Readarr vs Storyteller
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-books & media library options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Readarr
Archived
E-book and audiobook collection manager
VS
Storyteller
Self-hosted server that syncs ebooks with audiobooks
| Feature | Readarr | Storyteller |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C# | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,468 | ★ 1,500 |
| First released | 2020 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Goodreads, Audible | Audible, Kindle |
What are Readarr and Storyteller?
Readarr
Readarr is an e-book and audiobook collection manager that automates organizing and acquiring titles, in the Servarr family. It targets users automating their reading library. It is deployed via Docker or binaries.
- Automated library management
- Author and series tracking
- Integrates with download clients
- Servarr-family UI
Storyteller
Storyteller is a self-hosted platform that synchronizes the text of an ebook with its audiobook narration. This lets you seamlessly switch between reading and listening while keeping your place.
- Syncs ebook text with audio
- Switch between read and listen
- Self-hosted server
- Companion mobile apps
Readarr vs Storyteller: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Readarr's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Storyteller is actively maintained. Readarr is written in C#, while Storyteller is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Readarr versus AGPL-3.0 for Storyteller. Readarr is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Storyteller. Readarr is the more established project (first released 2020), while Storyteller arrived in 2024. Readarr has the considerably larger community, at 3,468 GitHub stars versus 1,500.
Why pick each one
Choose Readarr if…
- Automates collection
- Familiar Servarr interface
- Good metadata tracking
Watch out for
- Project entered retirement
- Metadata sources are limited
Choose Storyteller if…
- Unique read-listen sync
- Privacy friendly
Watch out for
- Newer project
- Processing is resource intensive
Frequently asked questions
Is Readarr or Storyteller better?
Neither is universally better. Readarr has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Readarr and Storyteller free and open-source?
Yes. Readarr is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Storyteller under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Readarr and Storyteller with Docker?
Readarr: yes. Storyteller: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Readarr or Storyteller?
Readarr has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Storyteller. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.