Simple:Press Forum 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: Simple:Press Forum at #5 and WP Discourse at #12. Simple:Press Forum leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Simple:Press Forum
The most versatile and feature-rich forum plugin for WordPress. Create unlimited forums with awesome features directly in your WordPress site.
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
Simple:Press Forum leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track.
Simple:Press Forum ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #12 in Forum Plugins.
WP Discourse has more users: 1,000+ active installs against 300+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Simple:Press Forum has 23, WP Discourse has 8. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Simple:Press Forum has more reviews behind its score: 23 against 8.
Simple:Press Forum was updated more recently, on September 17, 2026; WP Discourse on August 13, 2026.
WP Discourse was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 986 times against 472.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Simple:Press Forum
Pick Simple:Press Forum if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
WP Discourse
Pick WP Discourse if you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Simple:Press Forum vs WP Discourse side by side
| Simple:Press Forum | WP Discourse | |
|---|---|---|
| Forum Plugins ranking | #5 | #12 |
| Rating | 4.2 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 23 | 8 |
| Active installs | 300+ | 1,000+ |
| Total downloads | 49,327 | 132,420 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 472 | 986 |
| Last updated | Sep 17, 2026 | Aug 13, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 11, 2018 | Jul 5, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.0 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 5.6 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Simple:Press Forum 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 Simple:Press Forum nor WP Discourse can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Forum Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Simple:Press Forum vs WP Discourse: common questions
Is Simple:Press Forum better than WP Discourse?
Simple:Press Forum leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Simple:Press Forum ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #12 in Forum Plugins.
Which has more users, Simple:Press Forum or WP Discourse?
Simple:Press Forum ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #12 in Forum Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Simple:Press Forum or WP Discourse?
WP Discourse has more users: 1,000+ active installs against 300+.
Are Simple:Press Forum and WP Discourse free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Simple:Press Forum may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP Discourse may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Simple:Press Forum and WP Discourse
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Forum Plugins comparisons
- Asgaros Forum vs Simple:Press Forum
- Asgaros Forum vs WP Discourse
- Forumax vs Simple:Press Forum
- Forumax vs WP Discourse
- Private groups vs Simple:Press Forum
- Private groups vs WP Discourse
- bbp style pack vs Simple:Press Forum
- bbp style pack vs WP Discourse
- bbPress vs Simple:Press Forum
- bbPress vs WP Discourse
- FluentCommunity vs Simple:Press Forum
- FluentCommunity vs WP Discourse
Weekly · free
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.