NodeBBvspenpot
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| NodeBB | penpot | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 84/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #1 of 30 in Collaboration |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 | 61 801 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +1 489 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 12 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | 2.18.5 · 26 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Main language | JavaScript | Clojure |
Which one should you pick?
penpot scores 84/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.
NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 12 for penpot.
If you want the quickest setup, NodeBB is easier to run; penpot needs more configuration.
penpot is growing faster right now (+1 489 stars in 30 days).
NodeBB details →penpot details →