manga-py vs mangadex-downloader
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 | manga-py | mangadex-downloader |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 11 · At risk | 51 · Fair |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary, source | bare-metal, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 522 | ★ 920 |
| First released | 2017 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Manual downloads | Manual downloads |
What are manga-py and mangadex-downloader?
manga-py
manga-py is a command-line manga downloader that fetches manga chapters from a wide range of websites and saves them as CBZ archives or images. It is useful for building self-hosted manga libraries for readers like Kavita or Komga.
- Downloads from many sites
- CBZ archive output
- Batch chapter downloads
- Cross-platform CLI
mangadex-downloader
mangadex-downloader is a command-line tool to download manga from MangaDex in various formats including CBZ, PDF, and EPUB. It helps build offline, self-hosted manga collections for use with self-hosted reader servers.
- MangaDex chapter downloads
- Multiple output formats
- Batch and range downloads
- Login support
manga-py vs mangadex-downloader: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: manga-py's repository is archived and no longer developed, while mangadex-downloader is actively maintained. Both projects are written in Python. Manga-py is the more established project (first released 2017), while mangadex-downloader arrived in 2021.
Why pick each one
Choose manga-py if…
- Wide site support
- Feeds other manga servers
Watch out for
- Command-line only
- Site support varies
Choose mangadex-downloader if…
- Many export formats
- Actively maintained
Watch out for
- MangaDex only
- Command-line oriented
Frequently asked questions
Is manga-py or mangadex-downloader better?
Neither is universally better. mangadex-downloader has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are manga-py and mangadex-downloader free and open-source?
Yes. manga-py is licensed under MIT and mangadex-downloader under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run manga-py and mangadex-downloader with Docker?
manga-py: check the project docs for container support. mangadex-downloader: check the project docs for container support.