ArcanevsNodeBB
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Arcane | NodeBB | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 76/100 | 73/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 44 in Container Management | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums |
| GitHub stars | 8 107 | 15 244 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +514 | +19 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 31 |
| Latest release | v2.17.1 · 25 Oct 2026 | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Easy | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Go | JavaScript |
Which one should you pick?
Arcane scores 76/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.
If you want the quickest setup, Arcane is easier to run; NodeBB needs more configuration.
Arcane is growing faster right now (+514 stars in 30 days).
Arcane details →NodeBB details →
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