BookLore vs Komf
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-books & media library options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
BookLore
Self-hosted web app for organizing and reading ebooks and PDFs
VS
Komf
Metadata fetcher for Komga and Kavita libraries
| Feature | BookLore | Komf |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 83 · Excellent | 81 · Excellent |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Java | Kotlin |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,231 | ★ 711 |
| First released | 2024 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Kindle, Goodreads | Goodreads |
What are BookLore and Komf?
BookLore
BookLore is a self-hosted application for organizing, managing, and reading a personal ebook and PDF library in the browser. Written in Java and deployed via Docker, it offers metadata fetching, a web reader, and multi-user shelves.
- Organizes e-books and PDFs
- Web-based reader
- Metadata fetching
- Multi-user shelves
Komf
Komf is a companion service that automatically fetches and applies metadata to series in Komga and Kavita libraries. It pulls from sources like AniList, MangaUpdates, and MyAnimeList to enrich your collection.
- Automatic metadata fetching
- Komga and Kavita integration
- Multiple metadata sources
- Cover art updates
BookLore vs Komf: key differences
BookLore is written in Java, while Komf is built with Kotlin. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for BookLore versus MIT for Komf. Komf is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for BookLore. Komf is the more established project (first released 2022), while BookLore arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose BookLore if…
- Tidy library management
- Web reader included
- Active development
Watch out for
- Young project
- Smaller community
Choose Komf if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Kotlin
Watch out for
- Companion tool only
- Requires Komga or Kavita
Frequently asked questions
Is BookLore or Komf better?
Neither is universally better. BookLore has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are BookLore and Komf free and open-source?
Yes. BookLore is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Komf under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run BookLore and Komf with Docker?
BookLore: yes. Komf: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, BookLore or Komf?
Komf has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for BookLore. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.