# NodeBB vs SimpleX Chat

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

| | NodeBB | SimpleX Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 74/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #4 of 110 in Chat |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 | 19 612 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +142 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 ✓ | 12 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ | v7.0.4 · 3 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | JavaScript | Haskell |

## Which one should you pick?

SimpleX Chat scores 74/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 12 for SimpleX Chat.

SimpleX Chat is growing faster right now (+142 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [NodeBB](https://selfhost.directory/project/nodebb) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/nodebb.md)
- [SimpleX Chat](https://selfhost.directory/project/simplex-chat) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/simplex-chat.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/nodebb-vs-simplex-chat