Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Shapeways VS phpBB

Compare Shapeways VS phpBB and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Shapeways logo Shapeways

Shapeways - 3D Printing Service and Marketplace

phpBB logo phpBB

Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi is a cheap, credit-card sized computer. The official website uses phpBB for their discussion forums. phpBB is not affiliated with nor responsible for any of the sites listed on the showcase.
  • Shapeways Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-10
  • phpBB Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-23

Shapeways features and specs

  • Variety of Materials
    Shapeways offers a wide range of materials, including plastics, metals, and more, allowing for versatile design and production options.
  • Expertise in 3D Printing
    With years of experience in 3D printing, Shapeways provides high-quality services and reliable production processes, benefiting both beginners and advanced users.
  • Easy-to-Use Platform
    The Shapeways website is user-friendly, making it easy for anyone to upload models, choose materials, and order prints without complex procedures.
  • Global Reach
    Shapeways serves a worldwide customer base, offering international shipping and allowing designers to reach a broad audience.
  • Community and Marketplace
    Shapeways has a vibrant community and a marketplace where designers can sell their creations, providing an additional revenue stream.

Possible disadvantages of Shapeways

  • Cost
    The price of 3D printing with Shapeways can be high compared to other services, especially for larger or more complex models.
  • Lead Time
    Production and delivery times can be longer than expected, which may be a downside for customers needing quick turnarounds.
  • Limited Customization
    While they offer various materials, the finishing options can be limited, which may not meet all customer requirements for customization.
  • Complexity for Large Orders
    Managing larger or bulk orders can be more challenging and may require direct communication with Shapeways, potentially complicating the process.
  • Model Restrictions
    There are limitations on the types and sizes of models that can be printed, which may restrict certain designs from being feasible through their service.

phpBB features and specs

  • Open Source
    phpBB is an open-source software, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This can drastically reduce the cost of setting up a forum.
  • Customizability
    phpBB offers extensive customization options, including a wide array of plugins and themes to tailor the forum to specific needs.
  • Extensive Documentation
    The platform has comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and a supportive community, making it easier for users to navigate and solve issues.
  • Strong Security Features
    phpBB comes with built-in security features such as anti-spam measures and CAPTCHA validation to protect against unauthorized access and spam.
  • Scalability
    It is highly scalable, capable of handling small communities and large, high-traffic forums effectively.
  • Active Community
    There is a large, active user community which contributes to ongoing development and provides support.

Possible disadvantages of phpBB

  • Complex Setup and Maintenance
    Setting up and maintaining phpBB can be complex and may require a certain level of technical expertise, especially for beginners.
  • Frequent Updates
    The need for frequent updates can be considered a downside as managing updates and compatibility with plugins and themes can be time-consuming.
  • Performance Issues
    Large forums with high traffic can experience performance issues if not properly optimized.
  • Limited Built-in Features
    Some advanced features are not available out-of-the-box and require additional plugins or custom development.
  • Potential Security Vulnerabilities
    As with any popular platform, phpBB can be a target for hackers if not properly maintained with timely updates and security best practices.

Analysis of phpBB

Overall verdict

  • phpBB is a good choice for those looking for a free and feature-rich forum platform. Its flexibility and customizability make it suitable for a variety of online communities. However, it may require a bit of a learning curve for users unfamiliar with forum software.

Why this product is good

  • phpBB is a popular open-source forum software known for its robust set of features, strong community support, and extensive customization options. It offers users the ability to create and manage forums with ease, supports a wide range of extensions, and provides a high level of security. Its comprehensive documentation and active support community make it an appealing choice for both beginners and experienced users.

Recommended for

    phpBB is recommended for individuals or organizations looking to build and manage an online community. It is well-suited for those who want a customizable and secure forum solution, especially if they have the technical skills to take advantage of its extensive features and customization options.

Shapeways videos

Shapeways 3D printed Products Review

More videos:

  • Review - My Experience Ordering From Shapeways
  • Review - 3D Print Without Using a 3D Printer By Using Shapeways!

phpBB videos

PHPbb for Beginners - Creating a Community Forum

More videos:

  • Review - A SQL injection example using phpBB | Ars Technica

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Shapeways and phpBB)
3D Printing
100 100%
0% 0
Forums And Forum Software
Business Management
100 100%
0% 0
Forums
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Shapeways and phpBB. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, phpBB should be more popular than Shapeways. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Shapeways mentions (1)

  • How to get M0.3 plastic gears?
    You can even download a CAD model of the gear you want & scale it down to the size you're looking to use, and then get it made from shapeways.com or find an SLA printer or something. Source: over 4 years ago

phpBB mentions (2)

  • Best way to host a small forum?
    Excellent! Glad we could get you sorted! Hosting can be scary and it's okay to be afraid to touch things or not understand certain settings or terms. Especially if you're new. The key is to read the documentation. For your forum needs, this can be found at https://mybb.com and https://phpbb.com. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Looking for resources to learn authentication and security in-depth
    You may find a current, object-oriented version of phpBB to be just the ticket. It will teach you how to structure the database, authenticate users, manage sessions and selectively display content according to user level, group membership, and other policies. Source: over 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Shapeways and phpBB, you can also consider the following products

Printful - White-label printing under your brand. Free shipping and 20% off samples + 3 day average turnaround.

Discourse - Discourse is an open source discussion platform built for the next decade of the Internet.

Shop3d.io - Create & sell your own custom 3d printed White-label printing under your brand design products online with print-on-demand dropshipping. Its free to start selling custom 3d printed product under your own brand without inventory.

XenForo - Intuitive. Social. Engaging. Fast. XenForo brings a fresh outlook to forum software.

3D Hubs - Airbnb for 3D printing

Flarum - Flarum is the next-generation forum software that makes online discussion fun. It's simple, fast, and free.