NodeBBvsNova Server
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| NodeBB | Nova Server | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 46/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #20 of 25 in Proxy |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 | 355 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +1 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 9 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | v1.92.2 · 24 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | No |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Other |
| Main language | JavaScript | Shell |
Which one should you pick?
NodeBB scores 73/100 against 46/100 for Nova Server, so it is the safer default.
NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 9 for Nova Server.
NodeBB is growing faster right now (+18 stars in 30 days).
NodeBB details →Nova Server details →