Nexus
Nexus: A self-hosted forum with rich discussions, moderation, extensions, and PWA push notifications. Ranked #20 of 22 in Forum Software by our editors (7.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for small self-hosters wanting a modern forum PWA.
At a glance
- Editor score7.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forSmall self-hosters wanting a modern forum PWA
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Hosting modelSelf-hosted
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Organizes communities with spaces, sub-spaces, threads, and nested replies
- Combines moderation, role-based permissions, voting, and accepted answers
- Offers extensions, storage integrations, and installable PWA push notifications
Where it doesn't
- Requires self-hosting rather than a hosted service
- Offers a PWA, not native iOS or Android apps
- Has no SSO support
Our verdict on Nexus
Nexus is open-source, self-hosted forum software for individuals and small organizations running an online community on their own server. Its spaces and sub-spaces organize discussion threads, while Markdown, embeds, mentions, emoji, nested replies, voting, reactions, pinned threads, and accepted answers support different conversation styles. Full-text search spans posts and replies. Profiles, groups, direct messages, notifications, activity feeds, badges, points, and leaderboards add community features beyond basic message boards.
Administration covers registration, branding, email, storage, and progressive web app settings. Moderators can use bans, mutes, suspensions, reports, and approval mode; member groups and role-based permissions help define access. Extensions and themes install from a URL or built-in store. Nexus supports Google and GitHub OAuth, Postmark, Resend, Mailgun, SMTP, Cloudflare R2, and S3-compatible storage. Deployment uses Docker Compose, and the software is distributed under the MIT license. The published setup model is self-hosted, so the operator is responsible for running the forum on a server.
The PWA can be installed on iOS and Android and supports push notifications, but Nexus does not offer native App Store or Google Play apps. That makes it a fit for communities comfortable with browser-based access and their own hosting, rather than teams that require native apps or a managed hosted service. With docs and community support, plus extensive moderation and permissions, it suits small self-hosters who want control over community setup. Organizations requiring SSO should look elsewhere; Nexus does not support it.
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Nexus pricing
Nexus fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Hosting model | Self-hosted |
| Single sign-on | No |
| Custom domain | Yes |
| Member limit | Not verified |
| Mobile apps | None |
| Deployment | Self-hosted, Browser extension |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Docs, Community |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 8 integrations: Google OAuth, GitHub OAuth, Postmark, Resend, Mailgun, SMTP … See all → |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | nexusprism.org |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
Nexus integrations
Nexus lists 8 integrations on its own site.
- Google OAuth
- GitHub OAuth
- Postmark
- Resend
- Mailgun
- SMTP
- Cloudflare R2
- S3-compatible storage
Alternatives to Nexus
- 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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