# NodeBB vs Zulip

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

| | NodeBB | Zulip |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 | 82/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #4 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #1 of 110 in Chat |
| GitHub stars | 15 243 | 26 133 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +18 | +190 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 31 ✓ | 6 |
| Latest release | v4.16.5 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ | 12.3 · 21 Sept 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | JavaScript | Python |

## Which one should you pick?

Zulip scores 82/100 against 73/100 for NodeBB, so it is the safer default.

NodeBB ships more often: 31 stable releases in the past year, against 6 for Zulip.

Zulip is growing faster right now (+190 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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