OpenReadervsOwncast
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| OpenReader | Owncast | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 59/100 | 73/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 15 in Audiobook Management | #1 of 4 in Live Streaming |
| GitHub stars | 549 | 11 631 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +34 | +78 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 18 | 3 |
| Latest release | v5.3.0 · 20 Oct 2026 | v0.3.0 · 2 Sept 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Main language | Typescript | Go |
Which one should you pick?
Owncast scores 73/100 against 59/100 for OpenReader, so it is the safer default.
OpenReader ships more often: 18 stable releases in the past year, against 3 for Owncast.
If you want the quickest setup, Owncast is easier to run; OpenReader needs more configuration.
Owncast is growing faster right now (+78 stars in 30 days).
OpenReader details →Owncast details →
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