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Discourse alternatives · Courses

Self-hosted alternatives to Discourse

The Discourse listing does not say it can be self-hosted. 10 of the 98 other course and community platforms in this directory can be self-hosted, according to their own sites.

Discourse has a free plan. Paid plans start at $100 per month. 9 of them are free or have a free plan.

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

How each one differs from Discourse

  1. Flarum

    Free open-source forum software you host yourself

    • Flarum is free. Discourse starts at $100 per month.
    • Only Discourse lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Flarum is self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Discourse also covers team chat.
    Flarum vs DiscourseFlarum pricing and details

  2. 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. Discourse starts at $100 per month.
    • Only Discourse lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Sensei LMS is self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Sensei LMS also covers templates and online courses.
    Sensei LMS pricing and details

  3. CourseLit

    Open-source course, download and community platform

    • CourseLit starts at $12 per month, billed yearly ($15 billed monthly). Discourse starts at $100 per month.
    • Discourse has a free plan. CourseLit does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Discourse lists iOS and Android apps.
    • CourseLit is self-hostable, according to its own site.
    CourseLit pricing and details

  4. Open edX

    Free open-source learning platform stewarded by Axim Collaborative

    • Open edX is free. Discourse starts at $100 per month.
    • Only Discourse lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Open edX is self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Open edX also covers reports and online courses.
    Open edX pricing and details

  5. NodeBB

    Open-source forum software with managed hosting plans

    • NodeBB starts at $20 per month for hosting; self-hosting is free. Discourse starts at $100 per month.
    • Only Discourse lists iOS and Android apps.
    • NodeBB is self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Discourse also covers team chat.
    NodeBB pricing and details

  6. phpBB

    Free open-source bulletin board software written in PHP

    • phpBB is free. Discourse starts at $100 per month.
    • Only Discourse lists iOS and Android apps.
    • phpBB is self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Discourse also covers team chat.
    phpBB pricing and details

  7. MyBB

    Free open-source forum software with plugins and themes

    • MyBB is free. Discourse starts at $100 per month.
    • Only Discourse lists iOS and Android apps.
    • MyBB is self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Discourse also covers team chat.
    MyBB pricing and details

  8. Simple Machines Forum

    Free open-source community forum software (SMF)

    • Simple Machines Forum is free. Discourse starts at $100 per month.
    • Only Discourse lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Simple Machines Forum is self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Discourse also covers team chat.
    Simple Machines Forum pricing and details

  9. Moodle

    Open-source learning platform you host yourself or on MoodleCloud

    • Only Discourse lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Moodle is self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Moodle also covers online courses.
    • Discourse also covers team chat and community.
    Moodle pricing and details

Common questions

Is there a self-hosted alternative to Discourse?

Yes. Flarum, Sensei LMS, Paid Memberships Pro, CourseLit, Open edX, NodeBB, phpBB, MyBB and 2 more can be self-hosted, according to their own sites.

Can Discourse be self-hosted?

The Discourse listing does not say it can be self-hosted. The listing was checked on Nov 12, 2026 against the pages it cites.

Which of these course and community platforms are free?

Flarum, Sensei LMS, Paid Memberships Pro, Open edX, NodeBB, phpBB, MyBB, Simple Machines Forum and 1 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 Discourse: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.