bbPress 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: bbPress at #2 and wpForo Forum at #1. They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
bbPress
bbPress is forum software for WordPress.
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
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
wpForo Forum ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Forum Plugins.
bbPress has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
wpForo Forum is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 390 reviews, against 3.9 from 343 reviews.
wpForo Forum has more reviews behind its score: 390 against 343.
bbPress was updated more recently, on October 15, 2026; wpForo Forum on September 28, 2026.
bbPress was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 167,618 times against 50,260.
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 want the plugin more sites already run, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
wpForo Forum
Pick wpForo Forum if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
bbPress vs wpForo Forum side by side
| bbPress | wpForo Forum | |
|---|---|---|
| Forum Plugins ranking | #2 | #1 |
| Rating | 3.9 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 343 | 390 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 9,624,815 | 1,840,294 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 167,618 | 50,260 |
| Last updated | Oct 15, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 13, 2010 | Jun 26, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | 7.1 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
bbPress 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 bbPress nor wpForo Forum can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Forum Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
bbPress vs wpForo Forum: common questions
Is bbPress better than wpForo Forum?
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. wpForo Forum ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Forum Plugins.
Which has more users, bbPress or wpForo Forum?
wpForo Forum ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Forum Plugins.
Which is rated higher, bbPress or wpForo Forum?
bbPress has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Are bbPress and wpForo Forum free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. bbPress may also sell a paid version or add-ons. wpForo Forum may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
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