Posted on September 24, 2024 by Mahamodul Hasan Khan

Top 30 Best Online Community Platform Plugins & Themes for WordPress

Creating an online community on WordPress requires the right combination of plugins and themes to facilitate engagement, foster communication, and support the needs of your users. Whether you are building a forum, a social network, or a membership site, this article will guide you through the top 30 best plugins and themes that enhance your community-building efforts on WordPress.

1. BuddyPress

Summary: BuddyPress is one of the most popular community-building plugins for WordPress, transforming your site into a full-fledged social network.

Key Features:

Activity streams
Member profiles
Groups and forums
Private messaging
Friendships

Description: BuddyPress allows you to create social media-style websites with profiles, private messaging, and user groups. It integrates seamlessly with most WordPress themes and plugins, offering extensive customization options.

Detailed Features:

User profiles: Customizable fields and profile management.
Group creation: Allow users to create and join groups.
Real-time notifications: Keep users updated with site activities.
Multisite support: Expand your community across several sites.

Price: Free

Link: BuddyPress

Short Expert Review: BuddyPress is a versatile plugin for creating dynamic community spaces, ideal for social networks, forums, and collaborative environments.

2. bbPress

Summary: bbPress is a lightweight forum plugin developed by the creators of WordPress, designed for seamless integration with WordPress sites.

Key Features:

Forum discussions
Topic and reply tracking
Spam protection
Multisite support
Customizable templates

Description: bbPress enables the creation of discussion forums on your WordPress site. It is optimized for performance and integrates well with BuddyPress for social networking functionalities.

Detailed Features:

Forum moderation tools: Efficiently manage users and content.
User roles: Set permissions for different user groups.
Threaded discussions: Organize conversations easily.
Anti-spam features: Protect your forums from spam with Akismet integration.

Price: Free

Link: bbPress

Short Expert Review: bbPress is an excellent choice for creating lightweight and user-friendly discussion forums on WordPress, with reliable performance.

3. PeepSo

Summary: PeepSo is a modern social network plugin for WordPress, offering a wide range of features similar to Facebook, including activity streams, profiles, and more.

Key Features:

Real-time notifications
Private messaging
Groups and communities
User profiles with cover photos
Mobile-friendly

Description: PeepSo offers a highly customizable social network platform. It integrates well with other WordPress plugins, giving you control over how users interact with each other.

Detailed Features:

Privacy settings: Users can control the visibility of their content.
Advanced notifications: Notify users about comments, likes, and more.
Multimedia sharing: Users can upload images, videos, and other media.
Third-party integrations: Supports popular plugins like WooCommerce and LearnDash.

Price: Starts at $99/year for the Basic plan

Link: PeepSo

Short Expert Review: PeepSo is an outstanding choice for creating social networks on WordPress, offering a polished user experience with numerous social features.

4. MemberPress

Summary: MemberPress is a leading membership plugin that allows you to create, manage, and track membership subscriptions.

Key Features:

Subscription management
Content restriction
Payment gateways
Coupons and discounts
Customizable registration forms

Description: MemberPress helps you monetize your community by selling memberships and subscriptions. It is ideal for websites that require restricted content for members.

Detailed Features:

Drip content: Gradually release content to members.
Paywall options: Set up a paywall for specific content.
Reports: Track membership data, sales, and revenues.
Integrations: Works well with MailChimp, WooCommerce, and other services.

Price: Starts at $179/year for the Basic plan

Link: MemberPress

Short Expert Review: MemberPress is a comprehensive solution for monetizing your WordPress community, with excellent content management and membership tracking tools.

5. WPForo Forum

Summary: WPForo Forum is a highly flexible and customizable forum plugin with a modern design and deep feature set.

Key Features:

Forum layouts (simple, extended, and question-and-answer)
SEO-friendly
Multi-level user permissions
Real-time updates
User badges and ranks

Description: WPForo provides an advanced forum experience with powerful moderation tools, custom layouts, and the ability to integrate with other WordPress features.

Detailed Features:

User reputation system: Implement user rankings and badges.
Forum structure: Customize forums with multi-level categories and subforums.
Threaded replies: Keep discussions organized and easy to follow.
Analytics integration: Get insights into forum performance with built-in analytics.

