# Audiobookshelf / Calibre-Web / Kavita

Books you already have. Audiobookshelf is GPL-3.0 for audiobooks and podcasts; Calibre-Web and Kavita are GPL-3.0 reading servers — Audible and Kindle without a store catalog.

**Replaces:** Audible / Kindle

**Tier:** Easy

## Problem

Audible rents audiobooks in Amazon's app. Kindle is Amazon's ebook store and reading OS. You wanted progress sync for files you already own. Audiobookshelf is GPL-3.0 (audiobooks and podcasts, apps, progress). Calibre-Web is GPL-3.0 over a Calibre database. Kavita is GPL-3.0 for books and comics. This is not Audible's Plus catalog, Kindle Unlimited, or DRM removal. Movies stay on /replace/plex. Music stays on /replace/spotify.

## Stack

- [Audiobookshelf](https://audiobookshelf.org) — GPL-3.0 audiobook and podcast server with apps and progress sync
- [Calibre-Web](https://github.com/janeczku/calibre-web) — GPL-3.0 web app over a Calibre ebook library
- [Kavita](https://www.kavitareader.com) — GPL-3.0 reading server for books and comics you already have

## Estimated SaaS cost saved

| You stop paying | Typical / year | Self-host instead |
|---|---:|---|
| Audible / Kindle (household) | $1,200 | Audiobookshelf, Calibre-Web, or Kavita |

**About $1,200 / year** on a small team, before you count lock-in.

## Deploy on Railway

Placeholder: Audiobookshelf (or Calibre-Web / Kavita) plus a large library volume. Bind HTTP to 0.0.0.0:$PORT. No one-click template in this repo yet — Start on Railway. Movies stay on /stacks/jellyfin-media.

[Start on Railway](https://c17.io/go/railway/audiobookshelf-books?from=%2Fstacks%2Faudiobookshelf-books.md)

[Jellyfin if this is movies and shows, not books](https://c17.io/stacks/jellyfin-media)

## AGENT_PROMPT

```
Replace Audible or Kindle with Audiobookshelf (audiobooks/podcasts), Calibre-Web (Calibre ebooks), or Kavita (books and comics).

- Official image, persist the library volume, bind HTTP. Import files you already have. Do not claim Audible/Kindle store catalogs or DRM stripping.
- Write AGENT_PROMPT.md. Movies stay on /stacks/jellyfin-media.
```

## FAQ

### Audiobookshelf or Calibre-Web?

Audiobookshelf if the job is audiobooks and podcasts with progress. Calibre-Web if you already keep a Calibre library. Kavita if you want a full reading server for books and comics.

### Do I get Audible or Kindle catalogs?

No. These play files you already have. That is the point.

### Why not Jellyfin?

Jellyfin is movies and shows (/replace/plex). You can run both.

Source: https://c17.io/stacks/audiobookshelf-books