# NodeBB vs TraceRoot

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

| | NodeBB | TraceRoot |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 ✓ | 58/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #11 of 51 in Monitoring & observability |
| GitHub stars | 15 244 ✓ | 1 131 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +19 | +19 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 ✓ | 10 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ | v1.3.3 · 27 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Other |
| Main language | JavaScript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

NodeBB scores 73/100 against 58/100 for TraceRoot, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 10 for TraceRoot.

If you want the quickest setup, NodeBB is easier to run; TraceRoot needs more configuration.

## Details

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

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