Private groups vs FluentCommunity (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: Private groups at #9 and FluentCommunity at #8. FluentCommunity leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Private groups
For bbPress - Creates private forum groups
FluentCommunity
FluentCommunity – Ultra-Fast High-Performance Social Network, Community, LMS & Online Courses
Get a fast & all-in-one community plugin. Create unlimited communities, and courses with robust social networking and LMS features.
Who leads on what
FluentCommunity leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
FluentCommunity ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in Forum Plugins.
FluentCommunity has more users: 8,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Private groups has 49, FluentCommunity has 95. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
FluentCommunity has more reviews behind its score: 95 against 49.
FluentCommunity was updated more recently, on October 16, 2026; Private groups on August 20, 2026.
FluentCommunity was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 8,759 times against 519.
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.
FluentCommunity
Pick FluentCommunity 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, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Private groups vs FluentCommunity side by side
| Private groups | FluentCommunity | |
|---|---|---|
| Forum Plugins ranking | #9 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 49 | 95 |
| Active installs | 1,000+ | 8,000+ |
| Total downloads | 155,127 | 175,775 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 519 | 8,759 |
| Last updated | Aug 20, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 |
| First published | May 16, 2014 | Nov 7, 2024 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Private groups ratings
FluentCommunity 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 FluentCommunity can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Forum Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Private groups vs FluentCommunity: common questions
Is Private groups better than FluentCommunity?
FluentCommunity leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. FluentCommunity ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in Forum Plugins.
Which has more users, Private groups or FluentCommunity?
FluentCommunity ranks higher on WordPress.org: #8 against #9 in Forum Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Private groups or FluentCommunity?
FluentCommunity has more users: 8,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are Private groups and FluentCommunity free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Private groups may also sell a paid version or add-ons. FluentCommunity may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Private groups and FluentCommunity
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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