Atsumeru vs Kavita
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-books & media library options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Atsumeru
Manga/comic/light novel media server with clients for Windows, Linux,
VS
Kavita
Fast self-hosted digital library for all reading
| Feature | Atsumeru | Kavita |
|---|---|---|
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 189 | ★ 11,431 |
| First released | 2026 | 2021 |
| Replaces | — | Kindle, ComiXology |
Why pick each one
Choose Atsumeru if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Java
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Atsumeru or Kavita better?
Kavita is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Atsumeru if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Atsumeru and Kavita free and open-source?
Yes. Atsumeru is licensed under MIT and Kavita under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Atsumeru and Kavita with Docker?
Atsumeru: yes. Kavita: yes.