# Bookshelf vs OpenReader

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

| | Bookshelf | OpenReader |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 47/100 | 59/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #9 of 19 in Ebook Management | #4 of 15 in Audiobook Management |
| GitHub stars | 373 | 550 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | — | +35 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 19 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | v5.4.0 · 28 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes ✓ |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Main language | Typescript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

OpenReader scores 59/100 against 47/100 for Bookshelf, so it is the safer default.

OpenReader ships more often: 19 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Bookshelf.

OpenReader is growing faster right now (+35 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [Bookshelf](https://selfhost.directory/project/bookshelf-2) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/bookshelf-2.md)
- [OpenReader](https://selfhost.directory/project/openreader) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/openreader.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/bookshelf-2-vs-openreader