Komga vs Kavita vs Calibre-Web: Best Self-Hosted Comic/Manga Server 2026

If you maintain a personal library of comics, mangas, or graphic novels, self-hosting your own media server gives you complete control over your collection — no subscription fees, no DRM restrictions, and no privacy concerns. In 2026, three projects stand out for serving digital comics and manga: Komga, Kavita, and Calibre-Web.

In this guide, we compare these three self-hosted reading servers, walk through complete Docker deployment for each, and help you choose the right one for your needs. For related reading, see our Audiobookshelf vs Kavita vs Calibre-Web guide which covers these tools from an eBook/audiobook perspective, our Jellyfin vs Plex vs Emby comparison for general media serving, and our self-hosted NAS solutions guide for storage infrastructure.

Why Self-Host Your Comic/Manga Server

Commercial platforms like ComiXology have shifted toward subscription models, and cloud-based readers often restrict what formats you can access. Self-hosting solves these problems:

• Format freedom — Read CBZ, CBR, PDF, EPUB, and raw image archives without conversion
• No subscription fees — Your server runs on your hardware, forever
• Privacy — Your reading history and library metadata stay on your machine
• Cross-device access — Read on any browser, tablet, or phone via OPDS/Kobo sync
• Multi-user support — Share your collection with family or friends with granular permissions
• Metadata enrichment — Automatically fetch cover art, summaries, and reading information from online databases

The Three Solutions at a Glance

Komga — Specialized Comic & Manga Server

Komga is purpose-built for comics, mangas, bande dessinées, magazines, and eBooks. It launched with a clear focus on the comic reading experience and has grown to become one of the most feature-rich options in this space.

Key Features

• Smart reading modes — Automatic left-to-right (comics), right-to-left (manga), and vertical scroll (webtoon) detection
• Metadata enrichment — Built-in agents for ComicVine, MyAnimeList, Anime-Planet, and more. Automatically downloads covers, summaries, tags, and release dates
• OPDS v1 & v2 — Connect external readers like Panels, Chunky, or KOReader to your library
• Kobo & KOReader sync — Native synchronization with Kobo eReaders and KOReader devices, tracking reading progress across devices
• REST API — Full programmatic access for integrations and custom tooling
• Read list support — Create curated reading lists that combine issues from multiple series
• Analysis and repair — Automatically analyzes archive files, detects broken entries, and repairs common issues

Docker Compose Setup

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version: "3.8"
services:
  komga:
    image: ghcr.io/gotson/komga:latest
    container_name: komga
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - TZ=UTC
    volumes:
      - ./config:/config
      - ./data:/data
      - /path/to/comics:/comics:ro
    ports:
      - "25600:25600"
    user: "1000:1000"

After starting the container, access the web interface at http://your-server:25600. The first login requires creating an admin account. Point Komga to your /comics library directory and it will begin scanning and analyzing your collection.

Reverse Proxy Configuration (Nginx)

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server {
    listen 80;
    server_name komga.example.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:25600;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;

        # WebSocket support for real-time updates
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection "upgrade";
    }
}

Kavita — All-in-One Reading Server

Kavita is a fast, cross-platform reading server designed to handle every type of reading material — manga, webtoons, comics, and eBooks. It positions itself as a complete solution rather than a specialized tool.

Key Features

• Universal format support — CBR, CBZ, ZIP, RAR, RAR5, 7zip, PDF, EPUB, and raw images
• Responsive web reader — Works on phones, tablets, and desktops with dedicated manga/webtoon modes
• Smart filters — Create dynamic collections based on tags, genres, reading status, and custom criteria
• Reading list management — Import ComicBookLoader (CBL) files and create custom reading orders
• Role-based access control — Granular permissions including age restrictions, content visibility, and feature access
• OIDC/SAML support — Integrate with existing identity providers for enterprise deployments
• Theme system — Extensive theming support with community-contributed themes
• Localization — Full translation support across 30+ languages via Weblate
• Dashboard customization — Personalize your homepage with smart filters, custom layouts, and visibility toggles

Docker Compose Setup

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version: "3.8"
services:
  kavita:
    image: jvmilazz0/kavita:latest
    container_name: kavita
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - TZ=UTC
    volumes:
      - ./config:/kavita/config
      - /path/to/library:/media:ro
    ports:
      - "5000:5000"
    user: "1000:1000"

Access Kavita at http://your-server:5000 after the container starts. The setup wizard guides you through creating an admin account and adding your first library. Point it to your /media directory containing organized comic or manga folders.

Reverse Proxy Configuration (Caddy)

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kavita.example.com {
    reverse_proxy 127.0.0.1:5000 {
        header_up Host {host}
        header_up X-Real-IP {remote}
        header_up X-Forwarded-For {remote}
    }
}

Calibre-Web — Calibre Library Frontend

Calibre-Web is a web application that provides a clean, responsive interface for browsing and reading eBooks stored in a Calibre database. While not specifically designed for comics, it serves as a powerful web frontend for any Calibre-managed library.

