Plato vs Stump
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 | Plato | Stump |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 65 · Good | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Rust | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,705 | ★ 2,714 |
| First released | 2017 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Kobo reader app, Kindle | Kindle, ComiXology |
What are Plato and Stump?
Plato
Plato is an open-source document reader built specifically for Kobo e-ink devices, supporting EPUB, PDF, CBZ, and more. It offers a library view, annotations, and connectivity to OPDS catalogs.
- Built for Kobo devices
- Multi-format support
- OPDS catalog access
- Annotations and bookmarks
Stump
Stump is a free, open-source comic, manga, and ebook server built with Rust for speed and low resource use. It implements the OPDS standard and offers a modern web interface for browsing and reading.
- Comic and ebook serving
- OPDS support
- Modern web reader
- Very low resource use
Plato vs Stump: key differences
Plato is written in Rust, while Stump is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Plato versus MIT for Stump. Plato is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Stump. Plato is the more established project (first released 2017), while Stump arrived in 2022. Stump lists first-class Docker deployment; Plato does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Plato if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Active community (1.7k GitHub stars)
- Written in Rust
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Choose Stump if…
- Fast and lightweight
- Clean interface
Watch out for
- Still pre-1.0
- Fewer features than Komga
Frequently asked questions
Is Plato or Stump better?
Stump is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Plato if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Plato and Stump free and open-source?
Yes. Plato is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Stump under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Plato and Stump with Docker?
Plato: check the project docs for container support. Stump: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Plato or Stump?
Plato has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Stump. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.