Readest 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.
Storyteller
Self-hosted server that syncs ebooks with audiobooks
| Feature | Readest | Storyteller |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 24,565 | ★ 1,500 |
| First released | 2024 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Kindle, Apple Books | Audible, Kindle |
What are Readest and Storyteller?
Readest
Readest is an open-source ebook reader with a self-hostable sync server for keeping reading progress and annotations consistent across devices. It supports EPUB and other common formats.
- Cross-device progress sync
- EPUB and PDF support
- Annotations and highlights
- Self-hostable sync server
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
Readest vs Storyteller: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Readest is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Storyteller. Readest has the considerably larger community, at 24,565 GitHub stars versus 1,500.
Why pick each one
Choose Readest if…
- Clean modern interface
- Cross-device sync
- Multiple format support
Watch out for
- Relatively young project
- Smaller community
Choose Storyteller if…
- Unique read-listen sync
- Privacy friendly
Watch out for
- Newer project
- Processing is resource intensive
Frequently asked questions
Is Readest or Storyteller better?
Neither is universally better. Readest has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Readest and Storyteller free and open-source?
Yes. Readest is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Storyteller under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Readest and Storyteller with Docker?
Readest: yes. Storyteller: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Readest or Storyteller?
Readest 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.