Private groups vs ForumWP (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 ForumWP at #5. Private groups leads on 3 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
ForumWP
ForumWP – Forum & Discussion Board
Add a forum to your website with ForumWP.
Who leads on what
Private groups leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
ForumWP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #9 in Forum Plugins.
Private groups has more users: 1,000+ active installs against 800+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Private groups has 49, ForumWP has 12. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Private groups has more reviews behind its score: 49 against 12.
Private groups was updated more recently, on August 20, 2026; ForumWP on April 1, 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 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 ForumWP side by side
| Private groups | ForumWP | |
|---|---|---|
| Forum Plugins ranking | #9 | #5 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 3.6 |
| Reviews | 49 | 12 |
| Active installs | 1,000+ | 800+ |
| Total downloads | 154,428 | 32,538 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 20, 2026 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| First published | May 16, 2014 | Mar 2, 2021 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 6.9.7 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.0 |
| 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
ForumWP 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 ForumWP can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Forum Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Private groups vs ForumWP: common questions
Is Private groups better than ForumWP?
Private groups leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. ForumWP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #9 in Forum Plugins.
Which has more users, Private groups or ForumWP?
ForumWP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #9 in Forum Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Private groups or ForumWP?
Private groups has more users: 1,000+ active installs against 800+.
Are Private groups and ForumWP free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Private groups may also sell a paid version or add-ons. ForumWP may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Private groups and ForumWP
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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