Price: Free (premium add-ons available)

Link: WPForo Forum

Short Expert Review: WPForo is a highly flexible forum solution with rich customization options, perfect for building engaging discussion spaces on WordPress.

6. Ultimate Member

Summary: Ultimate Member is a powerful user profile and membership plugin, ideal for creating online communities where users can interact and share content.

Key Features:

Front-end user profiles
User roles and permissions
Content restriction
Conditional navigation menus
Email notifications

Description: Ultimate Member allows you to build membership sites with customizable user profiles and social networking features. It supports various community-building functionalities like private messaging and activity tracking.

Detailed Features:

User directories: Create searchable directories of members.
Profile completeness: Encourage users to fill out their profiles with progress bars.
Account management: Users can easily edit their account information.
Membership payments: Integrate with WooCommerce to monetize your membership.

Price: Free (premium extensions available starting at $249/year)

Link: Ultimate Member

Short Expert Review: Ultimate Member offers an easy-to-use interface with robust profile management features, making it an excellent choice for building user-driven communities.

7. LearnDash

Summary: LearnDash is a leading learning management system (LMS) plugin for WordPress, ideal for building educational communities.

Key Features:

Course creation and management
Quizzes and assessments
Course forums
Drip-feed lessons
Course certificates

Description: LearnDash is designed for creating educational communities where users can take courses, join forums, and engage in interactive learning activities. It is highly scalable and integrates well with other WordPress plugins.

Detailed Features:

Gamification: Reward users with badges, certificates, and points.
Multi-tier courses: Build complex courses with lesson plans, quizzes, and forums.
Monetization: Sell courses through WooCommerce or membership plans.
Advanced reporting: Track student progress and engagement through detailed reports.

Price: Starts at $199/year for the Basic plan

Link: LearnDash

Short Expert Review: LearnDash is a powerful and flexible LMS plugin, ideal for educators and community leaders looking to offer interactive and engaging online courses.

8. Simple

Summary: Simple

is a feature-rich forum plugin that integrates easily with WordPress to create vibrant community discussions.

Key Features:

Customizable forum layouts
Forum statistics and analytics
User badges and ranks
Private and public forums
SEO-friendly

Description: Simple

provides everything you need to build a forum within WordPress. It is highly scalable, offering features for both small communities and large-scale forums.

Detailed Features:

Polls and surveys: Engage users with interactive polls.
User management: Set user permissions and roles easily.
Private messaging: Enable users to communicate privately.
Forum subscriptions: Users can subscribe to topics and receive notifications.

Price: Free (premium add-ons available starting at $99/year)

Link: Simple

Short Expert Review: Simple

is a versatile forum plugin with robust features, offering flexibility and customization options for WordPress communities of all sizes.

9. Thrive Theme Builder

Summary: Thrive Theme Builder is a fully customizable WordPress theme that is designed for building conversion-focused community websites.

Key Features:

Drag-and-drop editor
Pre-built templates and designs
Built-in lead generation tools
Speed optimization
Full WooCommerce integration

Description: Thrive Theme Builder gives you the tools to create a visually stunning and conversion-optimized WordPress community site. It offers full design flexibility with a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor.

Detailed Features:

Landing page builder: Create custom landing pages for community events or promotions.
Form builder: Integrates with email marketing tools for lead generation.
Dynamic content: Personalize content for different user segments.
Mobile-responsive designs: Ensure that your community site looks great on all devices.

Price: $99/year

Link: Thrive Theme Builder

Short Expert Review: Thrive Theme Builder is ideal for creating highly engaging, conversion-focused community websites, with top-tier design flexibility and tools to boost engagement.

10. BuddyBoss

Summary: BuddyBoss is a premium theme and platform built on top of BuddyPress, providing additional features and enhanced designs for online communities.

Key Features:

Enhanced BuddyPress and bbPress features
Mobile app integration
Learning management system (LMS) integration
Push notifications
Social media-style activity feeds

Description: BuddyBoss extends the functionality of BuddyPress with improved designs, additional features, and mobile app support, creating a seamless experience for users on both desktop and mobile.

