# NodeBB vs Onlook

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

| | NodeBB | Onlook |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 ✓ | 69/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #1 of 6 in Web Development |
| GitHub stars | 15 244 | 27 033 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +19 | +61 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 ✓ | 0 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | — |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | JavaScript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

NodeBB scores 73/100 against 69/100 for Onlook, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Onlook.

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

Onlook is growing faster right now (+61 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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