Komf vs Readarr
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-books & media library options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Readarr
Archived
E-book and audiobook collection manager
| Feature | Komf | Readarr |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 81 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Kotlin | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 713 | ★ 3,468 |
| First released | 2022 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Goodreads | Goodreads, Audible |
What are Komf and Readarr?
Komf
Komf is a companion service that automatically fetches and applies metadata to series in Komga and Kavita libraries. It pulls from sources like AniList, MangaUpdates, and MyAnimeList to enrich your collection.
- Automatic metadata fetching
- Komga and Kavita integration
- Multiple metadata sources
- Cover art updates
Readarr
Readarr is an e-book and audiobook collection manager that automates organizing and acquiring titles, in the Servarr family. It targets users automating their reading library. It is deployed via Docker or binaries.
- Automated library management
- Author and series tracking
- Integrates with download clients
- Servarr-family UI
Komf vs Readarr: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Readarr's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Komf is actively maintained. Komf is written in Kotlin, while Readarr is built with C#. Licensing differs — MIT for Komf versus GPL-3.0 for Readarr. Komf is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Readarr. Readarr is the more established project (first released 2020), while Komf arrived in 2022. Readarr has the considerably larger community, at 3,468 GitHub stars versus 713.
Why pick each one
Choose Komf if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Kotlin
Watch out for
- Companion tool only
- Requires Komga or Kavita
Choose Readarr if…
- Automates collection
- Familiar Servarr interface
- Good metadata tracking
Watch out for
- Project entered retirement
- Metadata sources are limited
Frequently asked questions
Is Komf or Readarr better?
Neither is universally better. Readarr has the larger community, while Komf is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Komf and Readarr free and open-source?
Yes. Komf is licensed under MIT and Readarr under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Komf and Readarr with Docker?
Komf: yes. Readarr: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Komf or Readarr?
Komf has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Readarr. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.