NodeBBvsstrfry
Two self-hosted Social Networks & Forums projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| NodeBB | strfry | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 59/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #23 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 | 736 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +12 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 0 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | — |
| Setup | Moderate | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes | No |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | JavaScript | C++ |
Which one should you pick?
NodeBB scores 73/100 against 59/100 for strfry, so it is the safer default.
NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for strfry.
If you want the quickest setup, NodeBB is easier to run; strfry needs more configuration.
NodeBB details →strfry details →All Social Networks & Forums projects →