KOReader vs Audiobookshelf-tools
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?
KOReader
Document and ebook reader for e-ink and mobile devices
VS
Audiobookshelf-tools
Self-hosted e-book and library management server
| Feature | KOReader | Audiobookshelf-tools |
|---|---|---|
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Lua | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 28,800 | ★ 760 |
| First released | 2012 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Kindle, Pocketbook reader | Kindle, Goodreads |
Why pick each one
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
Choose Audiobookshelf-tools if…
- Tidy library management
- Web reader included
- Active development
Frequently asked questions
Is KOReader or Audiobookshelf-tools better?
Neither is universally better. KOReader has the larger community, while Audiobookshelf-tools is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are KOReader and Audiobookshelf-tools free and open-source?
Yes. KOReader is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Audiobookshelf-tools under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KOReader and Audiobookshelf-tools with Docker?
KOReader: check the project docs for container support. Audiobookshelf-tools: yes.