# PaperCortex vs Paperless-AI next

> Two self-hosted [Paperless-ai alternatives](https://selfhost.directory/alternative-to/paperless-ai), compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | PaperCortex | Paperless-AI next |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 35/100 | 49/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #38 of 46 in Document Management | #31 of 46 in Document Management |
| GitHub stars | 31 | 266 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +1 | — |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 21 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | v2026.10.02 · 22 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Main language | Typescript | JavaScript |

## Which one should you pick?

Paperless-AI next scores 49/100 against 35/100 for PaperCortex, so it is the safer default.

Paperless-AI next ships more often: 21 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for PaperCortex.

If you want the quickest setup, Paperless-AI next is easier to run; PaperCortex needs more configuration.

PaperCortex is growing faster right now (+1 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [PaperCortex](https://selfhost.directory/project/papercortex) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/papercortex.md)
- [Paperless-AI next](https://selfhost.directory/project/paperless-ai-next) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/paperless-ai-next.md)

---
Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/papercortex-vs-paperless-ai-next