Private groups vs Forum Permissions bbPress (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 Forum Permissions bbPress at #10. Private groups 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
Forum Permissions bbPress
Restrict the forum permissions per user role.
Who leads on what
Private groups leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Private groups ranks higher on WordPress.org: #9 against #10 in Forum Plugins.
Private groups has more users: 1,000+ active installs against 60+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Private groups has 49, Forum Permissions bbPress has 2. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Private groups has more reviews behind its score: 49 against 2.
Private groups was updated more recently, on August 20, 2026; Forum Permissions bbPress on April 10, 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
Pick Private groups 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.
Forum Permissions bbPress
Forum Permissions bbPress does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Private groups vs Forum Permissions bbPress side by side
| Private groups | Forum Permissions bbPress | |
|---|---|---|
| Forum Plugins ranking | #9 | #10 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 5.0 |
| Reviews | 49 | 2 |
| Active installs | 1,000+ | 60+ |
| Total downloads | 154,428 | 2,840 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 20, 2026 | Apr 10, 2026 |
| First published | May 16, 2014 | Aug 25, 2022 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 6.9.7 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.2 |
| 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
Forum Permissions bbPress 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 Forum Permissions bbPress can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Forum Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Private groups vs Forum Permissions bbPress: common questions
Is Private groups better than Forum Permissions bbPress?
Private groups leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Private groups ranks higher on WordPress.org: #9 against #10 in Forum Plugins.
Which has more users, Private groups or Forum Permissions bbPress?
Private groups ranks higher on WordPress.org: #9 against #10 in Forum Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Private groups or Forum Permissions bbPress?
Private groups has more users: 1,000+ active installs against 60+.
Are Private groups and Forum Permissions bbPress free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Private groups may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Forum Permissions bbPress may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Private groups and Forum Permissions bbPress
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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