# coolify vs NodeBB

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

| | coolify | NodeBB |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 89/100 ✓ | 73/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 14 in Platform as a Service | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums |
| GitHub stars | 65 217 ✓ | 15 243 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +2 972 ✓ | +18 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 45 ✓ | 31 |
| Latest release | v4.5.3 · 28 Oct 2026 | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | PHP | JavaScript |

## Which one should you pick?

coolify scores 89/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.

coolify ships more often: 45 stable releases in the past year, against 31 for NodeBB.

coolify is growing faster right now (+2 972 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

## Related comparisons

- [Appwrite vs coolify](https://selfhost.directory/compare/appwrite-vs-coolify)
- [coolify vs dokploy](https://selfhost.directory/compare/coolify-vs-dokploy)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/coolify-vs-nodebb