Top 20 Forum Software Providers

Top 20 Forum Software Leaders of 2025: Building Thriving Digital Communities

In 2025, online communities are pivotal for businesses, creators, and enthusiasts, driving engagement, support, and knowledge sharing. Forum software remains the backbone of these digital hubs, offering robust platforms for discussions, collaboration, and customer success. As a market research head, I’ve analyzed the leading providers, blending innovation, scalability, and user experience. Below, I present the Top 20 Forum Software Providers, each detailed with company insights, product offerings, and standout features to help you select the perfect solution for your community-building goals.

1. Discourse

• Company Name: Discourse (Civilized Discourse Construction Kit, Inc.)
• Founders: Jeff Atwood, Robin Ward, Sam Saffron
• Founded Year: 2013
• Headquarters: Remote (Distributed team, primarily U.S.-based)
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Community Platforms, Open-Source Solutions
• Description: Discourse redefines modern forum software with its open-source, user-centric approach, trusted by over 30,000 communities, including brands like GitLab and Docker. Founded by Jeff Atwood, co-creator of Stack Overflow, Discourse emphasizes seamless UX, mobile responsiveness, and robust integrations. Its managed hosting and self-hosted options cater to diverse needs, from small hobby groups to enterprise-scale SaaS businesses. With a focus on civil discourse, it leverages AI-driven moderation and analytics to foster engaging, spam-free environments, making it a top choice for 2025’s community-driven ecosystems.
• Key Features:
  • Open-source with a vibrant developer community
  • Google Perspective API for sentiment monitoring and spam prevention
  • Seamless integrations with Slack, GitHub, and social media
  • Gamification tools like badges and leaderboards
  • Real-time notifications and mobile-optimized design
  • Advanced analytics for user engagement insights
  • Automated moderation and spam-blocking tools

2. XenForo

• Company Name: XenForo Ltd.
• Founders: Kier Darby, Mike Sullivan
• Founded Year: 2010
• Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Community Management Tools
• Description: XenForo is a premium forum software renowned for its performance and scalability, powering large communities with thousands of concurrent users. Founded by former vBulletin developers, it offers a sleek, modern interface and robust customization options. Acquired by Audentio in 2020, XenForo continues to innovate with add-ons for media galleries, resource managers, and e-commerce. Its efficient caching and optimized code make it ideal for high-traffic forums, while its active community ensures continuous enhancements, positioning it as a leader in 2025.
• Key Features:
  • High-performance caching for large-scale communities
  • Extensive add-on ecosystem for enhanced functionality
  • Responsive, mobile-first design
  • Advanced user permission and moderation tools
  • SEO-friendly architecture
  • Social login integration (Google, Facebook, LinkedIn)
  • Customizable themes and templates

3. vBulletin

• Company Name: vBulletin Solutions, Inc. (Internet Brands)
• Founders: James Limm, John Percival
• Founded Year: 2000
• Headquarters: El Segundo, California, USA
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Community Platforms
• Description: A veteran in the forum software industry, vBulletin has powered online communities for over two decades. Acquired by Internet Brands, it remains a reliable choice for businesses seeking stability and flexibility. Its cloud and self-hosted versions support high-traffic forums with features like private messaging and SEO tools. While not as modern as newer competitors, vBulletin’s extensive plugin library and hosting options make it a trusted solution for legacy communities and enterprises in 2025.
• Key Features:
  • Flexible layout with third-party plugin support
  • SEO tracking and optimization tools
  • Easy installation and automatic upgrades
  • High-traffic stability
  • Private messaging and member birthday features
  • Multi-language support
  • User activity tracking

4. phpBB

• Company Name: phpBB Group
• Founders: James Atkinson
• Founded Year: 2000
• Headquarters: Open-Source (No formal headquarters, community-driven)
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Open-Source Solutions
• Description: phpBB is a free, open-source forum platform celebrated for its simplicity and customization. With a global community of developers, it supports over 30 languages, making it ideal for diverse audiences. While its default themes may feel dated, phpBB’s extensive extension library and active support forums ensure scalability for small to medium-sized businesses. In 2025, it remains a cost-effective choice for those prioritizing flexibility and community-driven development.
• Key Features:
  • Free and open-source with no licensing fees
  • Multilingual support for over 30 languages
  • Extensive extension and theme library
  • Intuitive admin panel for beginners
  • Advanced moderation and user permission tools
  • Responsive design for cross-device compatibility
  • Active community support

