Discourse vs Hivebrite
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Community Management Software (2026). Last verified July 11, 2026.
The short answer
Discourse ranks higher on Top 11 (#2 vs #9) for Creators, brands, and associations choosing a platform to host, engage, and monetize an online community. Best open-source, self-hostable forum platform.
At a glance
| Discourse | Hivebrite | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #2 / The 11 Best Community Management Software (2026) | #9 / The 11 Best Community Management Software (2026) |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8.9 | 7.6 |
| Best for | Open-source forum you fully control | Branded platform for alumni and networks |
| Pricing | $$ (free self-hosted, $20 to $300+/mo hosted) | $$$$ (enterprise, custom quote) |
| HQ | San Francisco, USA | Paris, France |
| Founded | 2013 | 2015 |
Discourse
Best open-source, self-hostable forum platform.
www.discourse.orgSee full entry in The 11 Best Community Management Software (2026)
Hivebrite
Best branded platform for alumni networks.
www.hivebrite.ioSee full entry in The 11 Best Community Management Software (2026)
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.