Burkmak
github.com
What it is
Burkmak is a free, MIT-licensed, self-hosted read-it-later application for saving links, reading articles, highlighting passages, syncing with Kobo, and exporting notes to Obsidian. Its reader extracts articles into a clean view with highlights and notes, while tags, read states, favorites, and search organize per-user libraries. Links can be captured through the web app, Android share sheet, or desktop browser bookmarklet. Kobo support provides an OPDS catalog for EPUB and KEPUB downloads plus native store-protocol synchronization that writes reading state back. An Obsidian plugin transfers article notes, highlights, and metadata through Burkmak’s export API. Docker Compose deployment includes backend and web containers, a data volume, and amd64 and arm64 images; the volume stores the SQLite database, cached articles, images, and EPUBs. Product requirements state that server-fetched content remains on the self-hosted instance and no third-party analytics are used. Native Kobo synchronization requires HTTPS, physical-device support remains pending, and the architecture targets one instance rather than horizontal scaling or high availability.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- Burkmak is a self-hosted, multi-user read-it-later app for saving links, reading articles, highlighting text, syncing with Kobo, and exporting notes to Obsidian.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Intended users
- The product requirements describe self-hosters, Kobo readers, and note-takers who want highlights in Obsidian as target users.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Deployment
- The maker provides a Docker Compose deployment with backend and web containers, a data volume, and published amd64 and arm64 images.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Mobile apps
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Privacy
- The product requirements state there are no third-party analytics and that content fetched server-side stays on the self-hosted instance.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
- License
- The repository identifies the project as MIT licensed.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Architecture limit
- The product requirements specify a single self-hosted instance and list horizontal scaling and multi-instance high availability as non-goals.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Browser extension
- NoRead 22 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Capture
- Links can be saved from the web app, Android share sheet, or desktop browser bookmarklet; an iOS share extension is listed as a follow-up.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Data storage
- The deployment stores its SQLite database, cached articles, images, and EPUBs in the burkmak-data volume.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Full-text search
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Highlight export
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Highlighting
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · github.com
- Kobo integration
- Kobo support includes an OPDS catalog with EPUB/KEPUB downloads and native store-protocol sync with reading-state write-back.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Kobo limitation
- Native Kobo sync requires HTTPS, and the physical-device pass is still pending.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Library
- Users can organize saved links with tags, read states, favorites, and searchable per-user libraries.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Obsidian integration
- An Obsidian plugin syncs article notes, highlights, and metadata into a vault through Burkmak’s export API.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Reader
- The app extracts articles into a clean reader view and supports highlights and notes.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Plans and prices
Self-hosted Free single instance · small number of accounts Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free and MIT licensed
- Supports article highlights and notes
- Offers Kobo OPDS and reading-state sync
- Exports notes through an Obsidian plugin
- Provides amd64 and arm64 Docker images
Limits
- Native Kobo sync requires HTTPS
- Physical-device support is still pending
- Designed for one instance, not high availability
- No iOS share extension is listed
Who it suits
Burkmak suits self-hosters, Kobo readers, and note-takers who want saved articles and highlights available in Obsidian. It is designed for a single self-hosted instance.
Verdict
Burkmak combines self-hosted reading, highlighting, Kobo access, and Obsidian export without a subscription price. Its single-instance design and pending physical-device support define the main deployment limits.
Where Specifiction places it
- Read-It-Later Apps#10 of 288.5
- Read-later apps#17 of 287.9