5. MyBB

• Company Name: MyBB Group
• Founders: Chris Boulton
• Founded Year: 2002
• Headquarters: Open-Source (No formal headquarters, community-driven)
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Open-Source Solutions
• Description: MyBB is a free, open-source forum software known for its ease of use and multilingual support. Catering to small and medium-sized communities, it offers a straightforward admin panel and a rich ecosystem of plugins and themes. While its interface may lack the polish of premium solutions, MyBB’s active community and manual update system make it a reliable, budget-friendly option for hobbyists and growing businesses in 2025.
• Key Features:
  • Free and open-source platform
  • Multilingual support for global audiences
  • Intuitive admin panel for easy management
  • Robust plugin and theme systems
  • Advanced moderation tools (warning systems, queues)
  • User-friendly profile customization
  • Community-driven support forums

6. Invision Community

• Company Name: Invision Power Services, Inc.
• Founders: Matt Mecham, Charles Warner
• Founded Year: 2002
• Headquarters: Forest, Virginia, USA
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Community Platforms, CMS
• Description: Invision Community, formerly IP.Board, is a versatile platform combining forums, blogs, and e-commerce tools. Its modular design empowers users to create tailored community experiences, from niche forums to enterprise hubs. With features like automated spam cleanup and filtered search, it’s trusted by thousands of message boards globally. In 2025, Invision’s focus on user autonomy and modern design makes it a strong contender for businesses seeking all-in-one community solutions.
• Key Features:
  • Modular apps for forums, blogs, and e-commerce
  • Automated spam cleanup and moderation
  • Filtered search for enhanced usability
  • Social login and single sign-on (SSO)
  • Mobile-optimized responsive design
  • Gamification with badges and points
  • Multi-language support

7. Simple Machines Forum (SMF)

• Company Name: Simple Machines
• Founders: Unknown (Community-driven project)
• Founded Year: 2001
• Headquarters: Open-Source (No formal headquarters)
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Open-Source Solutions
• Description: Simple Machines Forum (SMF) is a free, open-source platform competing with phpBB for simplicity and functionality. Written in PHP, it offers a comprehensive feature set, including custom templates and multilingual support. SMF’s large community provides plugins and mods, making it adaptable for diverse use cases. In 2025, its ease of use and robust statistics make it a go-to for small businesses and hobbyist communities seeking a no-cost solution.
• Key Features:
  • Free and open-source with full feature set
  • Custom templates for design flexibility
  • Multilingual support
  • Detailed statistics and reporting
  • Active community for plugins and support
  • User profile customization
  • Moderation and spam management tools

8. Higher Logic Vanilla

• Company Name: Higher Logic
• Founders: Rob Wenger, Andy Steggles
• Founded Year: 2007
• Headquarters: Arlington, Virginia, USA
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Community Platforms, Customer Engagement Tools
• Description: Higher Logic Vanilla offers a modern forum platform with gamification and external search integration. Acquired by Higher Logic, it serves brands seeking customer engagement through community-driven support. Its drag-and-drop customization and automated moderation make it user-friendly, while integrations with Zendesk enhance its enterprise appeal. In 2025, Vanilla’s focus on analytics and scalability positions it as a top choice for SaaS and customer success teams.
• Key Features:
  • Gamification with badges, points, and leaderboards
  • External search integration for federated results
  • Automated moderation and spam prevention
  • Drag-and-drop customization
  • Zendesk integration for ticketing
  • In-depth analytics for engagement metrics
  • Mobile-responsive design

9. Bettermode

• Company Name: Bettermode
• Founders: Siavash Mahmoudian, Reza Khadjavi
• Founded Year: 2018
• Headquarters: Toronto, Canada
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Community Platforms, Customer Engagement Hubs
• Description: Bettermode, formerly Tribe, is a modern community platform designed for customer engagement and scalability. Its all-in-one hub streamlines communication with features like SSO and advanced analytics, making it ideal for large organizations. With a 4.8-star Capterra rating, Bettermode excels in enterprise readiness, though it’s less suited for monetized creator communities. In 2025, its focus on seamless integrations and user role management drives its popularity among SaaS businesses.
• Key Features:
  • Single sign-on and social login support
  • Advanced security and user role management
  • In-depth analytics for user behavior
  • Scalable for large user volumes
  • Moderation tools for content control
  • Integration with CRM and SaaS tools
  • Mobile-optimized interface

10. Flarum

• Company Name: Flarum (Open-Source Project)
• Founders: Toby Zerner, Franz Liedke
• Founded Year: 2014
• Headquarters: Open-Source (No formal headquarters)
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Open-Source Solutions
• Description: Flarum is a lightweight, open-source forum software built with PHP and modern coding standards. Its sleek, mobile-first design and extensibility make it a favorite for developers creating custom communities. While still in beta, Flarum’s active community and plugin ecosystem ensure rapid growth. In 2025, its simplicity and modern UI appeal to startups and tech-savvy users seeking a free, customizable alternative to premium platforms.
• Key Features:
  • Lightweight and fast performance
  • Mobile-first, responsive design
  • Extensible with plugins
  • Modern PHP framework (Laravel-inspired)
  • Real-time notifications
  • User-friendly interface
  • Open-source with community support

