SMF or phpBB?

I want to create a blackmarket gaming forum just like Sythe.

I don't have the money to buy vBulletin, but I do have other options such as SMF and phpBB, which both are free.

Which would be better? I want custom username images, custom ranks, and the horizontal postbit layout just like Sythe. Could SMF or phpBB do that stuff?

THanks

 

vBulletin is teh best outta everything... You can try invision free but its nothing in comparison

 

I said I dont have the money to buy vBulletin...

and I was asking between SMF and phpBB, not invisionfree.

 

phpBB is better than SMF IMO.
You can have custom ranks, but I'm not sure about the custom username images.
Those may have to be edited into some php files.
You can PM if you need help with phpBB, or wanna discuss vBul option.

 

phpbb, easy

 

By custom ranks I mean like the donator ranks & User Educator ranks here in Sythe. Thats possible in phpbb?

 

Yes, but you'd have to do the images yourself.

 

SMF easily. The system works far more cleaner than PHPbb3. And Vbulletin is over-rated. I own it and i don't even think its worth buying.

 

PHPbb for sure. PHPbb2 is you want lots of scripts and skins etc. PHPbb3 if you want something different.