# Audiobookshelf vs Nowen Reader

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | Audiobookshelf | Nowen Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 79/100 ✓ | 51/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 15 in Audiobook Management | #4 of 19 in Ebook Management |
| GitHub stars | 14 831 ✓ | 180 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +411 | — |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 14 ✓ | 10 |
| Latest release | v2.37.2 · 23 Oct 2026 | v1.2.3 · 25 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Easy | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | JavaScript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Audiobookshelf scores 79/100 against 51/100 for Nowen Reader, so it is the safer default.

Audiobookshelf ships more often: 14 stable releases in the past year, against 10 for Nowen Reader.

Audiobookshelf is growing faster right now (+411 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [Audiobookshelf](https://selfhost.directory/project/audiobookshelf) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/audiobookshelf.md)
- [Nowen Reader](https://selfhost.directory/project/nowen-reader) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/nowen-reader.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/audiobookshelf-vs-nowen-reader