Detailed Features:

Mobile-first design: Optimized for responsive design across all devices.
Social groups: Users can create and join groups based on shared interests.
Event management: Create and promote events within the community.
Gamification: Encourage engagement with badges, points, and ranks.

Price: Starts at $228/year

Link: BuddyBoss

Short Expert Review: BuddyBoss takes BuddyPress to the next level with enhanced design options and additional social networking features, making it one of the best platforms for creating modern online communities.

11. Social Learner (BuddyPress Theme)

Summary: Social Learner is a BuddyPress-based theme designed for online learning communities. It works with LearnDash and Sensei to provide an e-learning experience combined with social networking.

Key Features:

BuddyPress and LearnDash integration
Customizable layout and design
Social learning features
Gamification support
Mobile-friendly

Description: Social Learner allows you to create a community-driven e-learning platform where users can interact, share content, and collaborate. It combines social networking tools with learning management features to enhance user engagement.

Detailed Features:

Customizable profiles: Users can create detailed profiles with learning progress.
Course sharing: Learners can share courses and achievements with peers.
Quizzes and assignments: Engage learners with interactive elements.
Leaderboard and rewards: Gamify learning experiences by implementing leaderboards and badges.

Price: $179/year

Link: Social Learner

Short Expert Review: Social Learner is ideal for educational platforms that want to combine learning with social interaction. It’s perfect for schools, online instructors, and learning communities.

12. Thrive Community Theme

Summary: Thrive Community Theme is a comprehensive WordPress theme built specifically for membership sites and online communities.

Key Features:

Fully customizable design
Membership site integration
Built-in drag-and-drop editor
Conversion-focused tools
Mobile-optimized layouts

Description: Thrive Community Theme enables you to create a membership-focused community platform with integrated marketing tools. It offers a drag-and-drop interface to easily customize layouts and enhance the overall user experience.

Detailed Features:

Membership system integration: Works seamlessly with MemberPress and WooCommerce.
Advanced analytics: Gain insights into community activity and member engagement.
Lead generation: Built-in tools to capture user emails and data.
Conversion tracking: Monitor the effectiveness of your campaigns and promotions.

Price: $149/year

Link: Thrive Community Theme

Short Expert Review: Thrive Community Theme is a powerful choice for building membership-based communities, offering excellent customization and conversion tools to boost engagement.

13. Restrict Content Pro

Summary: Restrict Content Pro is a premium membership plugin that allows you to create exclusive content and control access based on user memberships.

Key Features:

Content restriction
Subscription management
Payment integrations (PayPal, Stripe)
Discount codes
Detailed reports

Description: Restrict Content Pro is designed to create gated communities by restricting content access to certain membership levels. It’s ideal for websites offering premium content to members.

Detailed Features:

Custom subscription levels: Create multiple membership tiers.
Drip content: Release content over time based on user subscriptions.
Analytics: Track revenue and subscription stats with detailed reports.
Email marketing integration: Sync with services like MailChimp for user communications.

Price: Starts at $99/year

Link: Restrict Content Pro

Short Expert Review: Restrict Content Pro is the perfect solution for businesses and creators looking to monetize their content and offer exclusive community experiences.

14. Youzify (formerly Youzer)

Summary: Youzify is a feature-rich BuddyPress community plugin, offering extensive customization options for social profiles, activity feeds, and more.

Key Features:

Customizable profile layouts
Advanced BuddyPress widgets
Social login and registration
Real-time notifications
Member verification system

Description: Youzify is an all-in-one solution for building attractive and engaging community websites. It enhances BuddyPress by providing a customizable social network environment with numerous widgets and integrations.

Detailed Features:

Customizable widgets: Add, remove, or modify widgets for activity feeds, profiles, and forums.
Verification system: Allow users to verify their accounts with badges.
Security features: Built-in tools to prevent spam and enhance user safety.
Responsive design: Ensure your community is fully functional on mobile devices.

Price: Starts at $49 for a one-time payment

Link: Youzify

Short Expert Review: Youzify adds a professional touch to BuddyPress communities with its easy customization options and enhanced user experience features.

