# NodeLink vs Shields

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

| | NodeLink | Shields |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 50/100 | 80/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #7 of 14 in Audio Streaming | #6 of 166 in Developer Tools |
| GitHub stars | 162 | 27 331 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +0 | +125 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 10 ✓ | 0 |
| Latest release | v3.9.0 · 14 Sept 2026 | — |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | Typescript | JavaScript |

## Which one should you pick?

Shields scores 80/100 against 50/100 for NodeLink, so it is the safer default.

NodeLink ships more often: 10 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Shields.

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

Shields is growing faster right now (+125 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [NodeLink](https://selfhost.directory/project/nodelink) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/nodelink.md)
- [Shields](https://selfhost.directory/project/shields) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/shields.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/nodelink-vs-shields