# Nova Server vs PixelFed

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

| | Nova Server | PixelFed |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 46/100 | 64/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #20 of 25 in Proxy | #12 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums |
| GitHub stars | 355 | 7 131 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +1 | +24 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 9 | 15 ✓ |
| Latest release | v1.92.2 · 24 Oct 2026 ✓ | v0.15.2 · 21 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | No | No |
| License | Other | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Shell | PHP |

## Which one should you pick?

PixelFed scores 64/100 against 46/100 for Nova Server, so it is the safer default.

PixelFed ships more often: 15 stable releases in the past year, against 9 for Nova Server.

If you want the quickest setup, Nova Server is easier to run; PixelFed needs more configuration.

PixelFed is growing faster right now (+24 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [Nova Server](https://selfhost.directory/project/nova-server) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/nova-server.md)
- [PixelFed](https://selfhost.directory/project/pixelfed) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/pixelfed.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/nova-server-vs-pixelfed