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Forum vs Mattermost: Which Should You Choose in 2026?

Choosing between Forum and Mattermost comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.

By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology

Short on time? Here's the quick answer

We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:

Forum

Connect, collaborate, and grow your community with a powerful forum platform.

Best for you if:

  • • You need community platforms features specifically
  • Platform for creating and managing online forums.
  • Facilitates community discussions and information exchange.

Mattermost

Open-source team collaboration platform

Best for you if:

  • • You want the higher-rated option (8.4/10 vs 0.0/10)
  • • You want to try before committing
  • • You need team chat features specifically
  • Mattermost is an open-source messaging platform for secure team collaboration
  • It provides channels, threads, and integrations with self-hosting options
At a Glance
ForumForum
MattermostMattermost
Price
PaidFree + Paid
Best For
Community PlatformsTeam Chat
Rating
/10084/100
FeatureForumMattermost
Pricing ModelPaidFreemium
Editorial Score
84
Community RatingNo ratings yetNo ratings yet
Total Reviews00
Community Upvotes
90
0
Categories
Community PlatformsForum Software
Team ChatScreen Sharing

How Forum and Mattermost Compare

Forum

Connect, collaborate, and grow your community with a powerful forum platform.

Paid

Mattermost

Open-source team collaboration platform

Free tier available · 84/100 score

Forum is a community platforms tool. Mattermost is in team chat.

Who Should Use What?

On a budget?

Mattermost has a free tier. Forum is paid only.

Go with: Mattermost

Want the highest-rated option?

Mattermost scores 84/100. Forum is unrated.

Go with: Mattermost

Value user reviews?

Neither has user reviews yet.

Go with: Mattermost

3 Questions to Help You Decide

1

What's your budget?

Forum is paid. Mattermost is freemium. Mattermost lets you start free.

2

What's your use case?

Forum is a community platforms tool. Mattermost is in team chat. Pick the category that matches your needs.

3

How important are ratings?

Not all tools have been rated yet.

Key Takeaways

Mattermost

  • Higher score: 84/100 vs unrated
  • Free tier available
  • Our pick for this comparison

Forum

  • More community upvotes (90)
  • Better fit for community platforms

The Bottom Line

Mattermost (84/100) is our pick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Forum or Mattermost better?

Mattermost scores 84/100 in our evaluation. Forum is paid and Mattermost is freemium.

What are Forum and Mattermost used for?

Forum: Connect, collaborate, and grow your community with a powerful forum platform.. Mattermost: Open-source team collaboration platform.

What does Forum cost vs Mattermost?

Forum is a paid tool. Mattermost is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.

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