Side by side
BuddyPress vs Elgg
Both stand on community building platforms. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb
BuddyPress provides a set of configurable social features for self-hosted WordPress sites, including groups, profiles, messaging, and activity streams. Check the server requirements and lack of mobile apps before choosing it.
Visit BuddyPress
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb
Elgg provides a customizable foundation for social and collaborative web applications, with access controls and a large plugin repository. The MIT framework-only option excludes plugins, and self-hosting requires a database and cron job.
Visit ElggThe facts
| BuddyPress | Elgg | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Self-hosted, Web | API, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | BuddyPress | Not published |
| Website | buddypress.org | elgg.org |
| On community building platforms | #1 of 27 | #2 of 27 |
BuddyPress: what it does well
- Administrators can disable unneeded features.
- Profiles include configurable fields and visibility controls.
- Groups can be public, private, or hidden.
- REST API exposes community data and actions.
- Free, open-source WordPress plugin.
What to know first
- Requires a WordPress installation.
- Requires PHP 5.2.4 or greater and MySQL 5.0 or greater.
- Requires Apache mod_rewrite.
- No mobile apps are listed.
Elgg: what it does well
- Free to download, install, and use.
- Granular access policies can support private networks.
- Plugins can extend functionality and themes.
- Community repository includes over 1,000 open-source plugins.
- Offers documentation, tutorials, and an API reference.
What to know first
- Self-hosting requires a database and configured cron job.
- The MIT release excludes the mod directory of plugins.
- Installation and maintenance are the user's responsibility.
Alternatives to BuddyPress Alternatives to Elgg The whole list