# NodeBB vs Pterodactyl

> 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).

## Details

- [NodeBB](https://selfhost.directory/project/nodebb) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/nodebb.md)
- [Pterodactyl](https://selfhost.directory/project/pterodactyl) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/pterodactyl.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/nodebb-vs-pterodactyl