OpenReadervsyoutube-dl
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| OpenReader | youtube-dl | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 59/100 | 51/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 15 in Audiobook Management | #6 of 12 in Video |
| GitHub stars | 550 | 402 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +35 | — |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 19 | 0 |
| Latest release | v5.4.0 · 28 Oct 2026 | — |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Main language | Typescript | Python |
Which one should you pick?
OpenReader scores 59/100 against 51/100 for youtube-dl, so it is the safer default.
OpenReader ships more often: 19 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for youtube-dl.
If you want the quickest setup, youtube-dl is easier to run; OpenReader needs more configuration.
OpenReader is growing faster right now (+35 stars in 30 days).
OpenReader details →youtube-dl details →
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