KOReader 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 | KOReader | Librum |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 98 · Excellent | 59 · Fair |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Lua | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 29,880 | ★ 5,319 |
| First released | 2012 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Kindle, Pocketbook reader | Kindle, Goodreads |
What are KOReader and Librum?
KOReader
KOReader is an open-source document viewer for EPUB, PDF, DjVu, and many other formats, optimized for e-ink screens. It can connect to self-hosted OPDS catalogs and supports syncing reading progress.
- E-ink optimized rendering
- Many document formats
- OPDS catalog support
- Reading progress sync
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
KOReader vs Librum: key differences
KOReader is written in Lua, while Librum is built with C++. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for KOReader versus GPL-3.0 for Librum. KOReader is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Librum. KOReader is the more established project (first released 2012), while Librum arrived in 2023. KOReader has the considerably larger community, at 29,880 GitHub stars versus 5,319. Librum lists first-class Docker deployment; KOReader does not.
Why pick each one
Choose KOReader if…
- Excellent e-ink support
- Huge format support
- Highly customizable reading
Watch out for
- Dense menu system
- Install varies by device
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 KOReader or Librum better?
Neither is universally better. KOReader has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are KOReader and Librum free and open-source?
Yes. KOReader is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Librum under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KOReader and Librum with Docker?
KOReader: check the project docs for container support. Librum: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, KOReader or Librum?
KOReader 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.