Flarum
Flarum is free, open-source forum software for hosting discussions on websites and online communities.
What Flarum is
Flarum is free, open-source forum software for hosting discussions on websites and online communities. It includes group permissions, category access controls, moderation and flagging tools, while administrators can adjust settings, themes and CSS or add extensions. Features that are not needed can be disabled. Members can write with lightweight Markdown or WYSIWYG editors, and notifications include in-browser alerts and email digests; extensions can provide real-time notifications. A REST API lets external scripts interact with a forum, and an extension manager helps administrators find and install add-ons, most of which are open source and free. Flarum is licensed under MIT and supports self-hosted and web use, with API and extension options. Running it on your own server requires Apache or Nginx, PHP 8.3 or later and a supported database; SSH access is needed for some maintenance tasks. The project recommends keeping its core updated. Its documentation warns that the extension manager can install any Composer package, so it should be enabled only when all forum administrators are trusted. Documentation describes version 2.0 as a release candidate, not a final stable release.
Good
- Includes group permissions and category access controls.
- Administrators can customize themes and CSS.
- Markdown and WYSIWYG editors are supported.
- REST API supports interaction by external scripts.
- Free and MIT licensed.
Watch out
- Self-hosting requires PHP 8.3 or later.
- Some maintenance tasks require SSH access.
- Version 2.0 is described as a release candidate.
- No official importers are listed.
Who it suits
Flarum suits people creating a discussion forum for a website, from a small hobby community to a large enterprise forum. It is a fit for administrators who can meet its self-hosting requirements or use its web option.
Verdict
Flarum offers forum essentials alongside customization, moderation and API options without a listed software charge. Self-hosters should account for the server requirements and take care with extension-manager access.
The facts
Each one read from Flarum's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Community tools
- The homepage lists groups and permissions, moderation and flagging, themes and custom CSS, and in-browser notifications among its features.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Current release status
- On the documentation page opened, Flarum 2.0 is described as being in release-candidate phase rather than a final stable release.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Flarum's extension-based design lets administrators disable unneeded features and add extensions.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Editor
- Flarum supports lightweight Markdown editors and WYSIWYG editors.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Extension ecosystem
- The extension manager can discover and install extensions, and most available extensions are open source and free.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Governance
- The Flarum Foundation is a Dutch non-profit that owns and governs the project; its page says it was established in August 2019.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Groups and moderation
- Flarum includes group permissions, category access controls, moderation, and flagging.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Hosting requirements
- Self-hosting requires Apache or Nginx, PHP 8.3 or later, a supported database, and SSH access for some maintenance tasks.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Flarum exposes a REST API that external scripts can use, and the API follows JSON:API best practices.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Flarum describes itself as suitable for communities ranging from small hobby groups to large enterprise forums.checked 7 Oct 2026
- License
- Flarum is released under the MIT License.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Migration
- The installation guide says there are no official importers and lists several unofficial community importers without guaranteeing they work or offering support for them.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Moderation tools
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
- Notifications
- Flarum offers in-browser notifications, email digests, and real-time notifications through extensions.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Private spaces
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
- Product
- Flarum is free, open-source forum software for running a discussion community on a website.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Flarum is a free, open-source discussion platform for websites and online communities.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The installation guide lists Apache or Nginx, PHP 8.3 or later, a supported database, and SSH access for maintenance commands as server requirements.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Security
- Flarum says it is built on Laravel with security best practices and recommends keeping the core updated.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Security limitation
- The extension manager can install any Composer package, so Flarum advises enabling it only when all forum admins are trusted.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Security limits
- The documentation warns that the Extension Manager can install any Composer package and should only be enabled when forum administrators are trusted with that permission.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- Flarum directs users with questions to its community forum, where users can get help with their instances.checked 7 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2014checked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
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