# ifm vs NodeBB

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

| | ifm | NodeBB |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 49/100 | 73/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #19 of 34 in File Management | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums |
| GitHub stars | 370 | 15 243 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +0 | +18 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 2 | 31 ✓ |
| Latest release | v4.1.2 · 20 Aug 2026 | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Easy ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes ✓ |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | PHP | JavaScript |

## Which one should you pick?

NodeBB scores 73/100 against 49/100 for ifm, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 2 for ifm.

If you want the quickest setup, ifm is easier to run; NodeBB needs more configuration.

NodeBB is growing faster right now (+18 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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