bbPress vs Forum Permissions bbPress (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: bbPress at #2 and Forum Permissions bbPress at #11. bbPress leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
bbPress
bbPress is forum software for WordPress.
Forum Permissions bbPress
Restrict the forum permissions per user role.
Who leads on what
bbPress leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
bbPress ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #11 in Forum Plugins.
bbPress has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 70+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: bbPress has 343, Forum Permissions bbPress has 3. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
bbPress has more reviews behind its score: 343 against 3.
bbPress was updated more recently, on October 15, 2026; Forum Permissions bbPress on April 10, 2026.
bbPress was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 167,618 times against 99.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
bbPress
Pick bbPress 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.
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.
bbPress vs Forum Permissions bbPress side by side
| bbPress | Forum Permissions bbPress | |
|---|---|---|
| Forum Plugins ranking | #2 | #11 |
| Rating | 3.9 | 5.0 |
| Reviews | 343 | 3 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 70+ |
| Total downloads | 9,624,815 | 2,996 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 167,618 | 99 |
| Last updated | Oct 15, 2026 | Apr 10, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 13, 2010 | Aug 25, 2022 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 6.9.10 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
bbPress 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 bbPress nor Forum Permissions bbPress can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Forum Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
bbPress vs Forum Permissions bbPress: common questions
Is bbPress better than Forum Permissions bbPress?
bbPress leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. bbPress ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #11 in Forum Plugins.
Which has more users, bbPress or Forum Permissions bbPress?
bbPress ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #11 in Forum Plugins.
Which is rated higher, bbPress or Forum Permissions bbPress?
bbPress has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 70+.
Are bbPress and Forum Permissions bbPress free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. bbPress may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Forum Permissions bbPress may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to bbPress and Forum Permissions bbPress
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