# Joplin vs NodeBB

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

| | Joplin | NodeBB |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 83/100 ✓ | 73/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 81 in Notes & Editors | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums |
| GitHub stars | 56 920 ✓ | 15 244 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +440 ✓ | +19 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 18 | 31 ✓ |
| Latest release | v3.7.22 · 28 Oct 2026 | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Other | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Typescript | JavaScript |

## Which one should you pick?

Joplin scores 83/100 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 Joplin.

Joplin is growing faster right now (+440 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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