KOReader vs Plato
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-books & media library options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | KOReader | Plato |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 98 · Excellent | 65 · Good |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Lua | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 29,880 | ★ 1,705 |
| First released | 2012 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Kindle, Pocketbook reader | Kobo reader app, Kindle |
What are KOReader and Plato?
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
Plato
Plato is an open-source document reader built specifically for Kobo e-ink devices, supporting EPUB, PDF, CBZ, and more. It offers a library view, annotations, and connectivity to OPDS catalogs.
- Built for Kobo devices
- Multi-format support
- OPDS catalog access
- Annotations and bookmarks
KOReader vs Plato: key differences
KOReader is written in Lua, while Plato is built with Rust. Plato is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for KOReader. KOReader is the more established project (first released 2012), while Plato arrived in 2017. KOReader has the considerably larger community, at 29,880 GitHub stars versus 1,705.
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 Plato if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Active community (1.7k GitHub stars)
- Written in Rust
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is KOReader or Plato 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 Plato free and open-source?
Yes. KOReader is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Plato under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KOReader and Plato with Docker?
KOReader: check the project docs for container support. Plato: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, KOReader or Plato?
Plato has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for KOReader. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.