head to head · open source
readest vs Tangent
readest has 25,874 GitHub stars, 1,805 forks, 145 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Tangent has 583 stars, 41 forks, 112 open issues and last shipped yesterday. readest leads on adoption by 4,338% (25,874 vs 583 stars). readest is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0; Tangent is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0. readest has attracted 7% as many forks as stars, Tangent 7%. readest was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
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 | Tangent | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 26K | ★ 583 |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-11-02 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.8K | ⑂ 41 |
| 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 Tangent if
- You want the Tangent feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and Tangent 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 Tangent
Tangent This is the monorepo for the Tangent project. Tangent is a local note writing / personal knowledge management tool. It was heavily inspired by Obsidian, and has drifted in its own direction. It uses [[Wiki Links]] and a slightly customized markdown syntax. Notes are fully styled as you write. Markdown syntax is hidden and revealed as needed. Other key features: An innovative, two dimensional connected map of your navigation and linking history. "Sliding Panel" UX inspired by Andy Matuschak's notes. Writing focus mode: highlight your current paragraph, line, or sentence. Customizable note views: view your…
read the full Tangent overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is readest or Tangent more popular?
readest has 25,874 GitHub stars and Tangent has 583. readest has the larger community by that measure.
Are readest and Tangent free?
Both are open source. readest is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Tangent under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between readest and Tangent?
readest is written in TypeScript and Tangent in TypeScript. 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 Tangent?
Choose readest if you want the larger community (25,874 stars) or its AGPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose Tangent if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.