MyBB review (2026): is it any good?
Free open-source forum software with plugins and themes
MyBB report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for free forum software with plugins and themes
MyBB is free forum software with plugins, themes and translations. You host it yourself, run it with volunteer support, and plugin and theme quality varies.
Who MyBB is for
- Fits if you can install a forum on your own hosting
- Works for communities that want themes and plugins
Who MyBB is not for
- Not for you if you do not want to run a server, as the project sells no hosting
- Tight if you want paid support, as help comes from volunteers and forums
- Watch out: plugins and themes are community-made, and quality and upkeep vary
Why MyBB gets a 2.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- CValue for moneyThe software is free but you pay for hosting and run it yourself, which keeps it at the ordinary grade.
- BFree plan and trialFree and open source with no plan caps, though you provide the server.
- CFeaturesPlugins, a template editor, moderation tools, private messages and 30+ translations cover forum basics, but add-ons are community-made.
- DEase of useNo store rating on record, and it must be installed and kept up on your own server.
- CPlatforms and integrationsWeb only, and no integrations are listed.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from MyBB's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/mybb#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/mybb.svg" alt="MyBB: 2.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where MyBB stands among course and community platforms
MyBB's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 23 of the 98 other course and community platforms we grade, and level with 21.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 71 of 98) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
MyBB has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 99 course and community platforms we grade, cut by the letter each got. MyBB’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 17 of 98, level with 61
- BFree plan and trialAbove 71 of 98, level with 26
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 98, level with 54
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 98, level with 22
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 98, level with 24
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 78 course and community platforms. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep MyBB, or make your own?
Keep it
MyBB is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 54 of the 98 other course and community platforms grade higher.
What you could not
- A members' space with posts, chat and events that people keep coming back to.
What this rests on. MyBB’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is MyBB?
MyBB is free, open-source forum software run by a volunteer project. You download it and install it on your own web server. It has a plugin system, a built-in template and theme editor, moderation and administration tools, private messaging and community-made translations.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- Plugins
- A plugin system adds features to a forum, and the project lists hundreds of plugins and themes to install in a few clicks.
- Themes and templates
- A built-in template and theme editor gives control over the forum's design.
- Moderation and administration
- Separate tools for moderators and staff, and an administration area for running the board.
- Private messaging
- Members can hold private conversations with several registered users at a time.
- Translations
- Community-maintained translations exist for more than 30 languages, including right-to-left ones.
- Merge System
- A separate tool converts from several other forum packages into MyBB, or combines several MyBB forums into one.
MyBB pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, MyBB is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The software is free and open source; you pay only for your own web hosting.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| MyBB | $0 | Free download, currently version 1.8.41. You host and maintain it yourself. |
Read from mybb.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with MyBB before you buy.
MyBB alternatives
- MyBB vs phpBB
Free
- MyBB vs Flarum
Free
- MyBB vs NodeBB
Free plan · from $20/mo
Common questions
Does MyBB have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. MyBB is listed for Web.
Does MyBB have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. MyBB is listed for Web.
Is MyBB open source?
Yes. MyBB is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.