Question2Answer
Question2Answer: A free, self-hosted choice for focused Q&A communities with deep customization. Ranked #22 of 54 in Online Community Platforms by our editors (6.8/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free, self-hosted Q&A communities.
At a glance
- Editor score6.8 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree, self-hosted Q&A communities
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free GPL v2-or-later software with no paid tier requirement
- Advanced moderation, roles, flagging, captchas, and post approval
- Plugins plus WordPress, Joomla, and single sign-on integration
Where it doesn't
- Requires installation and administration on your own web server
- Its primary focus is Q&A rather than broad community programming
- Mobile access is provided as a web app rather than a listed mobile app
Our verdict on Question2Answer
Question2Answer is an open-source, self-hosted platform for building Q&A communities with PHP and MySQL. It is suited to organizations, publishers, and site owners that want control over installation, design, authentication, and content structure. Members can post questions, answers, comments, and follow-on questions, while categories, tags, integrated search, voting, and points-based reputation organize participation. RSS feeds, email notifications, personal news feeds, private messages, and public wall posts support ongoing engagement beyond individual discussions.
Its strongest fit is a community that needs structured moderation and configurable administration. Expert, editor, moderator, and administrator roles provide distinct responsibilities, while flagging, captchas, and post approval controls support content review. Themes, widgets, custom pages, and plugins extend the presentation and functionality. WordPress and Joomla integration, Facebook login, and single sign-on also make it more suitable for an existing web ecosystem than a standalone community that has no surrounding site.
The trade-off is operational ownership. Administrators install the software on their own web server and remain responsible for configuration, customization, and ongoing administration. The platform is free and distributed under the GPL v2 or later license, making it attractive when software licensing cost and source access matter. Its focused Q&A model may not suit teams seeking a broader community program centered on varied formats or extensive native mobile experiences. Choose Question2Answer for a customizable, self-hosted question-and-answer destination; consider another platform if you want managed hosting or a broader community focus.
Your product? Our editors can test Question2Answer in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Question2Answer pricing
Question2Answer fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Member limit | Not verified |
| Moderation tools | Advanced |
| Private groups | Not verified |
| Direct messaging | Yes |
| Custom domain | Yes |
| Mobile apps | Web app |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 4 integrations: WordPress, Joomla, Facebook login, Single sign-on |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | question2answer.org |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Question2Answer integrations
Question2Answer lists 4 integrations on its own site.
- WordPress
- Joomla
- Facebook login
- Single sign-on
Alternatives to Question2Answer
- 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
See all Question2Answer alternatives →
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Featured on iTechGuides
Question2Answer is listed in our Online Community Platforms directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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