DEV Community 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 DEV Community and Forem side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a 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:
DEV Community
Community for software developers
Best for you if:
- • You want completely free
Forem
Empower communities with open-source software for knowledge sharing and meaningful connections.
Best for you if:
- • You want open-source nature allows for transparency and customization
| At a Glance | DEV Community | Forem |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free 100% free |
Category | Community Platforms Blogging Platforms | Community Platforms Blogging Platforms |
Rating | n/a | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | You pay Postgres, Redis, object storage, and whoever runs Kamal. |
Choose DEV Community or Forem?
Choose DEV Community if
- You want completely free
- You want great community
Choose Forem if
- You want open-source nature allows for transparency and customization
- You want focuses on building inclusive and sustainable communities
In-Depth Analysis
DEV Community
Community for software developers
DEV Community offers an incredibly generous pricing model, as it is entirely free.
Strengths
- Pro: Completely free
- Pro: Great community
- Pro: Good for visibility
- Pro: Easy to use
Weaknesses
- Con: Less monetization than Medium
- Con: Can be noisy
- Con: Algorithm favors certain content
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: DEV Community vs Forem
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| DEV Community |
| dev.to/pricing read Oct 3, 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 DEV Community pricing and Forem pricing.
Key Takeaways
DEV Community
- Choose if you want community for software developers
Forem
- Choose if you want empower communities with open-source software for knowledge sharing and meaningful connections
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Both have 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 DEV Community and Forem compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Both have a free plan.
What are DEV Community and Forem used for?
DEV Community: Community for software developers. Forem: Empower communities with open-source software for knowledge sharing and meaningful connections.
What does DEV Community cost vs Forem?
DEV Community is free. Forem is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 3, 2026.
What's the main difference between DEV Community and Forem?
DEV Community's main strength: completely free. Forem's main strength: open-source nature allows for transparency and customization.