pdf2htmlEX vs Readarr
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?
pdf2htmlEX
Converts PDF documents to HTML while preserving layout
VS
Readarr
E-book and audiobook collection manager
| Feature | pdf2htmlEX | Readarr |
|---|---|---|
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | HTML | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,578 | ★ 3,476 |
| First released | 2013 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Commercial PDF converters | Goodreads, Audible |
Why pick each one
Choose Readarr if…
- Automates collection
- Familiar Servarr interface
- Good metadata tracking
Frequently asked questions
Is pdf2htmlEX or Readarr better?
Neither is universally better. pdf2htmlEX has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are pdf2htmlEX and Readarr free and open-source?
Yes. pdf2htmlEX is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Readarr under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run pdf2htmlEX and Readarr with Docker?
pdf2htmlEX: yes. Readarr: yes.