NodeBBvsPortainer
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| NodeBB | Portainer | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 77/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #1 of 44 in Container Management |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 | 38 736 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +187 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 21 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | 2.45.3 · 21 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Zlib |
| Main language | JavaScript | Typescript |
Which one should you pick?
Portainer scores 77/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.
NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 21 for Portainer.
If you want the quickest setup, Portainer is easier to run; NodeBB needs more configuration.
Portainer is growing faster right now (+187 stars in 30 days).
NodeBB details →Portainer details →