KOReader vs ttu Ebook Reader
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 | ttu Ebook Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 98 · Excellent | 64 · Good |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Lua | Svelte |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 29,880 | ★ 1,037 |
| First released | 2012 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Kindle, Pocketbook reader | Kindle |
What are KOReader and ttu Ebook Reader?
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
ttu Ebook Reader
ttu Ebook Reader is a self-hostable, browser-based reader for EPUB and HTML books with a focus on language-learning readers. It tracks reading progress and statistics entirely in the browser.
- Browser-based EPUB reader
- Reading progress and stats
- Offline capable
- Language-learning friendly
KOReader vs ttu Ebook Reader: key differences
KOReader is written in Lua, while ttu Ebook Reader is built with Svelte. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for KOReader versus MIT for ttu Ebook Reader. Ttu Ebook Reader 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 ttu Ebook Reader arrived in 2021. KOReader has the considerably larger community, at 29,880 GitHub stars versus 1,037. Ttu Ebook Reader 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 ttu Ebook Reader if…
- No backend needed
- Privacy friendly
Watch out for
- Reader only
- No central library
Frequently asked questions
Is KOReader or ttu Ebook Reader better?
Neither is universally better. KOReader has the larger community, while ttu Ebook Reader is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are KOReader and ttu Ebook Reader free and open-source?
Yes. KOReader is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and ttu Ebook Reader under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KOReader and ttu Ebook Reader with Docker?
KOReader: check the project docs for container support. ttu Ebook Reader: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, KOReader or ttu Ebook Reader?
ttu Ebook Reader 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.