Side by side
Apache Answer vs Discourse
Both stand on customer community software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3
Apache Answer combines community Q&A with moderation, search, customization, and self-hosted deployment options. Teams should account for plugin security responsibility, especially when using third-party extensions.
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Free plan Self-hosted
Discourse offers self-hosting and managed plans, with a free option and paid hosting from $100/mo. Compare staff seats, storage, and page-view allowances with the needs of your community.
Visit DiscourseThe facts
| Apache Answer | Discourse | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Pro: $100 a month |
| Plans published | 1 | 5 |
| Maker | Not published | Discourse |
| Website | answer.apache.org | discourse.org |
| On customer community software | #1 of 37 | #4 of 37 |
Apache Answer: what it does well
- Members can ask, answer, comment, and vote.
- Admins can manage roles and review edit history.
- Offers multiple deployment and database options.
- Themes and layouts are customizable.
- Free, self-hosted software under Apache License 2.0.
What to know first
- Third-party plugin security is not covered by its guarantee.
- Deployment is self-hosted.
- Discord support has no guarantee of an instant response.
Discourse: what it does well
- Free plan has unlimited members.
- Users can self-host or choose managed hosting.
- Communities can use custom domains and private spaces.
- Paid plans offer a 14-day trial.
- Users can export community data.
What to know first
- Free plan has two staff seats.
- Free plan provides 5GB of upload storage.
- Pro costs $100/mo.
- Enterprise pricing is custom.
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