# LXC vs NodeBB

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

| | LXC | NodeBB |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 70/100 | 73/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #1 of 2 in Containers | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums |
| GitHub stars | 5 289 | 15 244 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +25 ✓ | +19 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 2 | 31 ✓ |
| Latest release | v7.0.0 · 30 Apr 2026 | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes ✓ |
| License | Other | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | C | JavaScript |

## Which one should you pick?

NodeBB scores 73/100 against 70/100 for LXC, so it is the safer default.

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

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

## Details

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

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