Best XenForo Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 tools from online community platforms ranked against XenForo on the same published basis.
- 1XenForo vs NodeBB
- 2XenForo vs Circle
- 3XenForo vs HumHub
- 4XenForo vs Nodyx
- 5XenForo vs Daisie
- 6XenForo vs Heartbeat
- 7XenForo vs Open Social
- 8XenForo vs Discourse
- 9XenForo vs Mighty Networks
- 10XenForo vs phpBB
- 11XenForo vs Crowdstack
- 12XenForo vs Fora
- 13XenForo vs Hivebrite
- 14XenForo vs Archive of Our Own
- 15XenForo vs Geneva
- 16XenForo vs Invision Community
- 17XenForo vs Reddit
- 18XenForo vs Forums.net
- 19XenForo vs Skool
- 20XenForo vs Wattpad
XenForo 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 | Nodyx | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | API, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 5 | Daisie | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | iOS, Web |
| 6 | Heartbeat | 7.0 | No | $19/mo | Android, iOS |
| 7 | Open Social | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Android, API, iOS, self-hosted, Web |
| 8 | Discourse | 6.7 | Free plan | $100/mo | self-hosted |
| 9 | Mighty Networks | 6.7 | No | $79/mo | Android, iOS, Web |
| 10 | phpBB | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | self-hosted, Web |
| 11 | Crowdstack | 6.5 | No | $999/mo | Web |
| 12 | Fora | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 13 | Hivebrite | 6.5 | No | — | Web, iOS, Android |
| 14 | Archive of Our Own | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 15 | Geneva | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Web, iOS, Android |
| 16 | Invision Community | 6.4 | No | — | Web, iOS, Android |
| 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 |
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Questions about XenForo alternatives
What is the best alternative to XenForo?
NodeBB, number 1 in online community platforms with a score of 7.7 out of 10. The others here: Circle, HumHub, Nodyx and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to XenForo?
NodeBB is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 10 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.