Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Ubooquity VS Calibre Web

Compare Ubooquity VS Calibre Web and see what are their differences

Ubooquity logo Ubooquity

Ubooquity is a free, lightweight and easy-to-use home server for your comics and ebooks.

Calibre Web logo Calibre Web

Calibre Web is a web app providing a clean interface for browsing, reading and downloading eBooks...
  • Ubooquity Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-10
  • Calibre Web Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26

Ubooquity features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Ubooquity offers a simple and intuitive user interface that makes it easy for users to navigate and access their eBook and comic collections without a steep learning curve.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    This software can be used across various operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing flexibility and accessibility for users across different platforms.
  • Remote Access
    Ubooquity allows users to access their library remotely via a web browser, making it convenient to read eBooks and comics from any location with internet access.
  • Free and Open Source
    Ubooquity is free to use and open-source, allowing users to benefit from community-driven improvements and potentially customize the software to fit their needs.
  • Built-in OPDS Server
    It includes an OPDS server, which helps users to browse, search, and download books or comics directly using compatible reading apps, streamlining the reading experience.

Possible disadvantages of Ubooquity

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to some other media server solutions, Ubooquity may lack certain advanced features and capabilities, which could be a drawback for power users looking for more functionality.
  • Manual Setup and Configuration
    Setting up and configuring Ubooquity can require manual intervention and some technical knowledge, possibly complicating the process for users who are not technologically savvy.
  • No Active Development
    Development and updates for Ubooquity have slowed down, potentially leading to concerns over future support, compatibility issues, and missing out on new features.
  • Mobile App Dependency
    While Ubooquity provides remote access, it relies on third-party apps for mobile device usage, which may not always offer the same functionality or user experience as an integrated app would.
  • Limited Customization Options
    The software offers limited options for customization, making it potentially less appealing for users wanting to tailor the interface or functionality extensively to suit personal preferences.

Calibre Web features and specs

  • Open Source
    Calibre Web is open-source software, which means it is free to use and its source code is available for modification and improvement by the community.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Calibre Web provides a clean and intuitive user interface, making it easy to organize, search, and read ebooks without requiring technical expertise.
  • Cross-Platform
    The application can be deployed on various platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, and even on Docker, offering flexibility in installation and usage.
  • Mobile Support
    Calibre Web is mobile-friendly and optimized for use on smartphones and tablets, allowing users to read ebooks on the go.
  • Integration with Calibre
    Calibre Web integrates seamlessly with the popular Calibre ebook management tool, making it easy to use their ebooks and metadata without duplication.
  • User Management
    The platform supports multi-user access with different privilege levels, making it suitable for shared libraries and family use.
  • Customizable
    Being open source, users can customize Calibre Web to better suit their needs, including altering the design and functionality of the application.

Possible disadvantages of Calibre Web

  • Setup Complexity
    Initial setup and configuration may require some technical knowledge, especially if deploying on a server or using Docker.
  • Dependence on Calibre
    While integration with Calibre is a pro, it also means that users need to have Calibre installed and set up properly, which can be an additional step.
  • Limited Built-in Features
    Calibre Web does not have all the features of the original Calibre application, particularly some advanced ebook editing and conversion options.
  • Community Support
    As an open-source project, it relies on community support rather than having dedicated customer service, which may be a drawback for users requiring immediate assistance.
  • Performance
    Performance can vary depending on the configuration and resources of the server it is running on, potentially leading to slower response times for larger libraries.

Analysis of Calibre Web

Overall verdict

  • Calibre Web is a highly effective and well-regarded tool for those who need a web-based interface to interact with their Calibre eBook library. It's particularly valued for its ease of setup and the rich feature set it offers.

Why this product is good

  • Calibre Web is an open-source web application that provides a user-friendly interface for browsing, managing, and reading eBooks hosted on a server.
  • It allows users to access their Calibre library remotely, providing support for various eBook formats and features like metadata management and book tagging.
  • It supports multiple users, allowing each user to have their own login and preferences, making it a great tool for shared libraries.
  • The application is easy to deploy with support for Docker and detailed installation instructions for various environments.

