# Element vs NodeBB

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

| | Element | NodeBB |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 76/100 ✓ | 73/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 13 in Instant Messaging | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums |
| GitHub stars | 13 621 | 15 243 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +119 ✓ | +18 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 18 | 31 ✓ |
| Latest release | v1.12.33 · 27 Oct 2026 | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Moderate | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Typescript | JavaScript |

## Which one should you pick?

Element scores 76/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 18 for Element.

Element is growing faster right now (+119 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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