Kthoom vs Suwayomi-Server
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 | Kthoom | Suwayomi-Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 56 · Fair | 92 · Excellent |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | MIT | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 150 | ★ 7,747 |
| First released | 2011 | 2021 |
| Replaces | ComiXology | ComiXology |
What are Kthoom and Suwayomi-Server?
Kthoom
Kthoom is a comic book reader that runs entirely in the web browser, opening CBZ, CBR, and other archive formats. It can be self-hosted as static files for reading comics from any device.
- In-browser comic reading
- CBZ and CBR support
- Static self-hosting
- No server runtime needed
Suwayomi-Server
Suwayomi-Server, formerly Tachidesk, is a self-hosted manga reader and downloader that uses Tachiyomi-style extensions to fetch content. It provides a web UI and can sync reading progress across devices.
- Manga reading and downloading
- Tachiyomi-style extensions
- Web user interface
- Cross-device progress sync
Kthoom vs Suwayomi-Server: key differences
Kthoom is written in JavaScript, while Suwayomi-Server is built with Java. Licensing differs — MIT for Kthoom versus MPL-2.0 for Suwayomi-Server. Kthoom is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Suwayomi-Server. Kthoom is the more established project (first released 2011), while Suwayomi-Server arrived in 2021. Suwayomi-Server has the considerably larger community, at 7,747 GitHub stars versus 150. Suwayomi-Server lists first-class Docker deployment; Kthoom does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Kthoom if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in JavaScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Reader only, no library
- Minimal organization
Choose Suwayomi-Server if…
- Large extension ecosystem
- Active community
Watch out for
- Extension legality varies
- Manga-focused only
Frequently asked questions
Is Kthoom or Suwayomi-Server better?
Neither is universally better. Suwayomi-Server has the larger community, while Kthoom is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Kthoom and Suwayomi-Server free and open-source?
Yes. Kthoom is licensed under MIT and Suwayomi-Server under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Kthoom and Suwayomi-Server with Docker?
Kthoom: check the project docs for container support. Suwayomi-Server: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Kthoom or Suwayomi-Server?
Kthoom has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Suwayomi-Server. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.