EMQXvsNodeBB
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| EMQX | NodeBB | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 78/100 | 73/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 14 in Messaging | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums |
| GitHub stars | 16 869 | 15 244 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +114 | +19 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 15 | 31 |
| Latest release | 6.3.2 · 16 Oct 2026 | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Other | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Erlang | JavaScript |
Which one should you pick?
EMQX scores 78/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.
NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 15 for EMQX.
If you want the quickest setup, NodeBB is easier to run; EMQX needs more configuration.
EMQX is growing faster right now (+114 stars in 30 days).
EMQX details →NodeBB details →