Software · head to head
DSpace vs Evergreen ILS
DSpace
Software
The software of choice for academic and research repositories
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: DSpace self-hosting means running and maintaining the repository; managed hosting comes from third-party service providers such as Atmire, 4Science and DSpaceDirect rather than the project; 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: DSpace covers Self-submission workflows, Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which DSpace and Evergreen ILS actually diverge.
| Attribute | DSpace | Evergreen ILS |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web | Web, Desktop, Api |
| Founded | 2002 | 2006 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 DSpace
- Self-submission workflows
- Configurable metadata schemas
- Persistent identifiers (DOI, Handle)
- OAI-PMH support
- Full-text search
- Statistics and reports
- SWORD deposit
- ORCID integration
Only in Evergreen ILS
- Circulation management
- MARC cataloging
- Acquisitions
- Serials management
- OPAC with faceted search
- Patron management
- Offline circulation
- Consortia support
Both cover
- LDAP
- Shibboleth
- Self-hosted deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
DSpace
- Institutional repositories for universities and research librariesnot Evergreen ILS
- Subject-based and dataset repositoriesnot Evergreen ILS
- Long-term preservation of mixed digital formats including PDF, image and audio-videonot Evergreen ILS
- Group-based access control over restricted collectionsnot Evergreen ILS
- Exposing records to ORCID and OpenAIREnot Evergreen ILS
Evergreen ILS
- Running a consortium-scale library catalogue and circulation systemnot DSpace
- Self-hosting an open source integrated library system across multiple branchesnot DSpace
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
DSpace
- Self-hosting means running and maintaining the repository; managed hosting comes from third-party service providers such as Atmire, 4Science and DSpaceDirect rather than the project
- Aimed at institutional repositories, so it assumes library metadata practice rather than general file storage
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
DSpace
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the DSpace 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 DSpace if
- You need self-submission workflows.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want configurable metadata schemas.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is DSpace or Evergreen ILS better?
- Neither clearly leads. DSpace 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, DSpace or Evergreen ILS?
- DSpace starts at Free and Evergreen ILS at Free.
- Does DSpace or Evergreen ILS run on more platforms?
- DSpace runs on Web. Evergreen ILS runs on Web, Desktop, Api.
- Can I use DSpace for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is DSpace best used for?
- DSpace is most often used for institutional repositories for universities and research libraries, subject-based and dataset repositories, long-term preservation of mixed digital formats including pdf, image and audio-video, group-based access control over restricted collections. Of those, institutional repositories for universities and research libraries and subject-based and dataset repositories are not what Evergreen ILS is typically brought in for.
- What can DSpace do that Evergreen ILS cannot?
- DSpace covers Self-submission workflows, Configurable metadata schemas, Persistent identifiers (DOI, Handle), OAI-PMH support. Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, MARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. Both handle LDAP, Shibboleth, Self-hosted deployment.