Manga-Tagger vs Mango
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-Tagger | Mango |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 6 · At risk | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Python | Crystal |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 191 | ★ 1,777 |
| First released | 2019 | 2020 |
| Replaces | ComiXology | ComiXology |
What are Manga-Tagger and Mango?
Manga-Tagger
Manga-Tagger is an automated tool that renames and embeds rich metadata into manga archive files. It pulls data from AniList and MyAnimeList so readers like Komga display accurate series information.
- Automatic manga metadata tagging
- File renaming
- AniList and MAL sources
- Reader-friendly output
Mango
Mango is a self-hosted manga server and reader written in Crystal, designed to be fast and lightweight. It supports multi-user accounts, reading progress tracking, and an OPDS feed for external readers.
- Manga library and reader
- Multi-user accounts
- Reading progress tracking
- OPDS feed support
Manga-Tagger vs Mango: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Mango's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Manga-Tagger is actively maintained. Manga-Tagger is written in Python, while Mango is built with Crystal. Mango has the considerably larger community, at 1,777 GitHub stars versus 191.
Why pick each one
Choose Manga-Tagger if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Companion tool only
- Manga-specific
Choose Mango if…
- Very lightweight
- Simple to deploy
Watch out for
- Slower development
- Manga-focused only
Frequently asked questions
Is Manga-Tagger or Mango better?
Mango is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Mango if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Manga-Tagger and Mango free and open-source?
Yes. Manga-Tagger is licensed under MIT and Mango under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Manga-Tagger and Mango with Docker?
Manga-Tagger: yes. Mango: yes.