NodeBBvsPterodactyl
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| NodeBB | Pterodactyl | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 75/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #4 of 62 in Game Servers |
| GitHub stars | 15 244 | 9 438 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +19 | +183 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 11 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | v1.15.2 · 21 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Other |
| Main language | JavaScript | PHP |
Which one should you pick?
Pterodactyl scores 75/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.
NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 11 for Pterodactyl.
If you want the quickest setup, NodeBB is easier to run; Pterodactyl needs more configuration.
Pterodactyl is growing faster right now (+183 stars in 30 days).
NodeBB details →Pterodactyl details →