# openpencil vs OpenReader

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

| | openpencil | OpenReader |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 73/100 ✓ | 59/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 7 in Design | #4 of 15 in Audiobook Management |
| GitHub stars | 9 407 ✓ | 550 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +806 ✓ | +34 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 14 | 19 ✓ |
| Latest release | v0.16.0 · 14 Oct 2026 | v5.4.0 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Easy ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes ✓ |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Main language | Typescript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

openpencil scores 73/100 against 59/100 for OpenReader, so it is the safer default.

OpenReader ships more often: 19 stable releases in the past year, against 14 for openpencil.

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

openpencil is growing faster right now (+806 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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