# NodeBB vs trigger

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

| | NodeBB | trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 76/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #7 of 32 in Workflow Automation |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 | 16 644 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +257 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 49 ✓ |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ | v4.8.1 · 23 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | JavaScript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

trigger scores 76/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.

trigger ships more often: 49 stable releases in the past year, against 31 for NodeBB.

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

trigger is growing faster right now (+257 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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