17.7
Forumbee is a web platform for customer and employee communities with discussion forums, Q&A, and a knowledge base.
AndroidiOSWeb
Best Forum Software in 2026
Forum software helps you host and manage online discussions, member accounts and community spaces. Options in this category include hosted services and software you run yourself. For phone use, check whether a product has an Android app and what that app covers. Then compare web access, iOS support, APIs or browser extensions, along with hosting model, member limits and custom-domain options.
27.6
NodeBB is a discussion platform for creating forums and online communities, including brand communities and product support boards.
Free planWebAPILinux
37.3
Free planAndroidiOSWeb
- 4
Discourse
Discourse is community software for hosting discussions, with options to self-host or use managed hosting.
Free planSelf-hosted7.1From $100 a month - 5
PlushForums
AndroidiOSWeb6.9From $49 a month - 6
Forums.net
Forums.net is a hosted discussion platform for organizations and businesses running online communities.
AndroidiOSWeb6.7From $49.99 a month - 7
Khoros Communities
Khoros Communities is a paid platform for brands building customer communities for self-service, peer support, engagement, and collaboration.
AndroidiOSWebAPI6.7 - 8
WoltLab Suite
WoltLab Suite is community and forum software for brands, businesses, and communities.
WebExtensionSelf-hosted6.5From €431.40 a year - 9
bbPress
Free planWebSelf-hosted6.2Free plan - 10
MyBB
MyBB is free, open-source forum software for building an online community.
Free planWebSelf-hosted6.2Free plan - 116.2Free plan
- 12
XenForo
WebAPISelf-hosted6.2From $60 a month - 13
Flarum
Flarum is free, open-source forum software for hosting discussions on websites and online communities.
WebAPIExtensionSelf-hosted6.1 - 14
Forumotion
Free planWeb6.1Free plan - 15
Simple Machines Forum
Free planWebSelf-hosted5.9Free plan - 16
vBulletin
WebSelf-hosted5.9From $14.99 a month - 17
Meith
Web4.6 - 18
miniBB
Web4.6 - 19
Nexus
Web4.6 - 20
UBB.threads
Web4.6
Choosing well
Check phone access first
If you plan to moderate or read discussions on a phone, look for an Android app and verify which forum tasks it supports. iOS apps, web access, APIs and extensions can add other ways to manage a community.
Platform labels can describe different delivery models, so confirm whether the product is hosted, self-hosted or both.
Choose a hosting model
Hosted software can reduce server work, while self-hosted software gives you responsibility for deployment and maintenance. Use the hosting-model comparison to match your setup.
Check whether a custom domain is supported if the forum needs to sit under your own web address.
Compare free and paid options
A free plan is available from products in this category, and free trials are also offered by products here. Check what the free option includes before moving a community to it.
Compare the paid-from price with member limits and the features you need, rather than judging by the pricing label alone.
Review sign-on and member limits
Single sign-on can connect forum accounts with an existing identity system. Check whether the option you choose supports the sign-on setup your community requires.
Member limits can affect the plan you need as participation grows, so compare the stated limit with your expected audience.
Questions people ask
Do forum software options have Android apps?
Android is one of the platforms represented in this category. Check the individual product listing to confirm whether it has an app and what the app supports.
Can I run forum software on my own server?
Self-hosted options are represented in this category. Check the hosting-model details for the product you are considering.
Are free plans available?
Yes. Products in this category offer free plans, and free trials are also available from products listed here.
What should I compare before choosing?
Compare free plan details, paid-from pricing, hosting model, single sign-on, custom domains, member limits and mobile apps.
Which platforms can forum tools use?
The category includes products associated with web, self-hosted, iOS, Android, API and extension platforms. Confirm the exact mix for a product before choosing it.