bbPress vs WP Discourse (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 WP Discourse at #12. 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.
WP Discourse
This plugin allows you to use Discourse as a community engine for your WordPress website. The plugin is not a substitute for Disqus type commenting sy …
Who leads on what
bbPress leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
bbPress ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #12 in Forum Plugins.
bbPress has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: bbPress has 343, WP Discourse has 8. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
bbPress has more reviews behind its score: 343 against 8.
bbPress was updated more recently, on October 15, 2026; WP Discourse on August 13, 2026.
bbPress was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 167,618 times against 986.
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.
WP Discourse
WP Discourse 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 WP Discourse side by side
| bbPress | WP Discourse | |
|---|---|---|
| Forum Plugins ranking | #2 | #12 |
| Rating | 3.9 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 343 | 8 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 1,000+ |
| Total downloads | 9,624,815 | 132,420 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 167,618 | 986 |
| Last updated | Oct 15, 2026 | Aug 13, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 13, 2010 | Jul 5, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.0 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | 5.6 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
bbPress ratings
WP Discourse 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 WP Discourse can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Forum Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
bbPress vs WP Discourse: common questions
Is bbPress better than WP Discourse?
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 #12 in Forum Plugins.
Which has more users, bbPress or WP Discourse?
bbPress ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #12 in Forum Plugins.
Which is rated higher, bbPress or WP Discourse?
bbPress has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are bbPress and WP Discourse free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. bbPress may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP Discourse may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to bbPress and WP Discourse
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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