Key Features

• Calibre database integration — Direct access to your existing Calibre library with full metadata
• ePub reader — Built-in web-based ePub reader with bookmarking
• OPDS feed — Serve your library to any OPDS-compatible reader app
• User management — Create accounts with per-user download and reading permissions
• Metadata editing — Edit book details, covers, and tags directly from the web interface
• Book conversion — Convert between formats using Calibre’s conversion engine (requires Calibre installation)
• Kobo sync — Sync reading progress with Kobo devices (via Calibre-Kobo plugins)
• Upload support — Allow users to upload new books to the library (configurable per user)

Docker Compose Setup

Calibre-Web requires a pre-existing Calibre database. You can either create one on your host machine or run Calibre in a companion container:

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version: "3.8"
services:
  calibre-web:
    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/calibre-web:latest
    container_name: calibre-web
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - PUID=1000
      - PGID=1000
      - TZ=UTC
      - DOCKER_MODS=linuxserver/mods:universal-calibre
      - OAUTHLIB_RELAX_TOKEN_SCOPE=1
    volumes:
      - ./config:/config
      - /path/to/calibre-library:/books
    ports:
      - "8083:8083"

The DOCKER_MODS environment variable installs the Calibre conversion engine inside the container, enabling format conversion without a separate Calibre installation. Access the web interface at http://your-server:8083. On first launch, set the Calibre library path to /books and create an admin account (default credentials: admin/admin123).

Reverse Proxy Configuration (Traefik)

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  calibre-web:
    labels:
      - "traefik.enable=true"
      - "traefik.http.routers.calibre-web.rule=Host(`calibre.example.com`)"
      - "traefik.http.routers.calibre-web.entrypoints=websecure"
      - "traefik.http.routers.calibre-web.tls.certresolver=letsencrypt"
      - "traefik.http.services.calibre-web.loadbalancer.server.port=8083"

Head-to-Head Comparison

Comic/Manga Reading Experience

Komga provides the most polished comic reading experience out of the box. Its automatic reading mode detection (LTR for Western comics, RTL for manga, vertical scroll for webtoons) works reliably, and the reader handles double-page spreads intelligently. Kavita matches Komga’s reading capabilities with comparable LTR/RTL/continuous modes and adds a virtual page mode for EPUB files. Calibre-Web lacks dedicated comic reading modes — it treats all files as eBooks, which means manga pages display in the wrong reading order and webtoons require awkward scrolling.

Metadata and Library Organization

Komga excels with its built-in metadata agents that fetch information from ComicVine, MyAnimeList, and Anime-Planet without requiring external tools. It automatically downloads cover art, series summaries, and publication data. Kavita relies on its Kavita+ subscription for external metadata enrichment (ratings, reviews, and external database integration), though basic local metadata parsing works without a subscription. Calibre-Web inherits Calibre’s excellent metadata ecosystem — if you already use Calibre for managing your library, the metadata is already organized and searchable.

Performance and Scalability

All three servers handle libraries of 10,000+ titles without issues. Komga’s analysis phase (scanning and parsing archive files) can be CPU-intensive on first run but only needs to happen once per file. Kavita is notably fast at initial library scanning thanks to its optimized .NET runtime. Calibre-Web’s performance depends on the underlying Calibre database — large libraries may experience slower search queries without database optimization.

Extensibility and API

Komga’s comprehensive REST API enables integrations with custom scripts, automation tools, and third-party applications. Kavita also provides a REST API with growing documentation. Calibre-Web has limited API capabilities and is primarily designed as a standalone web interface.

Cost Considerations

All three are free and open-source. Kavita offers an optional Kavita+ subscription ($4/month) for premium features like external metadata enrichment and download capabilities — the core reading server remains fully functional without it. Komga and Calibre-Web have no paid tiers.

Choosing the Right Server

FAQ

Can I run Komga, Kavita, and Calibre-Web on the same server?

Yes. Each runs on a different default port (Komga: 25600, Kavita: 5000, Calibre-Web: 8083), so they can coexist on the same machine. You might choose to use Komga for your comic/manga collection and Calibre-Web for your eBook library, routing traffic through a reverse proxy.

Do these servers support CBZ and CBR formats natively?

Komga and Kavita both support CBZ, CBR, RAR, RAR5, and 7zip archives natively — no conversion required. Calibre-Web relies on the underlying Calibre database, which may need files to be imported and potentially converted to EPUB or PDF format first.

Can I access my library from my phone or tablet?

All three servers are accessible from any device with a web browser. Komga and Kavita also support OPDS, which means you can connect dedicated reader apps like Panels (iOS), Chunky (iOS), or KOReader (e-ink devices) directly to your server for an optimized reading experience.

How do I back up my library and reading progress?

For Komga, back up the /config directory (contains settings and user data) and your media files. For Kavita, back up the /kavita/config directory. For Calibre-Web, back up the /config directory and your Calibre library database. Reading progress is stored in each server’s configuration directory, so regular backups of these directories preserve all user data.

Is it legal to self-host comics and manga?

Self-hosting software is legal. The legality depends on the content in your library. Self-hosting comics and manga you have legally purchased or that are in the public domain is legal in most jurisdictions. Distributing copyrighted material without permission is not. Always ensure your library consists of content you have the right to possess and share.

Which server handles the largest libraries best?

All three handle 10,000+ title libraries well. For extremely large collections (50,000+ files), Komga’s analysis phase may take several hours on first scan but runs efficiently afterward. Kavita’s .NET runtime provides fast initial indexing. Calibre-Web performance depends on Calibre database optimization — consider running calibredb check periodically on large databases.