Calibre-Web vs pdf2htmlEX
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?
Calibre-Web
Web app to browse and read your Calibre library
VS
pdf2htmlEX
Converts PDF documents to HTML while preserving layout
| Feature | Calibre-Web | pdf2htmlEX |
|---|---|---|
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | HTML | HTML |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 17,830 | ★ 5,578 |
| First released | 2017 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Kindle, Goodreads | Commercial PDF converters |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is Calibre-Web or pdf2htmlEX better?
Calibre-Web is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider pdf2htmlEX if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Calibre-Web and pdf2htmlEX free and open-source?
Yes. Calibre-Web is licensed under GPL-3.0 and pdf2htmlEX under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Calibre-Web and pdf2htmlEX with Docker?
Calibre-Web: yes. pdf2htmlEX: yes.