Head-to-head · Comic Book Reader Apps
Kavita vs Komga
Kavita leads on 0 checks, Komga on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreKavita · 7.8/10
- Free planboth
Kavita scores higher on our rubric for comic book reader apps: 7.8 against 7.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #4.
Kavita is the better fit for self-hosters who want a feature-rich web reader. Komga is the better fit for self-hosters managing shared comic libraries.
- Kavita fits best
Self-hosters who want a feature-rich web reader
- Komga fits best
Self-hosters managing shared comic libraries
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Side by side
| Feature | Kavita 7.8/10 Visit ↗ | Komga 7.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.8 | 7.7 |
| Ranking | #3 in Comic Book Reader Apps | #4 in Comic Book Reader Apps |
| Best for | Self-hosters who want a feature-rich web reader | Self-hosters managing shared comic libraries |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free |
| Starting price | $4/mo | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Self-hosted, Browser extension | Cloud, Self-hosted, Browser extension |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Docs, Community | Community, Docs |
| Integrations | 5 integrations | 3 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business | Solo, Small business |
| Features Kavita 2/4 · Komga 2/4 | ||
| Panel-by-panel mode | — | Not checked yet |
| Library organization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cloud sync | — | Not checked yet |
| Manga reading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Archive formats | CBZ, CBR, CB7, CBT | CBZ, CBR, ZIP, RAR |
| Platforms | web, Windows, macOS, Linux | web, Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Kavita is a free, open-source digital library for organizing and reading comics, manga, EPUBs and PDFs on a self-hosted server. Its browser-based readers offer single- and double-page layouts, webtoon mode, and right-to-left or… Read the review → |
For readers who want to operate their own digital library, Komga is a media server for comics, manga, magazines, and eBooks. It organizes files into libraries and offers a web-based reader, while compatible clients provide another way to… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Kavita — where it wins
- Built-in readers support comics, manga, EPUB and PDF
- Search, metadata filters, collections and reading lists organize a library
- OPDS access connects the library with compatible reader apps
Where it doesn't
- Requires self-hosting rather than a cloud-hosted library
- No panel-by-panel reading mode
- No cloud-hosted sync
Komga — where it wins
- Organizes CBZ, CBR, PDF, and EPUB files into libraries
- Combines a web reader with metadata editing and reading lists
- Tracks progress per user and restricts access to selected users
Where it doesn't
- Requires users to operate a server on a computer or NAS
- Reading access depends on the web interface or compatible clients
- Support is through documentation and the community
- Kavita7.8/10 · Free plan
A free, open-source reader and library for people who want to host their own comics and ebooks.
Visit KavitaFull verdict → - Komga7.7/10 · Free plan
A strong fit for self-hosters who want shared libraries and per-user reading progress.
Visit KomgaFull verdict →
More comparisons
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Guides on comic book reader apps
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update