# NodeBB vs unleash

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

| | NodeBB | unleash |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 75/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #1 of 8 in Feature Flags |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 ✓ | 13 914 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +88 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 ✓ | 16 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | v8.3.1 · 29 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | JavaScript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

unleash scores 75/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 16 for unleash.

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

unleash is growing faster right now (+88 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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