Discourse is open-source forum software for community discussion, support, and knowledge sharing, with moderation tools, customization, and built-in chat.
47.7k stars9k forksGPL-2.0last commit Actively maintained
17 self-hosted Groups.io alternatives
Groups.io is a hosted email-based discussion and mailing-list service for communities and teams. It provides list management, moderation, message archiving and search, digest and delivery options, file and calendar sharing, and web-based access to conversations and attachments.
Alternatives to Groups.io
#2
Lightweight, extensible forum platform built in PHP with a Mithril.js frontend, supporting MySQL/MariaDB/PostgreSQL/SQLite and an active extensions ecosystem.
16.4k stars1.7k forksMITlast commit Actively maintained
#3
NodeBB is a modern forum platform with real-time discussions, built-in chat, SSO options, plugins, and flexible theming, backed by Redis, MongoDB, or PostgreSQL.
15.2k stars3k forksGPL-3.0last commit Actively maintained
#4
Open-source intranet and enterprise social network for communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing with a modular, extensible design.
6.7k stars1.7k forkslast commit Actively maintained
#5
Misago is a modern, fast forum application built with Python, Django, and React, featuring moderation tools, permissions, private threads, polls, and API integrations.
2.8k stars555 forksGPL-2.0last commit Actively maintained
#6
Loomio is a collaborative decision-making tool for group discussions, proposals, and polls, helping teams make transparent decisions asynchronously with a clear record.
2.6k stars703 forksAGPL-3.0last commit Actively maintained
#7
phpBB is an open-source forum (bulletin board) platform in PHP for building and managing community discussion boards with extensible theming and add-ons.
2.1k stars1k forksGPL-2.0last commit Actively maintained
#8
MyBB is a PHP-based, open-source forum platform with plugins, themes, moderation tools, private messaging and multi-database support.
1.2k stars438 forksLGPL-3.0last commit Actively maintained
Open-source PHP forum software supporting MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQLite with a modular package system and rich moderation features.
752 stars268 forkslast commit Actively maintained
#10
Modern Node.js-based BBS server with Telnet/SSH/WebSocket access, theming and mods, message networks, file areas, doors, and strong authentication options.
666 stars125 forksBSD-2-Clauselast commit Actively maintained
#11
Mbin is a federated content aggregator offering voting, discussion and microblogging via ActivityPub. A community-focused fork of kbin, built with PHP and Symfony.
426 stars33 forksAGPL-3.0last commit Actively maintained
#12
A modern forum, wiki, and community hub for discussions, curated lists, and knowledgebases. Extensible, secure platform built with TypeScript and Go.
332 stars36 forksMPL-2.0last commit Actively maintained
#13
Open-source mailing list manager for automating subscriptions, moderation, archives and message distribution with web, CLI and SOAP interfaces for large lists.
312 stars144 forksGPL-2.0last commit Actively maintained
#14
GNU Mailman is a mailing list manager for email discussion lists and newsletters, with web-based administration, archives, moderation tools, and bounce handling.
Activity unknown
#15
Postorius is a Django web UI for managing GNU Mailman 3 mailing lists, covering list administration and user subscription preferences.
Activity unknown
#16
Schleuder is an OpenPGP-enabled mailing list manager that encrypts list mail and supports remailing, allowing subscribers and non-subscribers to exchange secure emails via the list.
Activity unknown
#17
Open source ActivityPub-powered federated forum and link aggregator for running and joining community discussions across the Fediverse.
Activity unknown
What replacing Groups.io actually involves
Every option on this page is open source and free to run on your own hardware, so you own the data and there is no subscription to cancel. 13 of 17 shipped a commit in the last six months. Licences in this list: GPL-2.0, MIT, GPL-3.0, AGPL-3.0, LGPL-3.0. In exchange you take on hosting, backups and updates yourself.
Browse everything in Forums & Discussion Boards.
