Open Library vs pdf2htmlEX
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-books & media library options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Open Library
Open, editable catalog and library platform for books
VS
pdf2htmlEX
Converts PDF documents to HTML while preserving layout
| Feature | Open Library | pdf2htmlEX |
|---|---|---|
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | HTML |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,597 | ★ 5,578 |
| First released | 2007 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Goodreads | Commercial PDF converters |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is Open Library or pdf2htmlEX better?
Neither is universally better. Open Library has the larger community, while pdf2htmlEX is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Open Library and pdf2htmlEX free and open-source?
Yes. Open Library is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and pdf2htmlEX under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Open Library and pdf2htmlEX with Docker?
Open Library: yes. pdf2htmlEX: yes.
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