15. Private Community Suite (WPMU DEV)

Summary: Private Community Suite is a plugin designed to create private, invitation-only communities on WordPress.

Key Features:

Membership-based access control
Invitation-only registration
Role management
Private messaging
Custom user profiles

Description: Private Community Suite is tailored for creating closed communities where users can only join by invitation or through manual approval. It works well for corporate networks, private clubs, or exclusive online groups.

Detailed Features:

Privacy settings: Restrict access to specific pages, posts, or the entire site.
Custom user roles: Define what each user role can access.
Manual approval system: Approve or reject user registrations manually.
Private communication: Enable private discussions between members via messaging.

Price: $60/year (included with WPMU DEV membership)

Link: Private Community Suite

Short Expert Review: Private Community Suite is ideal for creating exclusive, members-only communities with advanced privacy and membership control options.

16. ForumWP

Summary: ForumWP is a lightweight and fast forum plugin for WordPress that allows you to create discussion boards with a modern interface.

Key Features:

SEO-friendly forum structure
Threaded discussions
User profiles and badges
Real-time notifications
Mobile-friendly design

Description: ForumWP offers a minimalist approach to creating forums within WordPress. It focuses on speed and usability, providing clean and simple forum designs for user discussions.

Detailed Features:

Custom forum layouts: Choose from multiple layouts to fit your site’s needs.
Real-time updates: Users can see new posts and threads in real time.
User profiles: Customize profiles with badges, avatars, and user roles.
Spam protection: Includes tools to prevent spam posts and threads.

Price: Free (premium add-ons available)

Link: ForumWP

Short Expert Review: ForumWP is an excellent solution for those looking for a fast and clean forum plugin, especially for sites focused on discussions and user interaction.

17. KLEO Theme

Summary: KLEO is a multipurpose BuddyPress theme designed for community, social networking, and membership websites.

Key Features:

BuddyPress and bbPress support
Custom layouts and templates
Membership integration
Social login
Built-in page builder

Description: KLEO is one of the most popular themes for BuddyPress, offering a wide range of customization options and pre-built templates for various community types, from social networks to business communities.

Detailed Features:

Membership system: Easily integrate with membership plugins like MemberPress.
Customizable header and footers: Create unique designs using the drag-and-drop builder.
WooCommerce integration: Build community-focused eCommerce stores.
Mobile optimization: Ensure that your community site looks great on all devices.

Price: $59 (one-time payment)

Link: KLEO Theme

Short Expert Review: KLEO is one of the best BuddyPress themes available, combining a clean design with robust community-building features and flexibility for all types of community websites.

18. BuddyX Theme

Summary: BuddyX is a modern, responsive BuddyPress theme built for social networking, online communities, and membership sites.

Key Features:

BuddyPress integration
Real-time notifications
Social groups and forums
Customizable layouts
Responsive design

Description: BuddyX provides a polished and modern design tailored specifically for BuddyPress-powered websites. It offers a lightweight and fast community-building experience with a responsive design.

Detailed Features:

Pre-built templates: Get started quickly with ready-to-use templates for community and social sites.
Drag-and-drop builder: Customize layouts easily with a visual builder.
WooCommerce ready: Monetize your community with an online store.
Group chats and forums: Support for private groups and public discussions.

Price: Free (premium version available starting at $49/year)

Link: BuddyX Theme

Short Expert Review: BuddyX is a sleek, fast, and responsive BuddyPress theme, perfect for creating social networks and online communities with ease.

19. Sabai Discuss

Summary: Sabai Discuss is a premium plugin for creating question-and-answer-based communities, similar to Quora or StackOverflow.

Key Features:

Voting and ranking system
Threaded discussions
Private and public Q&A
Custom user roles
Reporting and moderation tools

Description: Sabai Discuss allows you to build Q&A communities where users can ask, answer, and vote on questions. It is ideal for support forums, knowledge bases, and niche-specific Q&A communities.

Detailed Features:

Voting system: Users can upvote or downvote questions and answers.
Customizable roles: Define user roles like question submitter, moderator, and answer expert.
Private messaging: Users can communicate privately for follow-up discussions.
Searchable Q&A: Easily find questions through a robust search system.

