# OpenReader vs PanWatch

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

| | OpenReader | PanWatch |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 59/100 | 62/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #4 of 15 in Audiobook Management | #3 of 9 in Fintech |
| GitHub stars | 550 | 2 269 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +34 | +118 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 19 ✓ | 12 |
| Latest release | v5.4.0 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ | 0.20.0 · 23 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Main language | Typescript | Python |

## Which one should you pick?

PanWatch scores 62/100 against 59/100 for OpenReader, so it is the safer default.

OpenReader ships more often: 19 stable releases in the past year, against 12 for PanWatch.

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

PanWatch is growing faster right now (+118 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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