# Nowen Reader vs OpenReader

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

| | Nowen Reader | OpenReader |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 51/100 | 59/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #4 of 19 in Ebook Management | #4 of 15 in Audiobook Management |
| GitHub stars | 180 | 550 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | — | +35 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 10 | 19 ✓ |
| Latest release | v1.2.3 · 25 Oct 2026 | v5.4.0 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Easy ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Main language | Typescript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

OpenReader scores 59/100 against 51/100 for Nowen Reader, so it is the safer default.

OpenReader ships more often: 19 stable releases in the past year, against 10 for Nowen Reader.

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

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

## Details

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

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