Forum Permissions 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: Forum Permissions bbPress at #11 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.
Forum Permissions bbPress
Restrict the forum permissions per user role.
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 #11 in Forum Plugins.
wpForo Forum has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 70+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Forum Permissions bbPress has 3, wpForo Forum has 390. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
wpForo Forum has more reviews behind its score: 390 against 3.
wpForo Forum was updated more recently, on September 28, 2026; Forum Permissions bbPress on April 10, 2026.
wpForo Forum was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 50,260 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.
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.
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.
Forum Permissions bbPress vs wpForo Forum side by side
| Forum Permissions bbPress | wpForo Forum | |
|---|---|---|
| Forum Plugins ranking | #11 | #1 |
| Rating | 5.0 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 3 | 390 |
| Active installs | 70+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 2,996 | 1,840,294 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 99 | 50,260 |
| Last updated | Apr 10, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 |
| First published | Aug 25, 2022 | Jun 26, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 6.9.10 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | 7.1 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Forum Permissions 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 Forum Permissions bbPress nor wpForo Forum can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Forum Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Forum Permissions bbPress vs wpForo Forum: common questions
Is Forum Permissions bbPress 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 #11 in Forum Plugins.
Which has more users, Forum Permissions bbPress or wpForo Forum?
wpForo Forum ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #11 in Forum Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Forum Permissions bbPress or wpForo Forum?
wpForo Forum has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 70+.
Are Forum Permissions bbPress and wpForo Forum free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Forum Permissions 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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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.