Storyteller 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.
Storyteller
Self-hosted server that syncs ebooks with audiobooks
VS
Stump
Fast, low-resource comic and ebook media server
| Feature | Storyteller | Stump |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | E-books & Media Library | E-books & Media Library |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,500 | ★ 2,714 |
| First released | 2024 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Audible, Kindle | Kindle, ComiXology |
What are Storyteller and Stump?
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
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
Storyteller vs Stump: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Storyteller versus MIT for Stump. Stump is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Storyteller. Stump is the more established project (first released 2022), while Storyteller arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose Storyteller if…
- Unique read-listen sync
- Privacy friendly
Watch out for
- Newer project
- Processing is resource intensive
Choose Stump if…
- Fast and lightweight
- Clean interface
Watch out for
- Still pre-1.0
- Fewer features than Komga
Frequently asked questions
Is Storyteller or Stump better?
Stump is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Storyteller if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Storyteller and Stump free and open-source?
Yes. Storyteller is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Stump under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Storyteller and Stump with Docker?
Storyteller: yes. Stump: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Storyteller or Stump?
Stump has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Storyteller. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.