Recommended for

  • Individuals who use Calibre to manage their eBook libraries and want remote or shared access.
  • Users looking for a self-hosted solution to provide access to eBooks for multiple users in a network or community.
  • Tech-savvy individuals who can set up a server environment or use Docker for deployment.

Ubooquity videos

Ubooquity Comic Book Linux Server | For The Record

More videos:

  • Review - Ubooquity - Home Server for Comics & Ebooks - Linux WEBUI
  • Review - Self-hosted E-library with Ubooquity

Calibre Web videos

Calibre Web

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Ubooquity and Calibre Web)
eBook Reader
29 29%
71% 71
Ebooks
23 23%
77% 77
eBook Manager
27 27%
73% 73
Books
51 51%
49% 49

User comments

Share your experience with using Ubooquity and Calibre Web. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Calibre Web should be more popular than Ubooquity. It has been mentiond 87 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Ubooquity mentions (26)

  • Calibre โ€“ New in Calibre 7.0
    Maybe have a look at Kavita or Ubooquity (possibly Komga, but that's more for comics) https://www.kavitareader.com/ https://vaemendis.net/ubooquity/ https://komga.org/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Are there any iOS comic readers that let you "stream" cbz and cbr files?
    Another option might be Ubooquity โ€“ itโ€™s simpler than Komga, but you can start it as a desktop application on your regular computer. Could be a good way to get your feet wet :). Source: over 2 years ago
  • Selfhosted book library with app to read these books
    I use Ubooquity to host my books and KyBook 3 to read from the OPDS feed. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Self Hosted Server For Multiple Types Media
    I Use httrack.com software to download my websites. I am aware of the following software: Ubooquity, TrueNas, Kavita, Plex, MediaMonkey, Jellyfin and MusicBrainzPicard. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Docker Calibre-Web alternative
    Ubooquity - Good for comics, manga, and ebooks. The interface is a little bit clunkier to manage but once it is setup it is stable. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

Calibre Web mentions (87)

  • Abogen โ€“ Generate audiobooks from EPUBs, PDFs and text
    I imagine a pipeline between Calibre-Web[0] and audiobookshelf[1] going through Abogen, where Calibre-Web supplies the books, Abogen generates the audio version of it, and Audiobookshelf serves them. [0] https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web [1] https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • KOReader: Open-Source eBook Reader
    This allows me to sync my library to my Kobo e-reader using KOreader. Also, turning pages is faster than with the stock reader of the device. https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Ebooks
    There are already some very good ebooks solutions out there so there's really no need. Calibre for the backend and database management, Calibre-Web for the front end, and Openbooks for content. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Kobo / Calibre-web / ePubs - how nice do they play?
    I have a carefully-curated calibre-web library that is 100% epubs. I have a kindle to which I usually send books from calibre-web with the 'send to e-reader' button, and it works great. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Calibre โ€“ New in Calibre 7.0
    Worthy of note the Calibre-Web[0] project, which builds atop Calibre library to provide powerful web interface. The project and its maintainer deserve some love and support. [0] https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Ubooquity and Calibre Web, you can also consider the following products

Komga - Media server for comics/mangas/BDs with API and OPDS support.

calibre - Ebook manager, viewer & converter

FBReader - FBReader is an e-book reader for various platforms. Features:

Kavita Reader - Lighting fast with a slick design, Kavita is a rocket fueled self-hosted digital library which supports a vast array of file formats. Install to start reading and share your server with your friends.

Amazon Kindle - Amazon Kindle software lets you read ebooks on your Kindle, iPhone, iPad, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, and...

YACReader - Download YACReader for your platform. Windows, Linux, MacOSX. And enjoy you comic books cbr cbz with the best comic reader.