NodeBBvsOperant
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| NodeBB | Operant | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 39/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #169 of 209 in AI Agents |
| GitHub stars | 15 244 | 446 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +19 | +-1 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 1 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | desktop-candidate-2026-09-28-08e65ea · 28 Sept 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes | No |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Other |
| Main language | JavaScript | Python |
Which one should you pick?
NodeBB scores 73/100 against 39/100 for Operant, so it is the safer default.
NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 1 for Operant.
If you want the quickest setup, NodeBB is easier to run; Operant needs more configuration.
NodeBB is growing faster right now (+19 stars in 30 days).
NodeBB details →Operant details →