NodeBBvsZed Attack Proxy (ZAP)
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| NodeBB | Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 80/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #4 of 78 in Security |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 | 16 060 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +245 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 | 31 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 | w2026-10-23 · 23 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | JavaScript | Java |
Which one should you pick?
Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) scores 80/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.
If you want the quickest setup, Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) is easier to run; NodeBB needs more configuration.
Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) is growing faster right now (+245 stars in 30 days).
NodeBB details →Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) details →