NodeBBvsOrcaQ
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| NodeBB | OrcaQ | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 49/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #35 of 40 in Database Management |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 | 225 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +0 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 10 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | v1.1.14 · 27 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Main language | JavaScript | Typescript |
Which one should you pick?
NodeBB scores 73/100 against 49/100 for OrcaQ, so it is the safer default.
NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 10 for OrcaQ.
If you want the quickest setup, OrcaQ is easier to run; NodeBB needs more configuration.
NodeBB is growing faster right now (+18 stars in 30 days).
NodeBB details →OrcaQ details →