# NodeBB vs scalar

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

| | NodeBB | scalar |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 76/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #3 of 13 in API |
| GitHub stars | 15 244 | 16 337 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +19 | +148 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 46 ✓ |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | release-2026-10-28-0d01943 · 28 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Main language | JavaScript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

scalar scores 76/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.

scalar ships more often: 46 stable releases in the past year, against 31 for NodeBB.

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

scalar is growing faster right now (+148 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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