ProsePub vs KOReader
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?
ProsePub
Self-hosted audiobook and podcast media server
VS
KOReader
Document and ebook reader for e-ink and mobile devices
| Feature | ProsePub | KOReader |
|---|---|---|
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Lua |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 215 | ★ 28,800 |
| First released | 2022 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Audible | Kindle, Pocketbook reader |
Why pick each one
Choose ProsePub if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
Choose KOReader if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Mature project with 28.8k GitHub stars
- Written in Lua
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is ProsePub or KOReader better?
Neither is universally better. KOReader has the larger community, while ProsePub is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are ProsePub and KOReader free and open-source?
Yes. ProsePub is licensed under MIT and KOReader under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ProsePub and KOReader with Docker?
ProsePub: yes. KOReader: check the project docs for container support.