MangaPixer compared¶
MangaPixer is one of several self-hosted servers for comics and manga. This page explains where it differs from Komga, Kavita and YACReader, so you can pick the one that fits how your collection is organized. All four are free and open source, and all of them are good projects: if MangaPixer is not the right fit, one of the others probably is.
The descriptions of the other projects summarize their own documentation as of September 2026. Check their sites for the current details.
At a glance¶
| MangaPixer | Komga | Kavita | YACReader | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Server with a web reader | Server with a web reader | Server with a web reader | Desktop reader and library, with a server for its mobile apps |
| Library structure | Your folder tree as it is, at any depth | Each folder that holds files becomes a series | One folder per series, no files at the library root; volumes and chapters come from file names | Your folder tree as it is |
| Reading | In the browser: desktop, tablet, phone | In the browser, and in apps through OPDS and sync features | In the browser, and in apps through OPDS | In the desktop app and the YACReader mobile apps |
| Formats | CBZ/ZIP and CBR/RAR (details) | Comics, manga, PDF and EPUB | Comics, manga, PDF and EPUB | Comics, manga and PDF |
| Metadata | Rich and optional: ComicInfo.xml, and series information from MangaUpdates linked by hand or automatically (off until an admin allows it), with search by alternative titles |
Rich metadata management | Rich metadata management | Comic information and tags in the library |
| License | MIT | MIT | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
Choose MangaPixer if¶
- Your folders are already the way you want them. MangaPixer shows your folder tree as the library, whatever its depth or naming: series folders, volume subfolders, loose archives next to folders. Nothing needs renaming or restructuring first, and series information can be added on top without changing a folder. Coming from YACReader? MangaPixer can import its read progress. See Library layout.
- You want your files left alone. MangaPixer never writes to your library folders; the Docker setup mounts them read-only. Everything it creates lives in its own data folders. See How MangaPixer works.
- You read in a browser on several devices. The reader is built for desktop, tablet and phone alike, for comics (left-to-right), manga (right-to-left) and webtoons (vertical), in single, double-page and vertical modes. Progress, read marks and bookmarks follow you from device to device. See Reader.
- You care about how pages look. Pages are resized on the server with a filter you choose (Sharp, Balanced or Soft) so screentones do not shimmer, and upscaled on your device when they are smaller than your screen: Crisp (AMD FSR 1) works in almost any browser, Enhance (Anime4K) redraws lines and screentones on WebGPU or WebGL2. Double-page spreads can be re-paired with one key and the fix is saved for the archive; keyboard shortcuts cover every mode. See Image quality and Fixing double-page pairing.
- Several people share one server. Each user has their own progress and read marks; admins decide who sees which library, and readers can keep libraries private. See Users and access.
Choose another server if¶
- You want to organize your library around metadata rather than folders, or edit and curate metadata field by field: Komga and Kavita both do this well.
- You need PDF or EPUB, OPDS for third-party reading apps, or e-reader sync: Komga and Kavita support some or all of these; MangaPixer does not yet.