# NodeBB vs Yarr

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

| | NodeBB | Yarr |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 ✓ | 61/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #7 of 85 in Feed Reader |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 ✓ | 4 080 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +28 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 ✓ | 4 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ | v2.9 · 7 Sept 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Main language | JavaScript | Go |

## Which one should you pick?

NodeBB scores 73/100 against 61/100 for Yarr, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 4 for Yarr.

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

## Details

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

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