bbPress 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: bbPress at #2 and ForumWP at #5. bbPress leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
bbPress
bbPress is forum software for WordPress.
ForumWP
ForumWP – Forum & Discussion Board
Add a forum to your website with ForumWP.
Who leads on what
bbPress leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
bbPress ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #5 in Forum Plugins.
bbPress has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 800+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: bbPress has 342, ForumWP has 12. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
bbPress has more reviews behind its score: 342 against 12.
bbPress was updated more recently, on September 3, 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.
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 or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
ForumWP
ForumWP 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 ForumWP side by side
| bbPress | ForumWP | |
|---|---|---|
| Forum Plugins ranking | #2 | #5 |
| Rating | 3.9 | 3.6 |
| Reviews | 342 | 12 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 800+ |
| Total downloads | 9,388,351 | 32,538 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 3, 2026 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 13, 2010 | Mar 2, 2021 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 6.9.7 |
| Requires PHP | 5.6.20 | 7.0 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
bbPress 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 bbPress nor ForumWP can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Forum Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
bbPress vs ForumWP: common questions
Is bbPress better than ForumWP?
bbPress leads on 4 of the 5 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 #5 in Forum Plugins.
Which has more users, bbPress or ForumWP?
bbPress ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #5 in Forum Plugins.
Which is rated higher, bbPress or ForumWP?
bbPress has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 800+.
Are bbPress and ForumWP free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. bbPress may also sell a paid version or add-ons. ForumWP may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to bbPress and ForumWP
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