# NodeBB vs telescope

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

| | NodeBB | telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 ✓ | 49/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #6 of 13 in Log Management |
| GitHub stars | 15 244 ✓ | 712 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +19 ✓ | +0 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 ✓ | 5 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ | v0.0.27 · 8 May 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 49/100 for telescope, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 5 for telescope.

NodeBB is growing faster right now (+19 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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