Calibre
26kE-book library manager that can view, convert, and catalog e-books in most of the major e-book formats and provides a built-in Web server for remote clients.
Document Management - E-booksGPL-3.0
Self-hosted Document Management - E-books
SelfHostHub lists 17 open-source E-books projects you can host on your own server. The most-starred on GitHub are Calibre (26,176 stars), Calibre Web (18,411 stars) and Audiobookshelf (14,702 stars). 11 of them document a Docker install, and 3 offer a live demo you can try first.
Calibre Web
18kBrowse, read and download eBooks using an existing Calibre database.
Document Management - E-booksGPL-3.0
Audiobook and podcast server. It streams all audio formats, keeps and syncs progress across devices. Comes with apps for Android and iOS.
Media Streaming - Audio StreamingGPL-3.0
Kavita
12kCross-platform e-book/manga/comic/pdf server and web reader with user management, ratings and reviews, and metadata support.
Document Management - E-booksGPL-3.0
Komga
6.8kMedia server for comics/mangas/BDs with API and OPDS support, a modern web interface for exploring your libraries, as well as a web reader.
Document Management - E-booksMIT
All-in-one solution, combining the modern lightweight web UI from Calibre-Web with the robust, versatile feature set of Calibre (fork of Calibre Web).
Document Management - E-booksGPL-3.0
Grimmory
4.6kLibrary for ebooks, comics and audiobooks with a built-in reader, metadata lookup, multi-user support, OPDS, and Kobo/KOReader sync.
Document Management - E-booksAGPL-3.0
Bookwyrm
2.8kSocial network for tracking your reading, talking about books, writing reviews, and discovering what to read next.
Document Management - E-books⊘ Proprietary
Stump
2.8kA fast, free and open source comics, manga and digital book server with OPDS support.
Document Management - E-booksMIT
Kapowarr
1.1kBuild and manage a comic book library. Download, rename, move and convert issues of the volume to your liking.
Document Management - E-booksGPL-3.0
kiwix-serve
967HTTP daemon for serving wikis from ZIM files.
Document Management - E-booksGPL-3.0
BookLogr
633Manage your personal book library with ease.
Document Management - E-booksApache-2.0
Atsumeru
191Manga/comic/light novel media server with clients for Windows, Linux, macOS and Android.
Document Management - E-booksMIT
Bindery
64Folder-watching converter for e-books and comics. EPUB to Kobo KEPUB via kepubify, CBZ/CBR/PDF via Kindle Comic Converter, with per-device profiles, ComicInfo.xml naming, chapter-to-volume bundling and a web UI.
Document Management - E-booksMIT
Manga collection manager with automatic metadata, MyAnimeList import and detailed collection statistics.
Document Management - E-booksGPL-3.0
Inkheart
23Lightweight PDF library and reader.
Document Management - E-booksApache-2.0
Free to use, versatile, lightweight, multi-platform, and secure home server for your comic and e-book library.
Document Management - E-books⊘ Proprietary
How to choose self-hosted E-books software
- Check project health. Stars show popularity, not maintenance. Open the source repository and look at recent commits and releases.
- Match the licence to your use. 9 use a GPL-family licence (copyleft, including AGPL) and 6 use a permissive licence such as MIT, Apache-2.0 or BSD. AGPL matters if you modify the software and offer it to others over a network.
- Pick a stack you can run. The most common platforms here are Docker (11), Python (4), Java (3) and deb (2). Docker is usually the easiest path for a home server or VPS.
- Try before you migrate. Use a live demo where one exists (3 here), or a throwaway container first, and confirm it can import your existing data before switching.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular self-hosted E-books software?
By GitHub stars, the top projects in this category are Calibre (26,176 stars), Calibre Web (18,411 stars) and Audiobookshelf (14,702 stars).
How many open-source E-books tools are listed?
17 projects are currently listed in the E-books category on SelfHostHub.
Which licences do self-hosted E-books projects use?
The most common licences in this category are GPL-3.0 (8), MIT (4) and ⊘ Proprietary (2).
Can I run these E-books tools with Docker?
11 of the 17 projects list Docker as a supported platform. Check each project's documentation for the exact install steps.