Evergreen vs Koodo Reader
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?
Evergreen
Highly-scalable software for libraries that helps library patrons find
VS
Koodo Reader
Cross-platform ebook reader with annotations and sync
| Feature | Evergreen | Koodo Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PLpgSQL | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 153 | ★ 27,803 |
| First released | 2020 | 2020 |
| Replaces | — | Calibre, Apple Books |
Why pick each one
Choose Evergreen if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Written in PLpgSQL
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Choose Koodo Reader if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 27.8k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Evergreen or Koodo Reader better?
Koodo Reader is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Evergreen if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Evergreen and Koodo Reader free and open-source?
Yes. Evergreen is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Koodo Reader under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Evergreen and Koodo Reader with Docker?
Evergreen: check the project docs for container support. Koodo Reader: yes.