# NodeBB vs openpencil

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

| | NodeBB | openpencil |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 73/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #2 of 7 in Design |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 ✓ | 9 422 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +821 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 ✓ | 14 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ | v0.16.0 · 14 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Main language | JavaScript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

NodeBB and openpencil score the same (73/100), so the choice comes down to the details below.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 14 for openpencil.

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

openpencil is growing faster right now (+821 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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