# OpenReader vs Shinobi

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

| | OpenReader | Shinobi |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 59/100 | 66/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #4 of 15 in Audiobook Management | #3 of 24 in Video Surveillance |
| GitHub stars | 550 ✓ | — |
| Stars, last 30 days | +35 | — |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 18 ✓ | 0 |
| Latest release | v5.3.0 · 20 Oct 2026 | — |
| Setup | Moderate ✓ | Advanced |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Typescript | — |

## Which one should you pick?

Shinobi scores 66/100 against 59/100 for OpenReader, so it is the safer default.

OpenReader ships more often: 18 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Shinobi.

If you want the quickest setup, OpenReader is easier to run; Shinobi 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)
- [Shinobi](https://selfhost.directory/project/shinobi) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/shinobi.md)

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