You want to start a site and looking for the best free script. Read this to get a full preview.


FORUM Scripts :

Let’s start with forums. Well, there are many free scripts available in the internet, I am listing the most popular ones here.

1. vBulletin (Paid Script)
2. PhpBB3
3. SMF
4. MyBB
5. PunBB
6. YaBB



As you all know that paid things are always better, so vBulletin is the best. It is easy to use with lots of extra modifications available.

Going for a free script, phpBB comes next. Its free, lots of modifications (plugins) available, many themes available for free. So it’s a good answer if you are looking for a great website.

But if you are a noob in installing or editing scripts I will suggest to look at MyBB. MyBB has improved a lot since it was first released. Lots of modifications & themes are available too though lesser than phpBB. Plugin installation is so easy, it hardly takes a minute to install each mod. Comparitively in phpbb you need to sometime edit files, run sql commands, etc…

BLOG Scripts:

1. Wordpress
2. b2evolution
3. Nucleus
4. pMachine



Ofcourse Wordpress is the Best. Current version 2.8.2 is great. Easy to install, adding modifications is also easy. Just goto plugins, search for the plugin you need. Click install, give ftp password, and you are done. No need of uploading or editing.


Portal/Content Management System

PHP- Nuke

Drupal

Mambo

GeekLog

Php-Nuke is quite popular. Feel free to test it.

Ecommerce/Carts

Cube-Cart

Zen-Cart

osCommerce


Gallery Scripts

CopperMine

I think you will find your required script from among these. There are many other scripts available (free & paid) and you can test them out if you like.