mesh-apivsNodeBB
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| mesh-api | NodeBB | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 43/100 | 73/100 |
| Rank in category | #32 of 33 in Communication | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums |
| GitHub stars | 183 | 15 243 |
| Stars, last 30 days | — | +18 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 31 |
| Latest release | — | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Python | JavaScript |
Which one should you pick?
NodeBB scores 73/100 against 43/100 for mesh-api, so it is the safer default.
NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for mesh-api.
If you want the quickest setup, NodeBB is easier to run; mesh-api needs more configuration.
NodeBB is growing faster right now (+18 stars in 30 days).
mesh-api details →NodeBB details →
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