NodeBBvsPlik
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| NodeBB | Plik | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 63/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #6 of 27 in File Sharing & Collaboration |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 | 1 829 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +8 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 4 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | 1.4.3 · 21 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Other |
| Main language | JavaScript | Go |
Which one should you pick?
NodeBB scores 73/100 against 63/100 for Plik, so it is the safer default.
NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 4 for Plik.
If you want the quickest setup, Plik is easier to run; NodeBB needs more configuration.
NodeBB is growing faster right now (+18 stars in 30 days).
NodeBB details →Plik details →