OpenReadervsscalar
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| OpenReader | scalar | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 59/100 | 76/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 15 in Audiobook Management | #3 of 13 in API |
| GitHub stars | 550 | 16 335 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +35 | +156 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 19 | 46 |
| Latest release | v5.4.0 · 28 Oct 2026 | release-2026-10-28-0d01943 · 28 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Main language | Typescript | Typescript |
Which one should you pick?
scalar scores 76/100 against 59/100 for OpenReader, so it is the safer default.
scalar ships more often: 46 stable releases in the past year, against 19 for OpenReader.
If you want the quickest setup, scalar is easier to run; OpenReader needs more configuration.
scalar is growing faster right now (+156 stars in 30 days).
OpenReader details →scalar details →
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