Self-Hosted Alternatives to ComiXology

Why Replace ComiXology?

Amazon acquired ComiXology in 2014 and in 2022 merged it into the Kindle app, effectively killing the ComiXology experience. The result:

• The app is gone. ComiXology’s standalone app was discontinued. Comics are now read through the Kindle app, which was never designed for comics.
• Worse reading experience. The Kindle app lacks ComiXology’s guided view (panel-by-panel reading) and optimized comic rendering. Double-page spreads don’t display correctly on many devices.
• DRM locks your purchases. Comics bought on ComiXology/Kindle are DRM-protected. You can’t read them in any other app or back them up. If Amazon revokes access, your library vanishes.
• Price increases. Amazon has reduced ComiXology Unlimited’s library and increased prices. The value proposition has declined steadily.

Self-hosting your comic library means you own your files, read them in purpose-built comic readers, and never worry about a company changing the rules.

Best Alternatives

Kavita — Best Overall

Kavita is the best overall replacement for ComiXology. It handles CBR, CBZ, CB7, PDF, and raw image folders with a polished web reader that supports manga right-to-left reading, webtoon scrolling mode, and double-page spreads. Metadata scraping from ComicVine, AniList, and MyAnimeList keeps your library organized automatically.

How it compares to ComiXology:

• Supports all comic formats (CBR, CBZ, CB7, PDF, EPUB)
• Manga reader with right-to-left, webtoon, and double-page modes
• Automatic metadata scraping (covers, descriptions, series info)
• Reading progress tracking across devices
• User management for family sharing
• OPDS support for third-party reader apps
• Missing: panel-by-panel guided view, storefront/purchasing

Setup complexity: Low. Single Docker container, no external database needed.

[Read our full guide: How to Self-Host Kavita]

Komga — Best for Collection Management

Komga is a dedicated comic and manga server with excellent metadata management. It integrates with Tachiyomi (the most popular manga reader on Android), supports reading lists and collections, and has a clean API for third-party integrations.

How it compares to ComiXology:

• Clean web reader for comics and manga
• Tachiyomi integration for mobile reading (superior to ComiXology’s Kindle app)
• Series, collections, and reading lists
• Metadata editing with cover management
• User management with per-library permissions
• Missing: guided view, storefront

Setup complexity: Low. Single Docker container with embedded database.

[Read our full guide: How to Self-Host Komga]

Stump — Best Lightweight Option

Stump is a newer comic server written in Rust. It’s fast, uses minimal resources, and provides a clean reading experience. While less feature-rich than Kavita or Komga, it’s the right choice if you want something light.

How it compares to ComiXology:

• Fast, lightweight comic server
• Supports CBR, CBZ, ZIP, RAR, EPUB, PDF
• OPDS support for reader apps
• Clean web interface
• Missing: metadata scraping (manual only), guided view

Setup complexity: Low. Single Docker container.

[Read our full guide: How to Self-Host Stump]

Building Your Comic Server Stack

For the best experience:

1. Choose your server: Kavita for manga + comics, Komga for comics-focused
2. Mobile reader: Tachiyomi (Android) connects to Komga natively. For Kavita, use the web app or OPDS-compatible readers (Panels on iOS, Librera on Android)
3. Acquisition: Readarr can automate comic downloads from indexers
4. Organization: Keep files organized in a Series/Volume/ folder structure for automatic detection

Migration Guide

From ComiXology/Kindle

ComiXology purchases are DRM-locked and cannot be directly migrated. Your options:

1. Re-acquire DRM-free versions from publishers that offer them (Image Comics, many indie publishers sell DRM-free directly)
2. Check Humble Bundle for DRM-free comic bundles
3. For manga: Many publishers sell DRM-free directly or through Bookwalker

Setting Up Your Library

1. Organize comics in a directory structure:

   /comics/
     /Marvel/
       /Spider-Man (2022)/
         Spider-Man 001.cbz
         Spider-Man 002.cbz
     /Manga/
       /One Piece/
         Volume 01.cbz
         Volume 02.cbz

2. Point Kavita or Komga at the directory
3. The server scans, detects series, and scrapes metadata
4. Access your library from any browser or OPDS reader

Cost Comparison

	ComiXology Unlimited	Self-Hosted
Monthly cost	$5.99/month	$5-$10/month (VPS)
Annual cost	$71.88/year	$60-$120/year
You own the files	No (DRM)	Yes
Reading experience	Kindle app (degraded)	Purpose-built comic readers
Offline reading	Kindle app only	Any device, any app
Library size	Limited by subscription	Your storage
Family sharing	No	Built-in user management

What You Give Up

• The storefront. ComiXology/Kindle is a marketplace. Self-hosted servers only manage files you already have. You’ll need to acquire comics from other sources.
• Guided view. ComiXology’s panel-by-panel guided view was its killer feature. No self-hosted option replicates this exactly, though Kavita and Komga have zoom-to-fit modes.
• New release notifications. ComiXology notifies you when new issues release. With self-hosted, you manage this yourself (or use Readarr for automation).
• Zero setup. ComiXology worked immediately. Self-hosting requires initial setup, file management, and server maintenance.

For readers frustrated with Amazon’s degradation of ComiXology, self-hosting delivers a superior reading experience with the trade-off of managing your own library.

Related

• Best Self-Hosted Ebook Servers
• How to Self-Host Kavita
• How to Self-Host Komga
• How to Self-Host Stump
• Kavita vs Komga
• Komga vs Kavita
• Stump vs Komga
• Self-Hosted Alternatives to Goodreads
• Self-Hosted Alternatives to Kindle Unlimited
• Docker Compose Basics