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Bettermode alternatives · Courses

Open-source alternatives to Bettermode

Bettermode is not described as open source on its own site. 15 of the 98 other course and community platforms in this directory are open source, according to their own sites.

Bettermode is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $149 per month, billed yearly ($199 billed monthly). 13 of them are free or have a free plan.

15 tools · Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from

The 12 closest to Bettermode

  1. Discourse

    Open-source discussion forum software with hosted plans

    • Discourse starts at $100 per month. Bettermode starts at $149 per month, billed yearly ($199 billed monthly).
    • Discourse has a free plan. Bettermode does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Discourse lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Discourse is open source, according to its own site.
    Discourse vs BettermodeDiscourse pricing and details

  2. Flarum

    Free open-source forum software you host yourself

    • Flarum is free. Bettermode starts at $149 per month, billed yearly ($199 billed monthly).
    • Flarum has a free plan. Bettermode does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Flarum is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Bettermode also covers AI search and team chat.
    Flarum vs BettermodeFlarum pricing and details

  3. Hylo

    Free open-source platform for community groups and coordination

    • Hylo is free. Bettermode starts at $149 per month, billed yearly ($199 billed monthly).
    • Hylo has a free plan. Bettermode does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Hylo lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Hylo is open source, according to its own site.
    Hylo vs BettermodeHylo pricing and details

  4. Loomio

    Group decision-making software for organizations and co-ops

    • Loomio starts at $33 per month, billed annually ($39 billed monthly). Bettermode starts at $149 per month, billed yearly ($199 billed monthly).
    • Loomio is open source, according to its own site.
    • Bettermode also covers AI search and team chat.
    Loomio vs BettermodeLoomio pricing and details

  5. CourseLit

    Open-source course, download and community platform

    • CourseLit starts at $12 per month, billed yearly ($15 billed monthly). Bettermode starts at $149 per month, billed yearly ($199 billed monthly).
    • CourseLit is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • CourseLit also covers email campaigns, online courses and digital downloads.
    • Bettermode also covers AI search and team chat.
    CourseLit pricing and details

  6. NodeBB

    Open-source forum software with managed hosting plans

    • NodeBB starts at $20 per month for hosting; self-hosting is free. Bettermode starts at $149 per month, billed yearly ($199 billed monthly).
    • NodeBB has a free plan. Bettermode does not, though it has a free trial.
    • NodeBB is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Bettermode also covers AI search and team chat.
    NodeBB pricing and details

  7. phpBB

    Free open-source bulletin board software written in PHP

    • phpBB is free. Bettermode starts at $149 per month, billed yearly ($199 billed monthly).
    • phpBB has a free plan. Bettermode does not, though it has a free trial.
    • phpBB is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Bettermode also covers AI search and team chat.
    phpBB pricing and details

  8. MyBB

    Free open-source forum software with plugins and themes

    • MyBB is free. Bettermode starts at $149 per month, billed yearly ($199 billed monthly).
    • MyBB has a free plan. Bettermode does not, though it has a free trial.
    • MyBB is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Bettermode also covers AI search and team chat.
    MyBB pricing and details

  9. Simple Machines Forum

    Free open-source community forum software (SMF)

    • Simple Machines Forum is free. Bettermode starts at $149 per month, billed yearly ($199 billed monthly).
    • Simple Machines Forum has a free plan. Bettermode does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Simple Machines Forum is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Bettermode also covers AI search and team chat.
    Simple Machines Forum pricing and details

  10. bbPress

    Free, open-source forum plugin for WordPress

    • bbPress is free. Bettermode starts at $149 per month, billed yearly ($199 billed monthly).
    • bbPress has a free plan. Bettermode does not, though it has a free trial.
    • bbPress is open source, according to its own site.
    • bbPress also covers rSS reader.
    bbPress pricing and details

  11. Sensei LMS

    WordPress course plugin with a free core and a paid Pro tier

    • Sensei LMS starts at $15 per month, billed yearly ($179), for Sensei Pro; the core plugin is free. Bettermode starts at $149 per month, billed yearly ($199 billed monthly).
    • Sensei LMS has a free plan. Bettermode does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Sensei LMS is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Sensei LMS also covers templates and online courses.
    Sensei LMS pricing and details

3 more that are open source

All 15 in one table

Common questions

Is there an open-source alternative to Bettermode?

Yes. Discourse, Flarum, Hylo, Loomio, Paid Memberships Pro, CourseLit, NodeBB, phpBB and 7 more are open source, according to their own sites.

Is Bettermode open source?

Bettermode is not described as open source on its own site. The listing was checked on Nov 12, 2026 against the pages it cites.

Which of these course and community platforms are free?

Discourse, Flarum, Hylo, Paid Memberships Pro, NodeBB, phpBB, MyBB, Simple Machines Forum and 5 more are free or have a free plan.

When was this checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Nov 12, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Bettermode: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.