Price: $24 (one-time payment)

Link: Sabai Discuss

Short Expert Review: Sabai Discuss is a versatile Q&A plugin with advanced moderation and user management features, making it ideal for building knowledge-sharing communities.

20. REHub Theme

Summary: REHub is a multipurpose WordPress theme designed for community-driven, eCommerce, and affiliate marketing websites.

Key Features:

BuddyPress and bbPress support
Comparison and review system
Affiliate integration
Directory and listing support
WooCommerce integration

Description: REHub is a powerful theme that allows you to build various types of community websites, including product comparison sites, membership-based platforms, and affiliate marketing communities.

Detailed Features:

Price comparison: Users can compare products and services.
User reviews and ratings: Build community-driven reviews for products and services.
Directory integration: Create a community-based listing or directory site.
Affiliate integration: Easily integrate affiliate links for monetization.

Price: $59 (one-time payment)

Link: REHub Theme

Short Expert Review: REHub is a versatile, all-in-one theme perfect for building community-driven eCommerce or affiliate marketing platforms, with multiple monetization features.

Conclusion

Building an online community is a powerful way to foster engagement, collaboration, and interaction among users. With WordPress, the process is made easier thanks to a wide variety of plugins and themes specifically designed to help create community-driven websites. Whether your goal is to create a simple forum, a social network, an e-learning platform, or a private membership site, the top 30 plugins and themes we have reviewed offer solutions that cater to a wide range of needs.

Diverse Functionality for Different Use Cases

The plugins and themes highlighted in this list cater to different types of communities and business models. For instance:

BuddyPress and bbPress offer robust foundations for building social networks and discussion forums.
LearnDash, LifterLMS, and Social Learner are ideal for educational platforms, seamlessly integrating social interactions with learning management systems (LMS).
Membership-focused plugins like Restrict Content Pro, MemberPress, and Private Community Suite allow site owners to monetize their communities and create gated content for specific users.
Gamification and engagement tools such as those provided by Youzify and Thrive Theme Builder help increase user activity by introducing elements like leaderboards, badges, and point systems.

Customization and Flexibility

A standout feature of the plugins and themes listed here is their flexibility. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced WordPress user, you can take advantage of drag-and-drop builders, pre-built templates, and powerful customization options to tailor your community site to fit your specific goals. Themes like KLEO, REHub, and Thrive Community Theme provide extensive design control, while plugins like WPForo and PeepSo allow you to adjust settings and layouts without writing any code.

Mobile Responsiveness and User Experience

As more users access the internet via mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly community platform is crucial. Most of the plugins and themes, such as BuddyBoss and BuddyX, are designed with mobile responsiveness in mind, ensuring that your community site performs well on all screen sizes. This enhances the user experience and allows your community members to engage with the site whenever and wherever they are.

Monetization and Membership Control

For those looking to monetize their community, plugins like MemberPress, Restrict Content Pro, and Paid Memberships Pro provide advanced membership management and subscription options. You can offer exclusive content, courses, and services to paying members while controlling access based on user roles or subscription tiers. These tools allow you to create sustainable revenue streams from your community.

Community Engagement Tools

The success of any online community depends on how well it engages its users. Tools like PeepSo, Thrive Theme Builder, and Youzify offer features to boost user engagement, such as real-time notifications, social media-style activity feeds, group discussions, and personalized user profiles. Gamification elements like rewards, points, and leaderboards help motivate users to participate more actively, fostering a more vibrant and interactive community.

Cost Considerations

The plugins and themes reviewed in this list offer various pricing models, ranging from free options like bbPress, BuddyPress, and ForumWP, to premium solutions like BuddyBoss, MemberPress, and Social Learner. Depending on your budget and the specific features you need, there are cost-effective solutions that don’t compromise on quality. Many of the premium offerings also include free versions or trial periods, allowing you to test them out before making a long-term commitment.

