check the official Invision Community website for the most up-to-date pricing information. They often have promotions and may change their pricing structure. General estimate of the current pricing structure for Invision Community as of the date of this response, please consult their website for the latest details, the pricing of the various packages are as below:

  • Community Suite: Around $100 annually. This includes the core apps.
  • Individual Apps: Vary in price.

5. Customer Care Details

• Official Website: The primary source for support and information is the Invision Community website: invisioncommunity.com
• Support Forums: They have official support forums where users can ask questions and get help from other users and Invision Community staff.
• Documentation: They provide extensive documentation covering all aspects of the software.
• Support Tickets: Licensed customers can submit support tickets for direct assistance from their support team.
• Marketplace: A place to find plugins and themes, and often the developers of those items will provide support for their specific products.
• Community Resources: There are also many third-party websites and communities dedicated to Invision Community where you can find tutorials, tips, and help.

How to get the best support:

• Search the documentation and forums first: Many common questions have already been answered.
• Be specific in your questions: Provide as much detail as possible about the problem you re experiencing.
• Include screenshots or error messages: Visual information can be very helpful.
• Be patient: The support team may be busy, but they will typically respond in a timely manner.
• Check the Invision Community Status Page: See if there are any known issues or outages affecting your community.

In summary, Invision Community is a powerful and feature-rich forum software package suitable for a wide range of online communities. However, it s essential to carefully consider its pricing, complexity, and resource requirements before choosing it over other alternatives. Remember to always check the official website for the latest information and pricing details.