# NodeBB vs Warpgate

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

| | NodeBB | Warpgate |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 75/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #11 of 78 in Security |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 ✓ | 8 159 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +199 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 33 ✓ |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ | v0.30.2 · 26 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | JavaScript | Rust |

## Which one should you pick?

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

Warpgate ships more often: 33 stable releases in the past year, against 31 for NodeBB.

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

Warpgate is growing faster right now (+199 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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