Making the Right Choice

Choosing the right plugin or theme for your online community ultimately depends on your specific goals, target audience, and the type of interactions you want to encourage. If you’re looking to build a small, tight-knit community, a simple plugin like bbPress might suffice. However, for more complex setups, such as social learning platforms or membership sites, a combination of BuddyBoss, LearnDash, and MemberPress could offer the functionality you need.

Final Thoughts

WordPress offers an unparalleled ecosystem of community-building tools, ranging from simple plugins to advanced, all-in-one themes that provide everything from membership management to eCommerce integration. Whether you’re building a niche forum, a bustling social network, or a premium learning platform, the top 30 plugins and themes covered in this guide offer plenty of options to bring your vision to life. With the right tools and thoughtful design, you can create a thriving online community that fosters meaningful interactions, grows your brand, and meets the needs of your members.

FAQs about the Top 30 Best Online Community Platform Plugins & Themes for WordPress

1. What are community platform plugins and themes for WordPress?

Community platform plugins and themes are tools designed to help you create and manage online communities on WordPress. Plugins often add functionality like forums, social networking features, and membership management, while themes provide the design and layout for the community site. Together, they create an engaging space for user interaction, content sharing, and collaboration.

2. Why should I choose WordPress for building an online community?

WordPress is a versatile and user-friendly platform that powers over 40% of all websites on the internet. It offers a wide range of plugins and themes specifically designed for community-building, allowing you to customize your site according to your needs. Its open-source nature also means a large support community and regular updates, making it a reliable choice.

3. How do I choose the best plugin or theme for my community?

When choosing a plugin or theme for your community, consider the following factors:

Purpose: Determine the primary goal of your community (e.g., forums, e-learning, membership).
Features: Look for specific functionalities that you need, such as gamification, private messaging, or integration with learning management systems.
Customization: Ensure the theme or plugin allows for easy customization to fit your branding.
Support and Documentation: Check if the plugin/theme has good customer support and comprehensive documentation.
User Reviews: Look at user feedback to gauge reliability and ease of use.

4. Are there free options available for building online communities on WordPress?

Yes, there are several free plugins and themes available for building online communities on WordPress. Popular options include bbPress, BuddyPress, and ForumWP. While free options can be effective, premium plugins and themes often offer additional features, better support, and more customization options.

5. Can I monetize my online community using these plugins and themes?

Yes, many plugins and themes designed for online communities come with features that facilitate monetization. Plugins like Restrict Content Pro, MemberPress, and Paid Memberships Pro allow you to create membership tiers and restrict content access based on user subscriptions. You can also sell courses or products using WooCommerce integration in many community themes.

6. Are these plugins and themes mobile-friendly?

Most of the plugins and themes reviewed in this article are designed with mobile responsiveness in mind. This means they will adapt to different screen sizes, ensuring a seamless user experience across devices, which is crucial as more users access communities via smartphones and tablets.

7. How do I integrate these plugins and themes with my existing WordPress site?

Integrating plugins and themes into your WordPress site typically involves:

Installing the Plugin/Theme: Go to the WordPress dashboard, navigate to “Plugins” or “Themes,” and click on “Add New.” Search for the desired plugin/theme, then install and activate it.
Configuring Settings: After activation, each plugin/theme will have its own settings page where you can configure options to fit your community needs.
Customizing Appearance: For themes, you can customize the appearance via the WordPress Customizer to match your branding.
Adding Content: Start creating forums, user profiles, or course listings, depending on the plugin/theme features.

8. Do I need technical skills to set up an online community using these plugins and themes?

While some basic knowledge of WordPress is helpful, many of the plugins and themes are designed to be user-friendly, with drag-and-drop builders and pre-configured templates. However, more complex setups (like those involving multiple plugins and customizations) might require some technical skills or assistance.

9. What kind of support is available for these plugins and themes?

Support varies by plugin and theme. Many premium options offer dedicated customer support through ticket systems, forums, or live chat. Free plugins might have community support through forums or documentation. Always check the support options before making a purchase or download.

10. Can I switch plugins or themes later on?

Yes, you can switch plugins or themes at any time. However, be aware that switching might affect your community’s layout and functionality, especially if the new plugin/theme does not support the same features as the previous one. It’s advisable to back up your site and test the new setup in a staging environment first to avoid disruptions.