Calibre-Web 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.
Calibre-Web
Web app to browse and read your Calibre library
VS
Komf
Metadata fetcher for Komga and Kavita libraries
| Feature | Calibre-Web | Komf |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 95 · Excellent | 81 · Excellent |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Python | Kotlin |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 18,232 | ★ 713 |
| First released | 2017 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Kindle, Goodreads | Goodreads |
What are Calibre-Web and Komf?
Calibre-Web
Calibre-Web is a web application that provides a clean interface to browse, read, and download books from an existing Calibre library. It targets users who want web access to their e-book collection. It is deployed via Docker.
- Web interface for Calibre libraries
- In-browser e-book reader
- Send to Kindle support
- OPDS feed for apps
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
Calibre-Web vs Komf: key differences
Calibre-Web is written in Python, while Komf is built with Kotlin. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Calibre-Web versus MIT for Komf. Calibre-Web is the more established project (first released 2017), while Komf arrived in 2022. Calibre-Web has the considerably larger community, at 18,232 GitHub stars versus 713.
Why pick each one
Choose Calibre-Web if…
- Great companion to Calibre
- Multi-user access
- Lightweight
Watch out for
- Needs an existing Calibre library
- Not a metadata manager itself
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 Calibre-Web or Komf better?
Neither is universally better. Calibre-Web has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Calibre-Web and Komf free and open-source?
Yes. Calibre-Web is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Komf under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Calibre-Web and Komf with Docker?
Calibre-Web: yes. Komf: yes.