Buku vs Shaarli
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted bookmarks & read-it-later options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Shaarli
Personal, minimalist link-sharing bookmark app
| Feature | Buku | Shaarli |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 85 · Excellent | 88 · Excellent |
| Category | Bookmarks & Read-It-Later | Bookmarks & Read-It-Later |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,207 | ★ 3,899 |
| First released | 2015 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Delicious | Pocket, Delicious |
What are Buku and Shaarli?
Buku
Buku is a powerful command-line bookmark manager that stores bookmarks in a portable SQLite database with tagging and search. It targets terminal users who want scriptable bookmark management. It runs as a CLI tool.
- Portable SQLite bookmark store
- Powerful tagging and search
- Optional web UI via add-on
- Browser import support
Shaarli
Shaarli is a personal, minimalist, database-free bookmarking application that can also act as a microblog of links. It targets individuals wanting a lightweight link log. It is deployed via Docker or a PHP stack.
- No database, flat-file storage
- Public and private links
- Tagging and RSS feed
- Plugin support
Buku vs Shaarli: key differences
Buku is written in Python, while Shaarli is built with PHP. Buku is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Shaarli. Shaarli is the more established project (first released 2013), while Buku arrived in 2015. Shaarli lists first-class Docker deployment; Buku does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Buku if…
- Scriptable and fast
- Portable database
- Lightweight
Watch out for
- Command-line focused
- No built-in archiving
Choose Shaarli if…
- Extremely lightweight
- Easy to back up
- Can be public or private
Watch out for
- Dated default theme
- Single-user only
Frequently asked questions
Is Buku or Shaarli better?
Neither is universally better. Buku has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Buku and Shaarli free and open-source?
Yes. Buku is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Shaarli under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Buku and Shaarli with Docker?
Buku: check the project docs for container support. Shaarli: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Buku or Shaarli?
Buku has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Shaarli. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.