11. Wix Forum

• Company Name: Wix.com Ltd.
• Founders: Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami, Giora Kaplan
• Founded Year: 2006
• Headquarters: Tel Aviv, Israel
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Website Builders, CMS
• Description: Wix Forum, part of Wix’s no-code website builder, offers customizable forum templates for community sites. Integrated into Wix plans, it’s free to use and ideal for small businesses or creators. Features like automated moderation and paywall options enhance its versatility, though it’s not a standalone product. In 2025, Wix Forum’s drag-and-drop simplicity makes it a compelling choice for non-technical users building integrated websites and communities.
• Key Features:
  • Drag-and-drop forum templates
  • Automated moderation tools
  • Paywall options for monetization
  • Seamless integration with Wix websites
  • Mobile-responsive design
  • User profile customization
  • Basic analytics for engagement

12. Codoforum

• Company Name: Codoforum
• Founders: Unknown (Independent project)
• Founded Year: 2012
• Headquarters: Open-Source (No formal headquarters)
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Open-Source Solutions
• Description: Codoforum is a free, PHP-based forum software with a modern, clean UI. Built with contemporary coding patterns, it offers responsive layouts and SSO integration. Ideal for small communities or those testing forum viability, Codoforum’s simplicity and notification system ensure ease of use. In 2025, its open-source nature and lightweight design make it a cost-effective option for developers and hobbyists.
• Key Features:
  • Free and open-source
  • Modern, responsive UI
  • Single sign-on integration
  • Real-time mention notifications
  • Mobile and desktop compatibility
  • Basic moderation tools
  • Community-driven support

13. NodeBB

• Company Name: NodeBB Inc.
• Founders: Julian Lam, Baris Usakli
• Founded Year: 2013
• Headquarters: Toronto, Canada
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Community Platforms
• Description: NodeBB is a modern forum platform built on Node.js, offering real-time interactivity and a sleek interface. Its plugin system and API integrations make it highly customizable, appealing to tech-savvy communities like developers and gamers. With cloud and self-hosted options, NodeBB balances performance and scalability. In 2025, its focus on real-time engagement and modern architecture positions it as a forward-thinking choice for dynamic communities.
• Key Features:
  • Real-time posting and notifications
  • Node.js-based for high performance
  • Extensive plugin ecosystem
  • API integrations for customization
  • Mobile-responsive design
  • Social login support
  • Advanced analytics

14. Hivebrite

• Company Name: Hivebrite
• Founders: Jean Meyer
• Founded Year: 2015
• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Community Platforms, Alumni Networks
• Description: Hivebrite is a premium community platform tailored for organizations, alumni networks, and professional groups. Its forum features support dynamic discussions, while analytics and moderation tools enhance engagement. Hivebrite’s customizable dashboard and integrations with LinkedIn and Slack make it enterprise-friendly. In 2025, its focus on professional communities and robust feature set make it a top pick for businesses seeking sophisticated engagement solutions.
• Key Features:
  • Customizable community dashboard
  • Social sign-in and integrations (LinkedIn, Slack)
  • Advanced moderation and spam blocking
  • Comprehensive analytics for engagement
  • Mobile-optimized interface
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Event management tools

15. Orbit

• Company Name: Orbit.love
• Founders: Patrick Woods, Josh Dzielak
• Founded Year: 2019
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Community Platforms, Analytics Tools
• Description: Orbit is a community forum software focused on analytics and engagement tracking. Its automated alerts and community feed provide admins with real-time insights into member activity. Integrations with Slack, GitHub, and Twitter enhance its appeal for developer and SaaS communities. In 2025, Orbit’s data-driven approach and modern UX make it ideal for brands prioritizing community growth and retention.
• Key Features:
  • Comprehensive analytics dashboard
  • Automated alerts for member actions
  • Community feed for activity tracking
  • Integrations with Slack, GitHub, Twitter
  • Social sign-in support
  • Moderation and spam-blocking tools
  • Mobile-optimized design

