Foliate vs Librum
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-books & media library options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Librum
Modern e-book reader with self-hostable sync
| Feature | Foliate | Librum |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 65 · Good | 59 · Fair |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,756 | ★ 5,319 |
| First released | 2019 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Kindle | Kindle, Goodreads |
What are Foliate and Librum?
Foliate
Foliate is an open-source ebook reader for the Linux desktop built with GTK. It reads EPUB and other ebook formats with a clean paginated view, customizable themes, annotations, and offline reading. It is a desktop app, not a server.
- Ebook reading
- EPUB and PDF support
- Annotations and highlights
- Offline reading
Librum
Librum is a modern e-book reader application with a clean interface and a self-hostable server for syncing a library across devices. It targets readers who want a private, synced reading setup. It is deployed via Docker.
- Modern cross-platform reader
- Self-hostable sync server
- Annotations and bookmarks
- Free e-book sources
Foliate vs Librum: key differences
Foliate is written in JavaScript, while Librum is built with C++. Foliate is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Librum. Foliate is the more established project (first released 2019), while Librum arrived in 2023.
Why pick each one
Choose Foliate if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 8.8k GitHub stars
Watch out for
- Primarily a desktop reader
- See Foliate desktop app
Choose Librum if…
- Clean modern reader
- Syncs across devices
- Open source
Watch out for
- Self-hosting sync is newer
- Smaller ecosystem
Frequently asked questions
Is Foliate or Librum better?
Foliate is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Librum if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Foliate and Librum free and open-source?
Yes. Foliate is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Librum under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Foliate and Librum with Docker?
Foliate: yes. Librum: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Foliate or Librum?
Foliate has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Librum. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.