phpBB AlternativesTop Forum Software and other similar apps like phpBB

phpBB is described as 'Since its creation in 2000, phpBB has become the most widely used Open Source forum solution. Like its predecessors, phpBB 3.2 “Rhea” has an easy to use administration panel and a user friendly installation process, which allows you to have a forum set up in minutes' and is a popular Forum Software in the business & commerce category. There are more than 50 alternatives to phpBB for a variety of platforms, including Self-Hosted, Web-based, Linux, Windows and Mac apps. The best phpBB alternative is Discourse. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Discourse or Flarum. Other great apps like phpBB are MyBB, Simple Machines Forum, vBulletin and Invision Community.

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Alternatives list

  1. Discourse icon

    Discourse

     156 likes
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    Discourse is an open source discussion platform built for the next decade of the Internet. A modern forum, everything's been redesigned to be easy.

    69 Discourse alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Ruby
    • JavaScript
    • Cloudron
    • Docker
    Discourse screenshot 1
     
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    2
    13
    Comments about Discourse as an Alternative to phpBB
    Taurolyon
    Negative
    2

    More of a comment system than categorized forum.

    MikeSnap
    Negative
    3

    It's more of a online messenger then a forum cms.

    phpBB Icon
    Discourse icon

    • Some users think Discourse is a great phpBB alternative, some don't.

    • Discourse is the most popular Web-based & Self-Hosted alternative to phpBB.

    • Discourse is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to phpBB.

    • Discourse is Free Personal and Open SourcephpBB is Free and Open Source
  2. Flarum icon

    Flarum

     82 likes
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    Flarum is free, open-source forum software with a focus on simplicity. You can use Flarum to easily set up a discussion forum for your website. Flarum is developed openly on GitHub.

    53 Flarum alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Apache HTTP Server
    • PHP
    Flarum screenshot 1
     
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    3
    19
    Comments about Flarum as an Alternative to phpBB
    ab1
    Positive
    0

    Better is some ways after some configuration!

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Better looking, Faster, And simpler.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    RemovedUser
    Positive
    0

    it's still in beta , but promising fast discourse like somehow forum

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    phpBB Icon
    Flarum icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Flarum is a great phpBB alternative.

    • Flarum is Free and Open SourcephpBB is also Free and Open Source
    • Flarum is LightweightphpBB is not according to our users
  4. XenForo icon

    XenForo

     21 likes
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    A compelling community experience. Intuitive. Social. Engaging. Fast. XenForo brings a fresh outlook to forum software.

    44 XenForo alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • MySQL Community Edition
    • Self-Hosted
    • MariaDB
    • PHP
    Overview
     

    • XenForo is the most popular commercial alternative to phpBB.

    • XenForo is Paid and ProprietaryphpBB is Free and Open Source
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    PlushForums icon
    PlushForums

    Plush is the most polished, user-friendly forum experience ever, featuring real-time discussions, beautiful design, an integrated blog, member directory, private messaging, paid subscriptions and a world-class mobi...

    https://plushforums.com
    Learn More
  6. MyBB icon

    MyBB

     35 likes
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    MyBB is the free and open source, intuitive, extensible, and incredibly powerful forum software you've been looking for.

    47 MyBB alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    MyBB screenshot 1
     
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    9

    • Almost everyone thinks MyBB is a great phpBB alternative.

    • MyBB is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to phpBB.

    • MyBB is Free and Open SourcephpBB is also Free and Open Source
    • MyBB is LightweightphpBB is not according to our users
  7. Simple Machines Forum icon

    Simple Machines Forum

     36 likes
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    Simple Machines Forum — SMF in short — is a free, professional grade software package that allows you to set up your own online community within minutes.

    47 Simple Machines Forum alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    Simple Machines Forum screenshot 1
     
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    1
    7
    Comments about Simple Machines Forum as an Alternative to phpBB
    Chip Thrasher
    Positive
    0

    It is very similar to the way phpBB works. However, it is less supported and harder to install.

    phpBB Icon
    Simple Machines Forum icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Simple Machines Forum is a great phpBB alternative.

    • Simple Machines Forum is Free and Open SourcephpBB is also Free and Open Source
  8. vBulletin icon

    vBulletin

     20 likes
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    vBulletin (abbreviated as vB) is a commercial Internet forum software written in PHP using a MySQL database server.

    45 vBulletin alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • PHP
    Home Screen
     
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    8

    • Most users think vBulletin is a great phpBB alternative.

    • vBulletin is the most popular Android & iPhone alternative to phpBB.

    • vBulletin is Paid and ProprietaryphpBB is Free and Open Source
  11. Vanilla Forum icon

    Vanilla Forum

     22 likes
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    Vanilla provides a standards-compliant, multi-lingual, theme-able and pluggablecommunity forum software that powers discussion forums on 800,000 sites.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    Vanilla Forum screenshot 1
    Vanilla Forum screenshot 2
     
  12. NodeBB icon

    NodeBB

     19 likes
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    A community forum allows you to engage and retain customers, keeping them interested and up-to-date with your latest product or service.

    46 NodeBB alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Sandstorm
    • MongoDB
    • Redis
    • Cloudron
    • Node.JS
    NodeBB screenshot 1
     
  13. bbPress icon

    bbPress

     21 likes
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    bbPress is forum software with a twist from the creators of WordPress. Its focused on web standards, ease of use, ease of integration, and speed. bbPress will try to keep things as small and light as possible while still allowing great add-on feature possibilities.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    bbPress screenshot 1
     
  14. WoltLab Suite icon

    WoltLab Suite

     9 likes
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    WoltLab Suite (formerly Burning Board) is an enterprise grade CMS built for communities and forums.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • MySQL Community Edition
    • Self-Hosted
    • PHP
    WoltLab Suite screenshot 1
     
  15. PlushForums icon

    PlushForums

     3 likes
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    Plush is the most polished, user-friendly forum experience ever, featuring real-time discussions, beautiful design, an integrated blog, member directory, private messaging, paid subscriptions and a world-class mobile experience.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    PlushForums screenshot 1
     
12 of 52 phpBB alternatives