16. LiveAgent

• Company Name: Quality Unit, s.r.o.
• Founders: Viktor Zeman, Andrej Csizmadia
• Founded Year: 2004
• Headquarters: Bratislava, Slovakia
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Helpdesk Software, Customer Support Tools
• Description: LiveAgent combines forum software with comprehensive customer support features, transforming forum posts into tickets for streamlined support. Its cloud-based platform integrates multiple channels like Twitter and Slack, making it ideal for businesses focused on customer engagement. In 2025, LiveAgent’s scalability and omnichannel capabilities make it a strong choice for SaaS companies seeking integrated community and support solutions.
• Key Features:
  • Forum-to-ticket automation
  • Omnichannel support (Twitter, Slack, email)
  • SEO and keyword optimization
  • Advanced moderation tools
  • User profile integration with CRM
  • Mobile-responsive interface
  • Analytics for user activity

17. Joomla! (Kunena/EasyDiscuss)

• Company Name: Open Source Matters, Inc.
• Founders: Andrew Eddie, Johan Janssens, Louis Landry
• Founded Year: 2005
• Headquarters: New York, New York, USA
• Product Categories: CMS, Forum Software, Plugins
• Description: Joomla!, a powerful CMS, supports forums through plugins like Kunena and EasyDiscuss. These tools offer robust discussion platforms with theme customization and user management. While requiring technical setup, Joomla!’s flexibility makes it ideal for businesses integrating forums with broader websites. In 2025, its open-source nature and plugin ecosystem appeal to developers and enterprises seeking customizable solutions.
• Key Features:
  • Forum plugins (Kunena, EasyDiscuss)
  • Extensive theme and plugin library
  • User permission and moderation tools
  • Multilingual support
  • SEO-friendly architecture
  • Mobile-responsive design
  • Community-driven support

18. WordPress (bbPress/wpForo)

• Company Name: WordPress Foundation
• Founders: Matt Mullenweg, Mike Little
• Founded Year: 2003
• Headquarters: Open-Source (No formal headquarters, U.S.-based foundation)
• Product Categories: CMS, Forum Software, Plugins
• Description: WordPress, the world’s leading CMS, powers forums through plugins like bbPress and wpForo. These offer essential forum features with seamless website integration, ideal for businesses and creators. While setup requires technical knowledge, WordPress’s vast plugin ecosystem and user-friendliness make it a versatile choice. In 2025, its dominance in content management ensures its relevance for integrated community solutions.
• Key Features:
  • Forum plugins (bbPress, wpForo)
  • Seamless WordPress integration
  • Extensive plugin and theme library
  • User-friendly customization
  • SEO optimization tools
  • Mobile-responsive design
  • Community support forums

19. Zendesk

• Company Name: Zendesk, Inc.
• Founders: Mikkel Svane, Alexander Aghassipour, Morten Primdahl
• Founded Year: 2007
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Customer Service Solutions, Ticketing Systems
• Description: Zendesk’s forum software integrates with its industry-leading ticketing system, enabling businesses to build branded communities with self-service support. Its AI-powered moderation and search functionality enhance user experience, while analytics track engagement. In 2025, Zendesk’s omnichannel approach and ease of customization make it a top choice for enterprises prioritizing customer success and support efficiency.
• Key Features:
  • AI-powered moderation and search
  • Integration with ticketing and self-service portals
  • Drag-and-drop customization
  • Robust analytics for engagement metrics
  • Omnichannel support for agents
  • Mobile-responsive design
  • Social login support

20. Gainsight DH (formerly inSided)

• Company Name: Gainsight, Inc.
• Founders: Napster Riaz (inSided), Nick Mehta (Gainsight)
• Founded Year: 2010 (inSided), 2009 (Gainsight)
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
• Product Categories: Forum Software, Community Platforms, Customer Success Tools
• Description: Gainsight DH, formerly inSided, is a powerful forum platform for customer success teams, acquired by Gainsight to enhance community-driven support. Its scalable architecture and moderation tools support large user bases, while integrations with CRM systems drive engagement. In 2025, its enterprise focus and analytics make it ideal for SaaS businesses building self-service communities.
• Key Features:
  • Scalable for large user volumes
  • Advanced moderation tools
  • CRM and SaaS integrations
  • In-depth analytics for engagement
  • Social login and SSO support
  • Mobile-optimized interface
  • User role management

Conclusion

The forum software market in 2025 is diverse, offering solutions for every need—from open-source platforms like phpBB and Flarum to enterprise-grade tools like Zendesk and Bettermode. When choosing a provider, consider your community’s scale, technical expertise, and integration requirements. Open-source options excel for budget-conscious developers, while premium platforms like Discourse and XenForo offer unmatched performance and support. For SaaS businesses, integrated solutions like LiveAgent and Gainsight DH drive customer success. Evaluate these providers based on your goals to build a thriving, engaged online community that stands out in the digital age.