NodeBBvsPairDrop
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| NodeBB | PairDrop | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 75/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #2 of 86 in File Sharing |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 | 11 713 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +254 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 30 | 0 |
| Latest release | v4.16.4 · 23 Oct 2026 | — |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
Which one should you pick?
PairDrop scores 75/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.
NodeBB ships more often: 30 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for PairDrop.
If you want the quickest setup, PairDrop is easier to run; NodeBB needs more configuration.
PairDrop is growing faster right now (+254 stars in 30 days).
NodeBB details →PairDrop details →