Meith
Meith: A flexible, MIT-licensed forum for groups comfortable managing their own hosting. Ranked #19 of 22 in Forum Software by our editors (7.1/10); pricing: Free plan; best for small groups wanting free open-source flexibility.
At a glance
- Editor score7.1 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forSmall groups wanting free open-source flexibility
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Hosting modelBoth
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Threaded discussions, search, groups, permissions and moderation tools
- Themes, plugins and a REST API support customization and development
- Optional Stripe memberships and migration from MyBB or phpBB
Where it doesn't
- Operators arrange and pay for hosting and related services
- No native iOS or Android community apps
- Integration options are limited to Stripe
Our verdict on Meith
Meith is open-source forum software for developers, open-source projects, community organizers, clubs and associations that want to run a community on their own infrastructure and domain. It supports threaded discussions, member accounts, private messaging, forums and groups, with permission controls and moderation tools. The MIT license has no license fee or per-member charge, so the fit is strongest for groups that value control and can manage deployment rather than buyers seeking a hosted, managed forum service.
Customization and developer access are central to Meith. Administrators can use themes and plugins, while developers can work with a REST API using scoped tokens and version-controlled configuration. The software stores community data in PostgreSQL and supports deployment with Docker Compose, Coolify or Vercel. Search covers accessible content; permissions help define access across forums and groups. These capabilities offer room to shape a community, though operating the software also means taking responsibility for its infrastructure.
Meith includes migration from MyBB or phpBB and can support optional paid memberships through the community's Stripe account. The software has no vendor-hosted edition or license charge; operators arrange hosting and any other services themselves, so ongoing costs depend on those choices. Support channels are documentation and community resources. There are no native iOS or Android community apps, and Stripe is the listed integration, so groups that need mobile apps, a broader integration ecosystem or vendor-managed hosting should consider alternatives. For technically capable small groups seeking open-source flexibility, Meith is a practical fit; it is less suited to teams wanting a turnkey hosted product.
Your product? Our editors can test Meith in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Meith pricing
Meith fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Hosting model | Both |
| Single sign-on | Not verified |
| Custom domain | Yes |
| Member limit | Not verified |
| Mobile apps | None |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Docs, Community |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 1 integrations: Stripe |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | meith.dev |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
Meith integrations
Meith lists 1 integrations on its own site.
- Stripe
Alternatives to Meith
- DiscourseA full-featured forum with free access, managed hosting, and self-hosting options.9.4
- Invision CommunityA broad community suite for organizations combining discussion with events and commerce.9.2
- XenForoA configurable forum for professional communities, with extensive moderation and permission controls.9.0
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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