# EMQX vs OpenReader

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

| | EMQX | OpenReader |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 78/100 ✓ | 59/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 14 in Messaging | #4 of 15 in Audiobook Management |
| GitHub stars | 16 868 ✓ | 550 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +114 ✓ | +35 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 15 | 19 ✓ |
| Latest release | 6.3.2 · 16 Oct 2026 | v5.4.0 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Other | MIT |
| Main language | Erlang | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

EMQX scores 78/100 against 59/100 for OpenReader, so it is the safer default.

OpenReader ships more often: 19 stable releases in the past year, against 15 for EMQX.

If you want the quickest setup, OpenReader is easier to run; EMQX needs more configuration.

EMQX is growing faster right now (+114 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [EMQX](https://selfhost.directory/project/emqx) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/emqx.md)
- [OpenReader](https://selfhost.directory/project/openreader) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/openreader.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/emqx-vs-openreader