Alternatives · Courses
phpBB alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded phpBB alternative is Discourse (2.6 GPA). It's also the best free one.
phpBB compared with 7 alternatives: MyBB, Simple Machines Forum, Flarum, Discourse, Asgaros Forum and 2 more.
phpBB 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| phpBBThis tool | Free | Free | Web |
| MyBB | Free | Free | Web |
| Simple Machines Forum | Free | Free | Web |
| Flarum | Free | Free | Web |
| Discourse | Free plan · from $100/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Asgaros Forum | Free | Free | Web |
| bbPress | Free | Free | Web |
| wpForo | Free plan · from $15/mo | Yes | Web |
Price against what you get
phpBB 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.
Discourse 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 phpBB
MyBB
Free open-source forum software with plugins and themes
- MyBB is free.
Suits: Hobby and fan communities that want a free forum they host
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
Discourse
Open-source discussion forum software with hosted plans
- Discourse starts at $100 per month.
- Discourse also lists iOS and Android apps.
- Discourse also covers team chat.
Suits: Public forums, support communities and product feedback boards
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 phpBB
- It must be installed and maintained on your own PHP web server; the project does not sell hosting.
- Support comes from documentation, a knowledge base and community forums, not a paid support plan.
- Extensions that change the database can make upgrades harder, according to the project's readme.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to phpBB?
The alternatives to phpBB in this directory are MyBB, Simple Machines Forum, Flarum, Discourse, Asgaros Forum, bbPress and wpForo. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with phpBB.
Is there a free alternative to phpBB?
Yes. MyBB, Simple Machines Forum, Flarum, Asgaros Forum and bbPress are free to use. Discourse and wpForo have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which phpBB alternatives work on Android?
The phpBB listing does not include an Android app. Discourse lists one.
Which phpBB alternatives work on iOS?
The phpBB listing does not include an iOS app. Discourse lists one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Nov 12, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.