# NodeBB vs Subgen

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

| | NodeBB | Subgen |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 ✓ | 60/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #1 of 4 in Media |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 ✓ | 1 506 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +19 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 ✓ | 0 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | — |
| Setup | Moderate | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Main language | JavaScript | Python |

## Which one should you pick?

NodeBB scores 73/100 against 60/100 for Subgen, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Subgen.

## Details

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

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