ForumWP 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: ForumWP at #6 and WP Discourse at #12. WP Discourse leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
ForumWP
ForumWP – Forum & Discussion Board
Add a forum to your website with ForumWP.
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
WP Discourse leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track.
ForumWP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #12 in Forum Plugins.
WP Discourse has more users: 1,000+ active installs against 800+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: ForumWP has 12, WP Discourse has 8. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
ForumWP has more reviews behind its score: 12 against 8.
WP Discourse was updated more recently, on August 13, 2026; ForumWP on April 1, 2026.
WP Discourse was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 986 times against 446.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
ForumWP
Pick ForumWP if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the score backed by more reviews.
WP Discourse
Pick WP Discourse 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.
ForumWP vs WP Discourse side by side
| ForumWP | WP Discourse | |
|---|---|---|
| Forum Plugins ranking | #6 | #12 |
| Rating | 3.6 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 12 | 8 |
| Active installs | 800+ | 1,000+ |
| Total downloads | 33,158 | 132,420 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 446 | 986 |
| Last updated | Apr 1, 2026 | Aug 13, 2026 |
| First published | Mar 2, 2021 | Jul 5, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 6.9.10 | 7.1.0 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 5.6 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
ForumWP 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 ForumWP nor WP Discourse can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Forum Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
ForumWP vs WP Discourse: common questions
Is ForumWP better than WP Discourse?
WP Discourse leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. ForumWP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #12 in Forum Plugins.
Which has more users, ForumWP or WP Discourse?
ForumWP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #12 in Forum Plugins.
Which is rated higher, ForumWP or WP Discourse?
WP Discourse has more users: 1,000+ active installs against 800+.
Are ForumWP and WP Discourse free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. ForumWP may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP Discourse may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to ForumWP and WP Discourse
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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