Best XenForo Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 apps from online community platforms ranked against XenForo on the same published basis.
- 1XenForo vs NodeBB
- 2XenForo vs HumHub
- 3XenForo vs Nodyx
- 4XenForo vs Open Social
- 5XenForo vs Discourse
- 6XenForo vs Daisie
- 7XenForo vs phpBB
- 8XenForo vs Archive of Our Own
- 9XenForo vs Circle
- 10XenForo vs Fora
- 11XenForo vs Geneva
- 12XenForo vs Heartbeat
- 13XenForo vs Mighty Networks
- 14XenForo vs Reddit
- 15XenForo vs Forums.net
- 16XenForo vs Hivebrite
- 17XenForo vs Invision Community
- 18XenForo vs Wattpad
- 19XenForo vs Flarum
- 20XenForo vs Lobsters
XenForo alternatives compared
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NodeBB | 7.2 | Free plan | $20/mo | API, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 2 | HumHub | 7.1 | Free plan | — | Android, API, iOS, self-hosted, Web |
| 3 | Nodyx | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | API, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 4 | Open Social | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Android, API, iOS, self-hosted, Web |
| 5 | Discourse | 6.7 | Free plan | $100/mo | self-hosted |
| 6 | Daisie | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | iOS, Web |
| 7 | phpBB | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | self-hosted, Web |
| 8 | Archive of Our Own | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 9 | Circle | 6.5 | No | $89/mo | Android, API, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 10 | Fora | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 11 | Geneva | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Web, iOS, Android |
| 12 | Heartbeat | 6.3 | No | $19/mo | Android, iOS |
| 13 | Mighty Networks | 6.3 | No | $79/mo | Android, iOS, Web |
| 14 | 6.2 | No | — | Web, iOS, Android | |
| 15 | Forums.net | 6.1 | No | $49.99/mo | Android, iOS, Web |
| 16 | Hivebrite | 6.1 | No | — | Web, iOS, Android |
| 17 | Invision Community | 6.1 | No | — | Web, iOS, Android |
| 18 | Wattpad | 6.1 | No | — | Web, iOS, Android |
| 19 | Flarum | 6.0 | No | — | API, Browser, self-hosted, Web |
| 20 | Lobsters | 6.0 | No | — | Web |
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Questions about XenForo alternatives
What is the best alternative to XenForo?
NodeBB, number 1 in online community platforms with a score of 7.2 out of 10. The others here: HumHub, Nodyx, Open Social and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to XenForo?
NodeBB is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 10 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes: documentation depth, a free tier and the platforms it runs on.