# EMQX vs Novu

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

| | EMQX | Novu |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 78/100 ✓ | 76/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 14 in Messaging | #2 of 19 in Notifications |
| GitHub stars | 16 868 | 40 219 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +114 | +170 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 15 ✓ | 12 |
| Latest release | 6.3.2 · 16 Oct 2026 ✓ | @novu/framework@v2.14.0 · 28 Sept 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced ✓ | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Other | Other |
| Main language | Erlang | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

EMQX scores 78/100 against 76/100 for Novu, so it is the safer default.

EMQX ships more often: 15 stable releases in the past year, against 12 for Novu.

## Details

- [EMQX](https://selfhost.directory/project/emqx) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/emqx.md)
- [Novu](https://selfhost.directory/project/novu) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/novu.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/emqx-vs-novu