# NodeBB vs Semaphore UI

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

| | NodeBB | Semaphore UI |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 73/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #12 of 166 in Developer Tools |
| GitHub stars | 15 244 ✓ | 14 337 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +19 | +149 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 ✓ | 20 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ | v2.18.31 · 7 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Main language | JavaScript | Go |

## Which one should you pick?

NodeBB and Semaphore UI score the same (73/100), so the choice comes down to the details below.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 20 for Semaphore UI.

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

Semaphore UI is growing faster right now (+149 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [NodeBB](https://selfhost.directory/project/nodebb) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/nodebb.md)
- [Semaphore UI](https://selfhost.directory/project/semaphore-ui) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/semaphore-ui.md)

---
Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/nodebb-vs-semaphore-ui