Question2Answer vs Scoold
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted forums & community options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Question2Answer | Scoold |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 16 · At risk | 82 · Excellent |
| Category | Forums & Community | Forums & Community |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,669 | ★ 922 |
| First released | 2010 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Stack Overflow, Quora | Stack Overflow |
What are Question2Answer and Scoold?
Question2Answer
Question2Answer is a popular, free PHP platform for running a question-and-answer community website. It is fast, easy to install, and supports plugins, themes, and multiple languages.
- Lightweight Q&A engine
- Voting and reputation system
- Plugin and theme support
- Multilingual interface
Scoold
Scoold is an open-source question-and-answer platform written in Java that mirrors the Stack Overflow experience. It supports SAML, LDAP, OAuth, and a flexible plugin architecture.
- Stack Overflow-style Q&A
- SAML, LDAP and OAuth login
- Reputation and badges
- Pluggable storage via Para backend
Question2Answer vs Scoold: key differences
Question2Answer is written in PHP, while Scoold is built with Java. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Question2Answer versus Apache-2.0 for Scoold. Question2Answer is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Scoold. Question2Answer is the more established project (first released 2010), while Scoold arrived in 2014.
Why pick each one
Choose Question2Answer if…
- Easy to install and host
- Fast and simple
Watch out for
- Dated default theme
- Q&A only
Choose Scoold if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Java
Watch out for
- Requires a Para backend
- Java memory footprint
Frequently asked questions
Is Question2Answer or Scoold better?
Question2Answer is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Scoold if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Question2Answer and Scoold free and open-source?
Yes. Question2Answer is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Scoold under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Question2Answer and Scoold with Docker?
Question2Answer: yes. Scoold: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Question2Answer or Scoold?
Question2Answer has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Scoold. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.