# NodeBB vs Whirl

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

| | NodeBB | Whirl |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 ✓ | 52/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #23 of 69 in AI Chat |
| GitHub stars | 15 244 ✓ | 510 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +19 ✓ | +0 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 ✓ | 0 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | — |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Main language | JavaScript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

NodeBB scores 73/100 against 52/100 for Whirl, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Whirl.

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

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)
- [Whirl](https://selfhost.directory/project/whirl) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/whirl.md)

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