head to head · open source
readest vs HRConvert2
readest has 25,874 GitHub stars, 1,805 forks, 145 open issues and last shipped yesterday. HRConvert2 has 1,384 stars, 81 forks, 2 open issues and last shipped yesterday. readest leads on adoption by 1,770% (25,874 vs 1,384 stars). readest is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0; HRConvert2 is written in PHP under GPL-3.0. readest has attracted 7% as many forks as stars, HRConvert2 6%. readest was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (ebook), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| readest | HRConvert2 | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 26K | ★ 1.4K |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | PHP |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-11-02 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.8K | ⑂ 81 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick readest if
- You weight community size — 26K stars and counting
- You want the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick HRConvert2 if
- You want the HRConvert2 feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches PHP
- You evaluated both and HRConvert2 fits your workflow better
About readest
Readest [Readest][link website] is an open source ebook reader designed for immersive and deep reading experiences. Built as a modern rewrite of Foliate, it leverages Next.js 16 and Tauri v2 to deliver a smooth, cross platform experience across macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, and the Web. [![Website][badge website]][link website] [![Web App][badge web app]][link web readest] [![OS][badge platforms]][link website] [![Discord][badge discord]][link discord] [![Reddit][badge reddit]][link reddit] [![AGPL Licence][badge license]](LICENSE) [![Language Coverage][badge language coverage]][link locales]…
read the full readest overview →
About HRConvert2
🔁 HRConvert2 Self Hosted, Resource Aware, Public Facing File Conversion Server No database. No cookies. No tracking. Nothing leaves your server. Get Started · Documentation · Docker Image 🔒 Why HRConvert2? Every free online file converter is actually a data collection business in disguise. Upload a contract, medical scan, or proprietary CAD file? You just handed it to a stranger with an ad network. HRConvert2 is different. Same convenience. Zero compromise. Conversions happen on your machine using local tools Users need no account and leave no trace Runs on a Raspberry Pi Workflow: Drag, drop, convert…
read the full HRConvert2 overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is readest or HRConvert2 more popular?
readest has 25,874 GitHub stars and HRConvert2 has 1,384. readest has the larger community by that measure.
Are readest and HRConvert2 free?
Both are open source. readest is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and HRConvert2 under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between readest and HRConvert2?
readest is written in TypeScript and HRConvert2 in PHP. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, readest or HRConvert2?
Choose readest if you want the larger community (25,874 stars) or its AGPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose HRConvert2 if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.