NodeBB vs Simple Machines Forum (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, NodeBB grades higher than Simple Machines Forum: 2.4 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
NodeBB grades higher on value for money, features and ease of use. Simple Machines Forum grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
NodeBB
Open-source forum software with managed hosting plans
Simple Machines Forum
Free open-source community forum software (SMF)
Which one is for you
Pick NodeBB if
- Fits if you want a forum you can host or rent
- Works for open-source projects, which can ask for a free Starter-level forum
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you grow, as hosted tiers jump from $20 to $100, $250 and $750
- Skip it if you want no server work and a free forum, as free means self-hosting
- Watch out: the hosted trial needs a credit card
- Watch out: hosted plans are capped by monthly pageviews and storage
Pick Simple Machines Forum if
- Fits if you can host a PHP forum yourself
- Works for people who want a BSD-licensed forum
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want hosting included, as the project does not offer hosted plans on the pages read
- Tight if you need paid support, as help is a community forum and wiki
- Watch out: the project's own site could not be read, so details come from its GitHub repository
How we grade them
| 2.4GPANodeBBFair | 2.0GPASimple Machines ForumFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BHosted Starter is $20 a month, the cheaper-quarter line for the category, and self-hosting is free but needs your own server. | CThe software is free but you pay for hosting and run it yourself, which keeps it at the ordinary grade. |
| Free plan and trial | CSelf-hosting costs nothing but a server; the hosted 14-day trial needs a card. | BFree and open source with no caps, though you provide the server. |
| Features | BForum software with plugins, hosting, SSO and migration on offer. The listing shows no gap in the core work. | CThe listing shows a basic forum with a wiki and community forum for help, but little about its features. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. Hosted is easy, but self-hosting needs a server you run. | DNo store rating on record, and it must be installed and maintained on your own server. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only, and no integrations are listed. | CWeb only, and no integrations are listed. |
| Best for | modern forum software, hosted or self-run | free BSD-licensed forum software |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: NodeBB and Simple Machines Forum. How we grade
Price against what you get
NodeBB starts at $20 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Simple Machines Forum has no paid plan and scores 1.7.
NodeBB scores higher, and starts $20 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other course and community platforms on the chart, 3 score higher than NodeBB for less, and none scores higher than Simple Machines Forum for less.
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
Where they differ
At a glance
| NodeBB | Simple Machines Forum | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $20 per month for hosting; self-hosting is free | Free |
| Free plan | The open-source software is free to install on your own server under the GPLv3; you pay for the server. | The software is free and open source under a BSD 3-clause license; you pay only for your own web hosting. |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial on hosted plans, credit card required | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | NodeBB Inc. | Simple Machines |
| Price read from | nodebb.org | github.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
NodeBB
- Hosted plans are limited by monthly pageviews and storage, and the next tier up costs several times more.
- The free trial for hosted plans requires a credit card.
- Self-hosting means you provide, secure and update the server yourself.
Simple Machines Forum
- You install and maintain it yourself; the project's site does not offer hosted plans on the pages read.
- The project's own website could not be read during research, so details come from its GitHub repository.
- Support comes from the project's community forum and wiki.
Key features
NodeBB
- Forum software you can host yourself
- The code is on GitHub under the GPLv3, with installation instructions in the documentation portal.
- Managed hosting
- Hosted plans include SSL, a custom domain, unlimited staff users, custom plugins and priority support.
- Pageview-based tiers
- Hosted plans step from 50,000 to 10,000,000 pageviews a month, with storage from 5 GB to 300 GB.
- Enterprise services
- Custom feature development, theme customization, single sign-on, migration from an existing forum and self-hosting options.
- Free hosting for open-source projects
- Qualifying public open-source projects can ask for a free Starter-level forum on a project.nodebb.com address.
Simple Machines Forum
- Open-source license
- The software is licensed under the BSD 3-clause license, and its development repository is public on GitHub.
- PHP with MySQL or PostgreSQL
- The project's repository lists PHP, MySQL and PostgreSQL as its stack, so it runs on common shared and virtual hosting.
- Quick setup
- The project says you can set up your own online community within minutes of getting the software.
- Project wiki and forum
- The project runs a community forum and a wiki for documentation and help.
Plans
NodeBB
Self-hosted (open source)$0
Free to download under the GPLv3. You install and maintain it on your own server.
Starter$20
per month, up to 50,000 pageviews
Hosted. 5 GB storage, weekly backups, custom domain, SSL and custom plugins.
Hamlet$100
per month, up to 500,000 pageviews
Hosted. 20 GB storage and daily backups.
Village$250
per month, up to 2,000,000 pageviews
Hosted. 100 GB storage and daily backups.
City$750
per month, up to 10,000,000 pageviews
Hosted. 300 GB storage and daily backups.
Simple Machines Forum
SMF$0
Free download. You host and maintain it yourself.
Ways to pay less
NodeBB
- Nonprofit
Special pricing for nonprofits and startups
NodeBB says it offers special pricing for non-profits and start-up companies; ask the company for terms.
- Other savings
Free hosting for open-source projects
Public open-source projects that show a clear need can ask for free Starter-level hosting, at the company's discretion.
Simple Machines Forum
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, NodeBB or Simple Machines Forum?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Simple Machines Forum is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $20 a month for NodeBB. NodeBB starts at $20 per month for hosting; self-hosting is free, and Simple Machines Forum is free.
Which has a free plan, NodeBB or Simple Machines Forum?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both NodeBB and Simple Machines Forum have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.