Alternatives · Courses
MyBB alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded MyBB alternative is NodeBB (2.4 GPA). It's also the best free one.
MyBB compared with 7 alternatives: phpBB, Simple Machines Forum, Flarum, NodeBB, Asgaros Forum and 2 more.
MyBB is free to use. All 7 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyBBThis tool | Free | Free | Web |
| phpBB | Free | Free | Web |
| Simple Machines Forum | Free | Free | Web |
| Flarum | Free | Free | Web |
| NodeBB | Free plan · from $20/mo | Yes | Web |
| Asgaros Forum | Free | Free | Web |
| bbPress | Free | Free | Web |
| wpForo | Free plan · from $15/mo | Yes | Web |
Price against what you get
MyBB has no paid plan and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 7 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
NodeBB and wpForo score higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from MyBB
phpBB
Free open-source bulletin board software written in PHP
- phpBB is free.
Suits: Groups that want a free forum on a server they control
Simple Machines Forum
Free open-source community forum software (SMF)
- Simple Machines Forum is free.
Suits: Small communities that want a free forum on their own host
Flarum
Free open-source forum software you host yourself
- Flarum is free.
Suits: Hobby and open-source communities that want a plain discussion forum
NodeBB
Open-source forum software with managed hosting plans
- NodeBB starts at $20 per month for hosting; self-hosting is free.
Suits: Developers who want to run a forum on their own Node.js server
Asgaros Forum
Lightweight discussion board plugin for WordPress
- Asgaros Forum is free.
- Asgaros Forum also covers rSS reader.
Suits: WordPress site owners who want a light forum without a paid license
bbPress
Free, open-source forum plugin for WordPress
- bbPress is free.
- bbPress also covers rSS reader.
Suits: WordPress site owners who want a simple discussion board on their own domain
wpForo
WordPress forum plugin with optional paid AI features
- wpForo starts at $15 per month for optional AI credits.
- wpForo also covers AI search.
Suits: WordPress sites that want a feature-rich forum on their own domain
Limits worth knowing in MyBB
- You install and maintain it on your own server; the project sells no hosting.
- It is run by volunteers, so support comes from the community forums and documentation.
- Plugins and themes are community-made; their quality and upkeep vary.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to MyBB?
The alternatives to MyBB in this directory are phpBB, Simple Machines Forum, Flarum, NodeBB, Asgaros Forum, bbPress and wpForo. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with MyBB.
Is there a free alternative to MyBB?
Yes. phpBB, Simple Machines Forum, Flarum, Asgaros Forum and bbPress are free to use. NodeBB and wpForo have a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Nov 13, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.