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Flarum
Flarum · founded 2014
What it is
Flarum is free, open-source forum software for websites and online communities. It is licensed under the MIT License and provides group permissions, category access controls, moderation and flagging for managing participation. Administrators can adjust settings, themes and custom CSS, install extensions, and disable features they do not need. Members can write with lightweight Markdown or WYSIWYG editors. Notifications include in-browser alerts and email digests, while extensions can provide real-time notifications. Flarum exposes a REST API for external scripts and follows JSON:API best practices. Its extension manager helps discover and install add-ons, most of which are open source and free. Self-hosting requires Apache or Nginx, PHP 8.3 or later, a supported database and SSH access for some maintenance. Documentation warns that the manager can install any Composer package and should be enabled only when all forum administrators are trusted. The documentation page describes Flarum 2.0 as a release candidate, not a final stable release.
For and against
For
- Free MIT-licensed software
- Permissions and moderation controls
- Themes, CSS and extensions
- REST API access
- Markdown and WYSIWYG editing
Against
- Requires server administration
- PHP 8.3 or later required
- Extension manager has broad package permissions
- Version 2.0 is a release candidate
The verdict
Flarum provides a customizable, open-source foundation for community forums with permissions, moderation, notifications and API access. Hosting requirements and the extension-manager security warning deserve attention before deployment.
Who it suits
Flarum suits communities ranging from small hobby groups to large enterprise forums. It is for teams comfortable managing a self-hosted PHP and database installation.
On the record
- Community tools
- The homepage lists groups and permissions, moderation and flagging, themes and custom CSS, and in-browser notifications among its features.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Current release status
- On the documentation page opened, Flarum 2.0 is described as being in release-candidate phase rather than a final stable release.docs.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Flarum's extension-based design lets administrators disable unneeded features and add extensions.docs.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Editor
- Flarum supports lightweight Markdown editors and WYSIWYG editors.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Extension ecosystem
- The extension manager can discover and install extensions, and most available extensions are open source and free.docs.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Governance
- The Flarum Foundation is a Dutch non-profit that owns and governs the project; its page says it was established in August 2019.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Groups and moderation
- Flarum includes group permissions, category access controls, moderation, and flagging.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Hosting requirements
- Self-hosting requires Apache or Nginx, PHP 8.3 or later, a supported database, and SSH access for some maintenance tasks.docs.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Flarum's documentation describes a REST API for consuming forum data.docs.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Flarum describes itself as suitable for communities ranging from small hobby groups to large enterprise forums.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- License
- Flarum is released under the MIT License.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Migration
- The installation guide says there are no official importers and lists several unofficial community importers without guaranteeing they work or offering support for them.docs.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Moderation tools
- Yesflarum.org · read 21 Sep 2026
- Notifications
- Flarum offers in-browser notifications, email digests, and real-time notifications through extensions.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Private spaces
- Yesflarum.org · read 21 Sep 2026
- Product
- Flarum is free, open-source forum software for running a discussion community on a website.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Flarum is a free, open-source discussion platform for websites and online communities.docs.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The installation guide lists Apache or Nginx, PHP 8.3 or later, a supported database, and SSH access for maintenance commands as server requirements.docs.flarum.org · read 7 Oct 2026
