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Ranked on the record · 16 apps

Best Discussion Forum Software 2026

Discussion forum software supports online discussion spaces for communities, teams and customers. Use this list to compare pricing models, free plans, trials and the platforms a tool supports.

The list puts newer releases before older ones and records figures makers publish. It does not score the tools.

01

NodeBB

by NodeBB

NodeBB suits organizations building a forum, brand community, or product support board.

Free plan Free trial From $20 a month WebWindowsMacLinuxAPISelf-hosted
Record6.0 Visit site The record
02

Invision Community

It suits groups or organizations building a community with forums, publishing, events, or courses.

AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+2
Record5.5 Visit
04

Discourse

Discourse may suit organizations that want to run a discussion community through self-hosting or managed hosting.

Self-hosted
Record4.8 Visit
6
Talkyard
WebAPISelf-hosted €4 a month Record4.5 Visit
7
XenForo
WebAPISelf-hosted $60 a month, billed yearly Record4.5 Visit
8
Question2Answer
WebSelf-hosted Free plan Record4.4 Visit
9
Flarum

Flarum suits communities ranging from small hobby groups to large enterprise forums.

WebBrowser extensionAPI+1 Free plan Record4.3 Visit
10
vBulletin
WebSelf-hosted $14.99 a month Record3.8 Visit
11
Phorum
Free plan Record2.8 Visit
12
ElkArte
Free plan Record2.7 Visit
13
PunBB
Free plan Record2.7 Visit
14
Vanilla Forums
— Record2.3 Visit
15
Asgaros Forum
— Record2.1 Visit
16
Muut
— Record2.1 Visit

Before you choose

Compare pricing models

Pricing models on the list include free, freemium and paid options. ElkArte, MyBB, Phorum, PunBB and Question2Answer list a free plan.

Talkyard lists a paid model with pricing from €4 per month. Discourse lists a freemium model.

Check trial access

A free trial can help you review a paid forum tool before committing. Invision Community lists a 30-day trial and no free plan.

Compare trial terms with the features and platform setup you need.

Match your platform

The list covers self-hosted, web, API, extension, macOS and iOS platforms. Check which option fits your hosting plan, devices and integration work.

A self-hosted setup and a web service can require different administration tasks, so confirm the platform before choosing.

Review maker details

Maker details can help put a tool in context. Discourse lists a 2013 founding year; Flarum and NodeBB list 2014. Phorum lists a 1998 founding year.

Use the details shown for a tool alongside its pricing and platform fit.

Questions

What pricing models appear in this category?
The list includes free, freemium and paid pricing models. ElkArte, MyBB, Phorum, PunBB and Question2Answer list free plans.
Is a free trial available?
Invision Community lists a 30-day trial and no free plan.
Which platforms should I compare?
The listed platform types are self-hosted, web, API, extension, macOS and iOS.
Which tools list maker founding dates?
Discourse lists 2013, while Flarum and NodeBB list 2014. Phorum lists 1998 as its founding year.
Does the list include free forum software?
Yes. ElkArte, MyBB, Phorum, PunBB and Question2Answer list a free plan or free pricing model.

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