These 10 apps lead WordPress Plugin Directory's Forum 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 forum apps available on WordPress Plugin Directory. Rankings based on user ratings, review count, and market performance.
This is the curated shortlist — the top-ranked forum apps. To browse every forum app on WordPress Plugin Directory, see the full Forum category.
This list ranks the top 10 WordPress apps classified under Forum 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 rating × ln(reviewCount + 1), 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.
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 forum category as a mixed-rating listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (0 reviews). Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you want an emerging forum option — AI Bot for bbPress ranks #1 on WordPress Plugin Directory and is still building review depth.
Ranks #2 in the WordPress Plugin Directory forum 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 forum option — LLM Moderator For wpForo ranks #2 on WordPress Plugin Directory and is still building review depth.
Simple Ajax Chat – Add a Fast, Secure Chat Box
Ranks #3 in the WordPress Plugin Directory forum category as a category-leading listing. Tracks at no-rating across 215 reviews — growing review traction. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — Simple Ajax Chat – Add a Fast, Secure Chat Box holds a 4.9-star average across 215 reviews in the forum category.
ZenCommunity — Real-Time Community Plugin with Messaging, Feeds, Live Chat & Support System
Holds position #4 in the WordPress Plugin Directory forum category as a category-leading listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (3 reviews). Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Forumax – AI Powered Advanced Community Forum Plugin
Currently sits at #5 in the WordPress Plugin Directory forum category as a category-leading listing. An early-stage review volume (18 reviews) with a no-rating average. Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
FluentCommunity – Ultra-Fast High-Performance Social Network, Community, LMS & Online Courses
Holds position #6 in the WordPress Plugin Directory forum category as a category-leading listing. Tracks at no-rating across 89 reviews — early-stage review volume. Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Currently sits at #7 in the WordPress Plugin Directory forum category as a highly rated listing. Currently has a growing review traction (390 reviews). AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
WP-United : phpBB WordPress Integration
Holds position #8 in the WordPress Plugin Directory forum category as a mixed-rating listing. An early-stage review volume (52 reviews) with a no-rating average. AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Muut – Commenting and Forums Re-Imagined
Currently sits at #9 in the WordPress Plugin Directory forum category as a mixed-rating listing. Tracks at no-rating across 19 reviews — early-stage review volume. AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Holds position #10 in the WordPress Plugin Directory forum category as a category-leading listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (3 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 forum 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.
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