# OpenReader vs Pharos

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

| | OpenReader | Pharos |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 59/100 ✓ | 44/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 15 in Audiobook Management | #80 of 125 in AI |
| GitHub stars | 550 ✓ | 241 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +35 | — |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 19 ✓ | 0 |
| Latest release | v5.4.0 · 28 Oct 2026 | — |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Main language | Typescript | Python |

## Which one should you pick?

OpenReader scores 59/100 against 44/100 for Pharos, so it is the safer default.

OpenReader ships more often: 19 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Pharos.

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

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

## Details

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

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