NodeBBvsShlink
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| NodeBB | Shlink | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 70/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #3 of 23 in URL Shortener |
| GitHub stars | 15 244 | 5 381 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +19 | +78 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 13 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | v5.1.8 · 21 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Main language | JavaScript | PHP |
Which one should you pick?
NodeBB scores 73/100 against 70/100 for Shlink, so it is the safer default.
NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 13 for Shlink.
If you want the quickest setup, Shlink is easier to run; NodeBB needs more configuration.
Shlink is growing faster right now (+78 stars in 30 days).
NodeBB details →Shlink details →