Best Forum-Plugins for WordPress

Whether you’re running a small online community or a large corporate site, a forum can be a great way to facilitate communication and engagement among users. WordPress, being a versatile content management system, supports a wide range of plugins, including many that can help you build a robust and dynamic forum. Here are some of the best forum plugins available for WordPress:

Plugin	bbPress	BuddyPress	WPForo	Asgaros	Discussion Board	Sabai Discuss
Price	100% free	100% free	free (with Premium Addons)	free	free (from 29$ for Pro)	24$
Reviews	4 / 5	4 / 5	5 / 5	5 / 5	4,5 / 5	4,5
active installs	300.000	200.000	30.000	10.000	2.000	3.000
Features	classic forum system many extensions Akismet compatible	more a social network (feed, friends, groups etc) than a forum many extensions	modern layout many functions, like e.g. polls 3 styles (simple, extended, question-answer)	super easy integration via 1 shortcode classic, simple forum system	easy integration frontend login Spam protection	many design options, widgets etc many options around permissions, reputation and notificationsReputation und Benachrichtigungen

bbPress

Developed by the creators of WordPress, bbPress is undoubtedly one of the most popular forum plugins. It’s lightweight, easy to integrate with your WordPress theme, and provides a user-friendly interface. bbPress is designed to stay fast and efficient, even as your forum grows and evolves. Plus, it’s open-source and has a large community of developers, which means you have access to a wide range of extensions and themes.

BuddyPress

While BuddyPress isn’t strictly a forum plugin, it’s another creation from the makers of WordPress that can add a wealth of social networking features to your site, including user profiles, groups, and forums. It’s a great choice if you’re looking to build a full-fledged online community, rather than just a standalone forum. Like bbPress, BuddyPress also has a robust community of developers and a large selection of extensions.

wpForo

wpForo is a free, feature-rich, and modern forum plugin that offers three design layouts: Extended, Simplified, and Question and Answer layouts. It also supports multi-level forum categories, offers built-in SEO and caching, and has a powerful user access control system. Additionally, wpForo has premium add-ons for features like advanced attachments, ads manager, and custom fields.

Simple:Press

Simple:Press is a feature-rich forum plugin that offers both free and premium versions. It’s a great choice if you need advanced features and are willing to pay for them. Simple:Press offers features like private messaging, advanced user profiles, and forum statistics. It also supports unlimited forums and sub-forums, as well as custom forum ranks and icons.

Asgaros Forum

Asgaros Forum is a lightweight and fast forum plugin, perfect for those who need a simple and efficient solution. It’s easy to set up and offers features like member profiles, notifications, and a mobile-friendly design. Asgaros Forum supports multiple languages and includes a powerful editor that allows users to format their posts.

Discussion Board

Discussion Board is a user-friendly, easy-to-set-up forum plugin that allows users to register and post topics and replies. It includes features like front-end user registration and login, automatic setup, and anti-spam fields. There’s a free version available, but the pro version adds extra features like multiple boards, user profiles, and priority support.

Choosing the best forum plugin depends on your specific needs and the nature of your website. It’s important to consider factors like the size of your community, the complexity of the discussions you anticipate, and the level of moderation you require. A well-selected forum plugin can enhance your WordPress site by promoting user engagement and fostering an active online community.