# OpenReader vs scalar

> 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 | 16 336 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +34 | +147 ✓ |
| 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 (+147 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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