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Libraries · head to head

Archivematica vs Evergreen ILS

Archivematica logo

Archivematica

Libraries

Free and open source digital preservation system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Evergreen ILS logo

Evergreen ILS

Libraries

Highly scalable open source library software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Archivematica cannot run natively on Windows; requires virtualization platform with Linux VM; Evergreen ILS server installation is supported only on Debian 10, 11, 12 and 13 and Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04
  • They diverge on capability: Archivematica covers OAIS-compliant workflow, Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Archivematica and Evergreen ILS actually diverge.

Attributes where Archivematica and Evergreen ILS differ
AttributeArchivematicaEvergreen ILS
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsLinux, WebWeb, Desktop, Api
Founded20012006

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Libraries).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Archivematica

  • OAIS-compliant workflow
  • Format identification (FIDO/Siegfried)
  • File characterization (FITS)
  • Format normalization
  • PREMIS metadata
  • AIP and DIP creation
  • Checksum verification
  • Micro-services architecture

Only in Evergreen ILS

  • Circulation management
  • MARC cataloging
  • Acquisitions
  • Serials management
  • OPAC with faceted search
  • Patron management
  • Offline circulation
  • Consortia support

Both cover

  • Role-based access
  • LDAP
  • Self-hosted deployment
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Archivematica

  • Digital preservationnot Evergreen ILS
  • Born-digital archivesnot Evergreen ILS
  • Digitization workflowsnot Evergreen ILS
  • Long-term accessnot Evergreen ILS

Evergreen ILS

  • Running a consortium-scale library catalogue and circulation systemnot Archivematica
  • Self-hosting an open source integrated library system across multiple branchesnot Archivematica

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Archivematica

  • Cannot run natively on Windows; requires virtualization platform with Linux VM
  • Requires 7GB disk space plus 2 to 3 times the collection size during processing, demanding significant storage resources
  • Processing large collections requires high-end hardware; small collections require minimal hardware but enterprise use scales expensively
  • Known issues with Internet Explorer browser; most extensive testing only in Firefox and Chrome

Evergreen ILS

  • Server installation is supported only on Debian 10, 11, 12 and 13 and Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04
  • PostgreSQL 14 is the minimum supported version
  • OpenSRF 3.3.0 or later must be installed separately before Evergreen itself
  • Installation is a manual multi-service process requiring a dedicated PostgreSQL superuser account and shell access

Pricing, plan by plan

Archivematica

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Archivematica review.

Evergreen ILS

Free
  • Self-HostedFree
    • Full ILS functionality
    • Circulation system
    • OPAC
  • Hosted (via partners)$200/month
    • Everything in Self-Hosted
    • Managed hosting
    • Professional support

Which should you pick?

Choose Archivematica if

  • You need oais-compliant workflow.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Web.
  • You also want format identification (fido/siegfried).
Archivematica review

Choose Evergreen ILS if

  • You need circulation management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Api.
  • You also want marc cataloging.
Evergreen ILS review

Questions people ask

Is Archivematica or Evergreen ILS better?
Neither clearly leads. Archivematica starts at Free and Evergreen ILS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Archivematica or Evergreen ILS?
Archivematica starts at Free and Evergreen ILS at Free.
Does Archivematica or Evergreen ILS run on more platforms?
Archivematica runs on Linux, Web. Evergreen ILS runs on Web, Desktop, Api.
Can I use Archivematica for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Archivematica best used for?
Archivematica is most often used for digital preservation, born-digital archives, digitization workflows, long-term access. Of those, digital preservation and born-digital archives are not what Evergreen ILS is typically brought in for.
What can Archivematica do that Evergreen ILS cannot?
Archivematica covers OAIS-compliant workflow, Format identification (FIDO/Siegfried), File characterization (FITS), Format normalization. Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, MARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. Both handle Role-based access, LDAP, Self-hosted deployment, Cloud deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Archivematica: Is Archivematica free and open source?

Yes. Archivematica is free open-source software released under GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL 3.0). All code is free to study, modify, improve, and distribute.

Source
Evergreen ILS: Is Evergreen ILS free?

Yes, Evergreen ILS is a free open source library management system. The software is available at no cost for libraries and organizations to install, deploy, and customize according to their needs.

Source
Archivematica: What standards does Archivematica use for digital preservation?

Archivematica uses METS, PREMIS, Dublin Core, and Library of Congress BagIt specification to generate trustworthy Archival Information Packages (AIPs) for long-term storage.

Source
Evergreen ILS: Does Evergreen ILS offer commercial support or hosting?

Evergreen ILS website does not list commercial hosting or support services. As an open source project, it relies on community contributions and institutional deployments. Libraries may arrange custom support through integrators or consultants, but no official commercial offerings are detailed on the website.

Source
Archivematica: Does Archivematica include an access system?

Yes. Archivematica is packaged with AtoM, a web-based content management system for providing access to your digital objects.

Source
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