# NodeBB vs OpenReader

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

| | NodeBB | OpenReader |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 ✓ | 59/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #4 of 15 in Audiobook Management |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 ✓ | 549 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +34 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 30 ✓ | 18 |
| Latest release | v4.16.4 · 23 Oct 2026 ✓ | v5.3.0 · 20 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Main language | JavaScript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

NodeBB scores 73/100 against 59/100 for OpenReader, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 30 stable releases in the past year, against 18 for OpenReader.

## Details

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

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