Flarum

Delightfully simple forums. Flarum is the next-generation forum software that makes online discussion fun again.

GitHub stars
16,418
License
MIT
Latest release
v2.0.0
9 October 2026
Last commit
9 October 2026
Runs on
PHP

Commits per month, last 12 months

15 commits

Replaces

Paid products Flarum can stand in for.

How to self-host Flarum

Flarum runs on PHP. The project's own install guide is the place to start; most people put it on a small server with Docker and a reverse proxy for HTTPS.

  1. Get a server: a home server, a VPS, or a managed app host.
  2. Install it the way the project's docs describe, usually with Docker Compose.
  3. Put it behind HTTPS and set up backups before you add real data.
  4. Update it regularly. Watch the project's releases.

New to self-hosting? Start with the beginner's guide.

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Questions

Is Flarum free?

Yes. Flarum is open source under the MIT license, so you can use it without paying for a license. You pay only for the server it runs on.

Can I self-host Flarum?

Yes. Flarum runs on PHP. Follow the install guide in the project's documentation, or use a host that installs it for you.

What does Flarum replace?

People use Flarum instead of XenForo, Circle or Facebook Groups.

Is Flarum still maintained?

The last change to Flarum's code was on 9 October 2026, with 15 commits in the last 12 months.

Topics

Communication - Social Networks and Forums

App data from awesome-selfhosted (CC BY-SA 3.0), stars and activity from GitHub.