# NodeBB vs retroassembly

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | NodeBB | retroassembly |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 ✓ | 56/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #5 of 5 in Emulation |
| GitHub stars | 15 244 ✓ | 1 153 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +19 | +72 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 ✓ | 3 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ | v7.260719.1051 · 19 Jul 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Main language | JavaScript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

NodeBB scores 73/100 against 56/100 for retroassembly, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 3 for retroassembly.

If you want the quickest setup, retroassembly is easier to run; NodeBB needs more configuration.

retroassembly is growing faster right now (+72 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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