Side by side
bbPress vs Flarum
Both stand on forum software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Self-hostedWeb
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.
Visit bbPress
Free plan APIExtensionSelf-hosted+1
Flarum provides community and moderation tools with extensive customization options at no software price. Self-hosting requirements, extension permissions, and the release-candidate status of version 2.0 are important considerations.
Visit FlarumThe facts
| bbPress | Flarum | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Self-hosted, Web | API, Extension, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Not published |
| Plans published | 1 | None |
| Maker | bbPress | Flarum |
| Website | bbpress.org | flarum.org |
| On forum software | #1 of 20 | #2 of 20 |
bbPress: 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
Flarum: what it does well
- Free and open source under the MIT License.
- Includes group permissions, moderation, and flagging.
- Admins can customize with themes, CSS, and extensions.
- Offers Markdown and WYSIWYG editors.
What to know first
- Self-hosting requires PHP 8.3 or later and a supported database.
- SSH access is needed for some maintenance tasks.
- Version 2.0 is described as a release candidate.
- No official importers are listed.
Alternatives to bbPress Alternatives to Flarum The whole list