Self-hosted alternatives to Kindle
A self-hosted e-book library on your own server. Below are 12 open source options you host on your own server — with no monthly per-user fee and full control of your data.
Calibre
★ 25,115E-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.
Calibre Web
★ 17,568Browse, read and download eBooks using an existing Calibre database.
Audiobookshelf
★ 13,267Audiobook and podcast server. It streams all audio formats, keeps and syncs progress across devices. Comes with open-source apps for Android and iOS.
Kavita
★ 10,995Cross-platform e-book/manga/comic/pdf server and web reader with user management, ratings and reviews, and metadata support.
Komga
★ 6,375Media server for comics/mangas/BDs with API and OPDS support, a modern web interface for exploring your libraries, as well as a web reader.
Calibre Web Automated
★ 5,788All-in-one solution, combining the modern lightweight web UI from Calibre-Web with the robust, versatile feature set of Calibre (fork of Calibre Web).
Bookwyrm
★ 2,734Social network for tracking your reading, talking about books, writing reviews, and discovering what to read next.
Stump
★ 2,531A fast, free and open source comics, manga and digital book server with OPDS support.
Kapowarr
★ 996Build and manage a comic book library. Download, rename, move and convert issues of the volume to your liking.
kiwix-serve
★ 877HTTP daemon for serving wikis from ZIM files.
BookLogr
★ 579Manage your personal book library with ease.
Atsumeru
★ 180Manga/comic/light novel media server with clients for Windows, Linux, macOS and Android.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free self-hosted alternative to Kindle?
Yes. We've gathered 12 self-hosted, open source alternatives to Kindle — including Calibre, Calibre Web, Audiobookshelf. You run all of them on your own server.
What is the best open source alternative to Kindle?
Calibre is one of the most popular (25,115 GitHub stars). The "best" depends on your case — compare the options below.
Do I need a server to replace Kindle?
Yes. You can use a home server (homelab) or a cheap VPS (from ~€4/mo). See the hosting suggestions on this page.