# NodeBB vs Operant

> 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).

## Details

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

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