What it does
Kavita serves EPUB, PDF, comic and manga collections with built-in readers, metadata, OPDS and user permissions.
Set up libraries and user restrictions before inviting other readers. Kavita’s format-specific modes are useful when one collection contains novels and vertical comics, and annotations can be exported into a notes workflow. It is self-hosted software, so operating the server and obtaining content are separate from installing the application.
Kavita reads metadata from filenames and ComicInfo.xml and can watch folders for new files. External covers, descriptions, ratings and reviews are described under Kavita+, which is distinct from organizing the metadata already in your files.
Strengths
- Library and age-based permissions
- Readers for different file formats
Best for
- Managing a personal mixed-format reading server
Sources
- Kavita - Self-Hosted Digital Library (Oct 26, 2026)