Forumax vs WP Discourse (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Forum Plugins top 10: Forumax at #4 and WP Discourse at #12. Forumax leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Forumax
Forumax – AI Powered Advanced Community Forum Plugin
Build powerful communities with Forumax. A fully standalone, feature-rich forum plugin with voting, private replies, and Elementor integration.
WP Discourse
This plugin allows you to use Discourse as a community engine for your WordPress website. The plugin is not a substitute for Disqus type commenting sy …
Who leads on what
Forumax leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
Forumax ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #12 in Forum Plugins.
WP Discourse has more users: 1,000+ active installs against 500+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Forumax has 18, WP Discourse has 8. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Forumax has more reviews behind its score: 18 against 8.
Forumax was updated more recently, on October 12, 2026; WP Discourse on August 13, 2026.
Forumax was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 1,719 times against 986.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Forumax
Pick Forumax if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
WP Discourse
Pick WP Discourse if you want the plugin more sites already run.
Forumax vs WP Discourse side by side
| Forumax | WP Discourse | |
|---|---|---|
| Forum Plugins ranking | #4 | #12 |
| Rating | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 18 | 8 |
| Active installs | 500+ | 1,000+ |
| Total downloads | 34,686 | 132,420 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 1,719 | 986 |
| Last updated | Oct 12, 2026 | Aug 13, 2026 |
| First published | Aug 4, 2022 | Jul 5, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.0 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 5.6 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Forumax ratings
WP Discourse ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Forumax nor WP Discourse can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Forum Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Forumax vs WP Discourse: common questions
Is Forumax better than WP Discourse?
Forumax leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Forumax ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #12 in Forum Plugins.
Which has more users, Forumax or WP Discourse?
Forumax ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #12 in Forum Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Forumax or WP Discourse?
WP Discourse has more users: 1,000+ active installs against 500+.
Are Forumax and WP Discourse free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Forumax may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP Discourse may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Forumax and WP Discourse
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.