Audiobookshelf vs ProsePub
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Audiobookshelf
Self-hosted audiobook and podcast server
VS
ProsePub
Self-hosted audiobook and podcast media server
| Feature | Audiobookshelf | ProsePub |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Media Servers | E-books & Media Library |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13,896 | ★ 215 |
| First released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Audible | Audible |
Why pick each one
Choose Audiobookshelf if…
- Great mobile apps
- Handles podcasts too
- Simple deployment
Choose ProsePub if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is Audiobookshelf or ProsePub better?
Neither is universally better. Audiobookshelf has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Audiobookshelf and ProsePub free and open-source?
Yes. Audiobookshelf is licensed under GPL-3.0 and ProsePub under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Audiobookshelf and ProsePub with Docker?
Audiobookshelf: yes. ProsePub: yes.