Private groups vs bbp style pack (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Forum Plugins top 10: Private groups at #9 and bbp style pack at #7. bbp style pack leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Private groups
For bbPress - Creates private forum groups
bbp style pack
For bbPress - Lets you style bbPress, and add display features
Who leads on what
bbp style pack leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
bbp style pack ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in Forum Plugins.
bbp style pack has more users: 6,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Private groups has 49, bbp style pack has 99. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
bbp style pack has more reviews behind its score: 99 against 49.
bbp style pack was updated more recently, on August 20, 2026; Private groups on August 20, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Private groups
Private groups does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
bbp style pack
Pick bbp style pack if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Private groups vs bbp style pack side by side
| Private groups | bbp style pack | |
|---|---|---|
| Forum Plugins ranking | #9 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 49 | 99 |
| Active installs | 1,000+ | 6,000+ |
| Total downloads | 154,428 | 965,418 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 20, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | May 16, 2014 | Feb 3, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | – | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Private groups ratings
bbp style pack 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 Private groups nor bbp style pack can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Forum Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Private groups vs bbp style pack: common questions
Is Private groups better than bbp style pack?
bbp style pack leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. bbp style pack ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in Forum Plugins.
Which has more users, Private groups or bbp style pack?
bbp style pack ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in Forum Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Private groups or bbp style pack?
bbp style pack has more users: 6,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are Private groups and bbp style pack free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Private groups may also sell a paid version or add-ons. bbp style pack may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Private groups and bbp style pack
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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