These 10 apps lead WordPress Plugin Directory's Community category as of September 2026 — ranked by user rating, review count, and audit score, refreshed every 24 hours from the canonical WordPress marketplace listing.
Discover the top-rated community apps available on WordPress Plugin Directory. Rankings based on user ratings, review count, and market performance.
This is the curated shortlist — the top-ranked community apps. To browse every community app on WordPress Plugin Directory, see the full Community category.
This list ranks the top 10 WordPress apps classified under Community by the source marketplace's own taxonomy — apps appear here only because WordPress Plugin Directory itself tags them in this category, not because of any AppRanks editorial decision. Within the category set, ranking uses a Bayesian-ish blend of average rating × natural log of review count: the formula is , so a high-rating-low-review app doesn't leapfrog an established listing on a single 5-star outlier. The blend favors apps that are both well-reviewed AND have an established user base.
rating × ln(reviewCount + 1)AppRanks does not invent a proprietary score for public surfaces — the rank shown mirrors the marketplace's published category position exactly, scraped on a 12-24 hour refresh cycle from the canonical WordPress Plugin Directory listing. The category lookup happens at request time and the page is cached at the edge for 1 hour to absorb traffic spikes; the underlying ranking data refreshes daily so the list stays accurate within one day of any source change. AppRanks does not editorially promote or demote apps based on advertiser or partnership status — the same blend formula applies uniformly across every app on this platform.
Ranks #1 in the WordPress Plugin Directory community category as a category-leading listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (9 reviews). Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — Petitioner holds a 4.9-star average across 9 reviews in the community category.
Ranks #2 in the WordPress Plugin Directory community category as a mixed-rating listing. An early-stage review volume (0 reviews) with a no-rating average. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you want an emerging community option — AI Moderator for BuddyPress ranks #2 on WordPress Plugin Directory and is still building review depth.
Init Chat Engine – Real-Time, Community, Extensible
Ranks #3 in the WordPress Plugin Directory community category as a mixed-rating listing. Tracks at no-rating across 0 reviews — early-stage review volume. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you want an emerging community option — Init Chat Engine – Real-Time, Community, Extensible ranks #3 on WordPress Plugin Directory and is still building review depth.
Arena – Group Chat for Real-Time Engagement
Holds position #4 in the WordPress Plugin Directory community category as a category-leading listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (1 reviews). Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Chatwing Live Group Chat – HTML5 + Chat Apps
Currently sits at #5 in the WordPress Plugin Directory community category as a well-rated listing. An early-stage review volume (18 reviews) with a no-rating average. Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Holds position #6 in the WordPress Plugin Directory community category as a mixed-rating listing. Tracks at no-rating across 0 reviews — early-stage review volume. Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
ZenCommunity — Real-Time Community Plugin with Messaging, Feeds, Live Chat & Support System
Currently sits at #7 in the WordPress Plugin Directory community category as a category-leading listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (3 reviews). AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Forumax – AI Powered Advanced Community Forum Plugin
Holds position #8 in the WordPress Plugin Directory community category as a category-leading listing. An early-stage review volume (18 reviews) with a no-rating average. AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
SureDash – Community, Courses & Member Dashboard
Currently sits at #9 in the WordPress Plugin Directory community category as a well-rated listing. Tracks at no-rating across 22 reviews — early-stage review volume. AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
FluentCommunity – Ultra-Fast High-Performance Social Network, Community, LMS & Online Courses
Holds position #10 in the WordPress Plugin Directory community category as a category-leading listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (89 reviews). Source: WordPress Plugin Directory's own published category position.
Same data as the ranked cards, condensed into a sortable-by-eye grid: rating × review depth × pricing tier across the top 10 community apps on WordPress Plugin Directory.
Want to compare any two apps in detail (features, ratings trend, pricing plans side-by-side)? Open the head-to-head page from the "Compare to #N" link on each card above. Custom multi-app comparisons, historical rank trajectory, and CSV export are available on a paid plan.
Methodology details: /glossary/audit-score · /about.
Paid plans unlock watchlists, multi-category comparisons, CSV export, and a full historical rank trajectory across every app on this list. The list itself stays free to read.
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