Circle vs Forem: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Circle and Forem side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Forem leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Circle
Community platform for creators and brands
Best for you if:
- • You want all-in-one community solution
Forem
Empower communities with open-source software for knowledge sharing and meaningful connections.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Circle requires payment)
| At a Glance | Circle | Forem |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $89/mo flat, billed yearly Professional plan | Free 100% free |
Category | Community Platforms Membership Sites | Community Platforms Blogging Platforms |
Rating | 4.2/5 G2 4.5 · Trustpilot 3.8 599 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | Monthly billing costs more ($99 vs $89 on Professional, $219 vs $199 on Business) | You pay Postgres, Redis, object storage, and whoever runs Kamal. |
Choose Circle or Forem?
Choose Circle if
- You want all-in-one community solution
- You want good course features
Choose Forem if
- You want a fully free tool (Circle requires payment)
- You want open-source nature allows for transparency and customization
- You want focuses on building inclusive and sustainable communities
In-Depth Analysis
Circle
Community platform for creators and brands
Circle's Professional plan costs $89/month billed annually ($99 monthly), Business $199 ($219 monthly) and the new Scale plan $419/month, with Circle Plus on a custom quote.
Watch out
Monthly billing costs more ($99 vs $89 on Professional, $219 vs $199 on Business)
Strengths
- Pro: All-in-one community solution
- Pro: Good course features
- Pro: Modern interface
- Pro: Strong monetization options
Weaknesses
- Con: No free tier
- Con: Can get expensive
- Con: Learning curve for setup
Key features
Forem
Empower communities with open-source software for knowledge sharing and meaningful connections.
Forem the software is $0.
Watch out
You pay Postgres, Redis, object storage, and whoever runs Kamal.
Strengths
- Pro: Open-source nature allows for transparency and customization
- Pro: Focuses on building inclusive and sustainable communities
- Pro: Backed by the team behind DEV, a successful developer community
- Pro: Encourages knowledge sharing and meaningful connections
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires technical understanding for self-hosting and advanced customization
- Con: Specific hosting and maintenance responsibilities for community owners
- Con: May require development resources for unique features
Key features
Plans and prices: Circle vs Forem
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Circle |
| circle.so/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
| Forem |
| github.com/forem/forem read Oct 1, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Circle pricing and Forem pricing.
Key Takeaways
Circle
- Choose if you want community platform for creators and brands
Forem
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Forem leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Circle has a published user rating (4.2/5 from 599 reviews); Forem has none we can show.
- Circle starts at $89/mo flat, billed yearly; Forem has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Forem has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Circle and Forem compare in 2026?
On the data below, Forem leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Circle has a published user rating (4.2/5 from 599 reviews); Forem has none we can show. Circle starts at $89/mo flat, billed yearly; Forem has no public paid plan price on file. Only Forem has a free plan.
What are Circle and Forem used for?
Circle: Community platform for creators and brands. Forem: Empower communities with open-source software for knowledge sharing and meaningful connections.
What does Circle cost vs Forem?
Circle's cheapest paid plan is Professional at $89/mo flat, billed yearly. Forem is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Circle and Forem?
Circle's main strength: all-in-one community solution. Forem's main strength: open-source nature allows for transparency and customization.