bbPress
by bbPress
What bbPress is
bbPress is free forum software from the WordPress community for adding discussion areas to WordPress sites. It focuses on deep WordPress integration and requires WordPress, PHP 5.2.4 or greater, and MySQL 5.0 or greater. The project lists simple setup, moderation, and one-click installation. Forums can be divided into site sections where users create content, and private spaces are supported. Customizable templates and plugin extensions allow changes to presentation and added capabilities. Akismet support is built in for spam protection, while RSS feeds are included. bbPress is released under the GNU GPLv2 or later. The project recommends HTTPS, PHP 7, and MySQL 5.0 or MariaDB 10.0. Its download page lists stable version 2.6.14, working best with WordPress 6.0 and above. Community support forums cover installation, troubleshooting, themes, and plugins. The bbPress plan is listed as free.
Who it suits
bbPress suits WordPress site owners who want a lean, extensible discussion forum with moderation, private spaces, plugins, and RSS.
What it does well
- Free GPL-licensed software
- Deep WordPress integration
- One-click install listed
- Built-in Akismet support
- Customizable templates and plugins
What to know first
- Requires WordPress
- Requires PHP and MySQL
- Self-hosted setup required
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| bbPress | GPL-licensed forum software · requires WordPress | Free |
As bbpress.org lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
bbPress provides a focused forum layer for WordPress sites, with moderation, extensions, private spaces, spam protection, and RSS. It is free software, but installation depends on the stated WordPress, PHP, and MySQL requirements.
Facts from bbPress's own pages
- Current download listing
- The download page lists stable version 2.6.14 and says it works best with WordPress 6.0 and above. · bbpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Customization
- The software supports customizable templates and extensions through plugins. · bbpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2004 · bbpress.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · bbpress.org, 21 Sept 2026
- License
- bbPress is released under GNU GPLv2 or later. · bbpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Moderation tools
- Yes · bbpress.org, 21 Sept 2026
- Multisite forums
- bbPress can divide a site into sections where users can create content. · bbpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Private spaces
- Yes · bbpress.org, 21 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- bbPress is forum software made by the WordPress community. · bbpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Recommended setup
- The project recommends HTTPS, PHP 7, and MySQL 5.0 or MariaDB 10.0. · bbpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The requirements page says bbPress requires WordPress, PHP 5.2.4 or greater, and MySQL 5.0 or greater. · bbpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
- RSS
- The features page lists RSS feeds as a feature. · bbpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Security approach
- The project’s stated principles include that speed and security are paramount to a great user experience. · bbpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Setup
- The site lists simple setup, moderation, and a one-click install among its features. · bbpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Spam protection
- The features page says Akismet support is built in for spam protection. · bbpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project provides community support forums with installation, troubleshooting, themes, and plugins sections. · bbpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Who it suits
- The project presents bbPress as lean forum software for WordPress sites that want a simple, extensible discussion forum. · bbpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
- WordPress integration
- The project describes bbPress as focused on deep integration with WordPress. · bbpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
Where bbPress stands on Freedom251
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