# NodeBB vs openpanel-co

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

| | NodeBB | openpanel-co |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 ✓ | 55/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #6 of 10 in Control Panel |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 ✓ | 766 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 ✓ | +17 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 ✓ | 19 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ | 2.0.19 · 27 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Other |
| Main language | JavaScript | Go |

## Which one should you pick?

NodeBB scores 73/100 against 55/100 for openpanel-co, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 19 for openpanel-co.

## Details

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

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/nodebb-vs-openpanel-co