# 3x-ui vs NodeBB

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | 3x-ui | NodeBB |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 84/100 ✓ | 73/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 34 in Network Management | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums |
| GitHub stars | 48 785 ✓ | 15 243 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +453 ✓ | +18 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 10 | 31 ✓ |
| Latest release | v3.11.0 · 25 Oct 2026 | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Easy ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Go | JavaScript |

## Which one should you pick?

3x-ui scores 84/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 10 for 3x-ui.

If you want the quickest setup, 3x-ui is easier to run; NodeBB needs more configuration.

3x-ui is growing faster right now (+453 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [3x-ui](https://selfhost.directory/project/3x-ui) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/3x-ui.md)
- [NodeBB](https://selfhost.directory/project/nodebb) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/nodebb.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/3x-ui-vs-nodebb