NodeBBvsruTorrent
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| NodeBB | ruTorrent | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 62/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #4 of 12 in Bittorrent |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 | 2 188 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +9 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 20 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | v5.3.19 · 24 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes | No |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Other |
| Main language | JavaScript | PHP |
Which one should you pick?
NodeBB scores 73/100 against 62/100 for ruTorrent, so it is the safer default.
NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 20 for ruTorrent.
If you want the quickest setup, NodeBB is easier to run; ruTorrent needs more configuration.
NodeBB details →ruTorrent details →