Private groups vs wpForo Forum (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 wpForo Forum at #1. wpForo Forum 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
wpForo Forum
Number one WordPress forum plugin with AI features. Full-fledged forum solution with modern forum design. Community builder WordPress forum plugin.
Who leads on what
wpForo Forum leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
wpForo Forum ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #9 in Forum Plugins.
wpForo Forum has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Private groups has 49, wpForo Forum has 390. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
wpForo Forum has more reviews behind its score: 390 against 49.
wpForo Forum was updated more recently, on September 28, 2026; Private groups on August 20, 2026.
wpForo Forum was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 50,260 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.
wpForo Forum
Pick wpForo Forum 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 wpForo Forum side by side
| Private groups | wpForo Forum | |
|---|---|---|
| Forum Plugins ranking | #9 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 49 | 390 |
| Active installs | 1,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 155,127 | 1,840,294 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 519 | 50,260 |
| Last updated | Aug 20, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 |
| First published | May 16, 2014 | Jun 26, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.1 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Private groups ratings
wpForo Forum 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 wpForo Forum can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Forum Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Private groups vs wpForo Forum: common questions
Is Private groups better than wpForo Forum?
wpForo Forum leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. wpForo Forum ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #9 in Forum Plugins.
Which has more users, Private groups or wpForo Forum?
wpForo Forum ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #9 in Forum Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Private groups or wpForo Forum?
wpForo Forum has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are Private groups and wpForo Forum free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Private groups may also sell a paid version or add-ons. wpForo Forum may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Private groups and wpForo Forum
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