MyBB
MyBB: A capable free forum platform for teams comfortable managing their own hosting. Ranked #10 of 54 in Online Community Platforms by our editors (8.3/10); pricing: Free plan; best for classic open-source forums with private messaging.
At a glance
- Editor score8.3 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forClassic open-source forums with private messaging
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Founded2002
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Advanced moderation tools, queues, and delayed actions
- Private messaging supports search, folders, tracking, and export
- Plugins, themes, permissions, and translations support customization
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment requires control of hosting and configuration
- No verified mobile apps are included
- Integrations and custom-domain support are not part of the listed feature set
Our verdict on MyBB
MyBB is free, open-source forum software for building and operating online discussion communities. It is designed for administrators who want control over hosting, configuration, databases, themes, extensions, and user access instead of using a vendor-hosted subscription service. Its core covers forum and discussion management, user groups, forum-level permissions, private messaging, multilingual translations, and an administrator control panel. MyBB has been developed since 2002 by the MyBB Group and is available for web and self-hosted use.
Moderation is a central strength. Administrators can manage threads and posts with advanced tools, delayed moderation actions, and moderation queues. The platform also supports private messaging with multiple recipients, along with message search, tracking, folders, and export. These capabilities suit communities that need structured discussions, delegated administration, and direct member communication. Plugin and theme extensibility add room to adapt the forum’s appearance and functionality, while community translations support multilingual installations.
The main trade-off is operational responsibility. Because MyBB is self-hosted, the administrator manages the hosting environment, configuration, databases, themes, extensions, and user access. That model fits organizations seeking open-source control and willing to oversee their own forum infrastructure. It is less suitable for teams looking for a vendor-hosted service, verified mobile apps, built-in integrations, or custom-domain support. Choose MyBB for a classic forum with detailed moderation, permissions, and private messaging; consider an alternative if minimizing infrastructure management or expanding beyond a traditional forum is the priority.
Your product? Our editors can test MyBB in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
MyBB pricing
MyBB fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Member limit | Not verified |
| Moderation tools | Advanced |
| Private groups | Not verified |
| Direct messaging | Yes |
| Custom domain | Not verified |
| Mobile apps | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Community, Docs, Email |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | mybb.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to MyBB
- DiscourseA flexible discussion hub with chat, moderation, private spaces, and self-hosting.9.4
- RedditA free platform for topic-based communities with built-in moderation and events.9.2
- Invision CommunityA broad community suite for established forums that need content, groups, events, and monetization.9.0
Also Ranked In
MyBB is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used MyBB for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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