Simple Machines Forum review (2026): is it any good?
Free open-source community forum software (SMF)
Simple Machines Forum report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for free BSD-licensed forum software
Simple Machines Forum is free forum software under a BSD licence on PHP with MySQL or PostgreSQL. You run it yourself, and its listing is thin because the project's own site could not be read.
Who Simple Machines Forum is for
- Fits if you can host a PHP forum yourself
- Works for people who want a BSD-licensed forum
Who Simple Machines Forum is not for
- 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
Why Simple Machines Forum 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 caps, though you provide the server.
- CFeaturesThe listing shows a basic forum with a wiki and community forum for help, but little about its features.
- DEase of useNo store rating on record, and it must be installed and maintained 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 Simple Machines's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make Simple Machines Forum? Put this grade on your site
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/simple-machines-forum#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/simple-machines-forum.svg" alt="Simple Machines Forum: 2.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Simple Machines Forum stands among course and community platforms
Simple Machines Forum'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).
Simple Machines Forum 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. Simple Machines Forum’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 Simple Machines Forum, or make your own?
Keep it
Simple Machines Forum 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. Simple Machines Forum’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 Simple Machines Forum?
Simple Machines Forum, usually called SMF, is free and open-source community forum software written in PHP. You install it on your own web server and it stores its data in a database such as MySQL or PostgreSQL. The project describes it as a way to set up an online community within minutes.
Worth knowing
- 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
- 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.
Simple Machines Forum pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Simple Machines Forum is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The software is free and open source under a BSD 3-clause license; you pay only for your own web hosting.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| SMF | $0 | Free download. You host and maintain it yourself. |
Read from github.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Simple Machines Forum before you buy.
Simple Machines Forum alternatives
- Simple Machines Forum vs NodeBB
Free plan · from $20/mo
Common questions
Does Simple Machines Forum have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Simple Machines Forum is listed for Web.
Does Simple Machines Forum have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Simple Machines Forum is listed for Web.
Is Simple Machines Forum open source?
Yes. Simple Machines Forum 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.