Best Open Social Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 tools from online community platforms ranked against Open Social on the same published basis.
- 1Open Social vs NodeBB
- 2Open Social vs Circle
- 3Open Social vs HumHub
- 4Open Social vs Daisie
- 5Open Social vs Heartbeat
- 7Open Social vs Discourse
- 8Open Social vs Mighty Networks
- 9Open Social vs phpBB
- 10Open Social vs Crowdstack
- 11Open Social vs Fora
- 12Open Social vs Hivebrite
- 13Open Social vs Archive of Our Own
- 14Open Social vs Geneva
- 15Open Social vs Invision Community
- 16Open Social vs Nodyx
- 17Open Social vs Reddit
- 18Open Social vs Forums.net
- 19Open Social vs Skool
- 20Open Social vs Wattpad
- 21Open Social vs Bettermode
Open Social alternatives compared
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NodeBB | 7.7 | Free plan | $20/mo | API, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 2 | Circle | 7.3 | No | $89/mo | Android, API, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 3 | HumHub | 7.3 | Free plan | — | Android, API, iOS, self-hosted, Web |
| 4 | Daisie | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | iOS, Web |
| 5 | Heartbeat | 7.0 | No | $19/mo | Android, iOS |
| 7 | Discourse | 6.7 | Free plan | $100/mo | self-hosted |
| 8 | Mighty Networks | 6.7 | No | $79/mo | Android, iOS, Web |
| 9 | phpBB | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | self-hosted, Web |
| 10 | Crowdstack | 6.5 | No | $999/mo | Web |
| 11 | Fora | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 12 | Hivebrite | 6.5 | No | — | Web, iOS, Android |
| 13 | Archive of Our Own | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 14 | Geneva | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Web, iOS, Android |
| 15 | Invision Community | 6.4 | No | — | Web, iOS, Android |
| 16 | Nodyx | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | API, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 17 | 6.4 | No | — | Web, iOS, Android | |
| 18 | Forums.net | 6.3 | No | $49.99/mo | Android, iOS, Web |
| 19 | Skool | 6.3 | No | $9/mo | Web, iOS, Android |
| 20 | Wattpad | 6.3 | No | — | Web, iOS, Android |
| 21 | Bettermode | 6.2 | No | $399/mo | Web |
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Questions about Open Social alternatives
What is the best alternative to Open Social?
NodeBB, number 1 in online community platforms with a score of 7.7 out of 10. The others here: Circle, HumHub, Daisie and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to Open Social?
NodeBB is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 9 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.