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Library & Archives · head to head

Archivematica vs Koha

Archivematica logo

Archivematica

Library & Archives

Free and open source digital preservation system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Koha logo

Koha

Library & Archives

The world's first free and open source library system

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; Koha no official vendor exists; hosting, support and development come only from third-party providers in a community directory that explicitly carries no official status
  • They diverge on capability: Archivematica covers OAIS-compliant workflow, Koha covers Circulation management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Archivematica and Koha actually diverge.

Attributes where Archivematica and Koha differ
AttributeArchivematicaKoha
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsLinux, WebWeb, Api
Founded20011999

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

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 Koha

  • Circulation management
  • MARC21/UNIMARC cataloging
  • Acquisitions
  • Serials management
  • Patron management
  • OPAC with faceted search
  • Reports and statistics
  • Z39.50 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 Koha
  • Born-digital archivesnot Koha
  • Digitization workflowsnot Koha
  • Long-term accessnot Koha

Koha

  • Libraries self-hosting an open source integrated library system for cataloging and circulation without vendor licensing feesnot 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

Koha

  • No official vendor exists; hosting, support and development come only from third-party providers in a community directory that explicitly carries no official status

Pricing, plan by plan

Archivematica

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Archivematica review.

Koha

Free
  • Self-HostedFree
    • Full ILS functionality
    • Circulation management
    • Cataloging (MARC21/UNIMARC)
  • Hosted (via partners)$150/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 Koha if

  • You need circulation management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want marc21/unimarc cataloging.
Koha review

Questions people ask

Is Archivematica or Koha better?
Neither clearly leads. Archivematica starts at Free and Koha at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Archivematica or Koha?
Archivematica starts at Free and Koha at Free.
Does Archivematica or Koha run on more platforms?
Archivematica runs on Linux, Web. Koha runs on Web, 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 Koha is typically brought in for.
What can Archivematica do that Koha cannot?
Archivematica covers OAIS-compliant workflow, Format identification (FIDO/Siegfried), File characterization (FITS), Format normalization. Koha covers Circulation management, MARC21/UNIMARC 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
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
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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