Kavita vs Suwayomi-Server
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-books & media library options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Kavita
Fast self-hosted digital library for all reading
VS
Suwayomi-Server
Self-hosted manga reader and downloader server
| Feature | Kavita | Suwayomi-Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 93 · Excellent | 92 · Excellent |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | C# | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 11,728 | ★ 7,747 |
| First released | 2021 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Kindle, ComiXology | ComiXology |
What are Kavita and Suwayomi-Server?
Kavita
Kavita is a fast, self-hosted digital library that handles e-books, comics, manga, and magazines with a polished reader. It targets readers with mixed digital collections. It is deployed via Docker.
- Handles books, comics and manga
- Fast polished web reader
- Collections and reading lists
- OPDS support
Suwayomi-Server
Suwayomi-Server, formerly Tachidesk, is a self-hosted manga reader and downloader that uses Tachiyomi-style extensions to fetch content. It provides a web UI and can sync reading progress across devices.
- Manga reading and downloading
- Tachiyomi-style extensions
- Web user interface
- Cross-device progress sync
Kavita vs Suwayomi-Server: key differences
Kavita is written in C#, while Suwayomi-Server is built with Java. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Kavita versus MPL-2.0 for Suwayomi-Server.
Why pick each one
Choose Kavita if…
- Great mixed-media support
- Fast and modern
- Active development
Watch out for
- No metadata editing
- Library organization is folder-based
Choose Suwayomi-Server if…
- Large extension ecosystem
- Active community
Watch out for
- Extension legality varies
- Manga-focused only
Frequently asked questions
Is Kavita or Suwayomi-Server better?
Kavita is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Suwayomi-Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Kavita and Suwayomi-Server free and open-source?
Yes. Kavita is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Suwayomi-Server under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Kavita and Suwayomi-Server with Docker?
Kavita: yes. Suwayomi-Server: yes.