Softwr

Software · head to head

Evergreen ILS vs Archivematica

Evergreen ILS logo

Evergreen ILS

Software

Highly scalable open source library software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Archivematica logo

Archivematica

Software

Free and open source digital preservation system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

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

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Evergreen ILS and Archivematica differ
AttributeEvergreen ILSArchivematica
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, ApiLinux, Web
Founded20062001

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Evergreen ILS

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

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

Both cover

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

What people use each for

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

Evergreen ILS

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

Archivematica

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Evergreen ILS

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

Archivematica

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Archivematica review.

Which should you pick?

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

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

Questions people ask

Is Evergreen ILS or Archivematica better?
Neither clearly leads. Evergreen ILS starts at Free and Archivematica at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Evergreen ILS or Archivematica?
Evergreen ILS starts at Free and Archivematica at Free.
Does Evergreen ILS or Archivematica run on more platforms?
Evergreen ILS runs on Web, Desktop, Api. Archivematica runs on Linux, Web.
Can I use Evergreen ILS for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Evergreen ILS best used for?
Evergreen ILS is most often used for running a consortium-scale library catalogue and circulation system, self-hosting an open source integrated library system across multiple branches. Of those, running a consortium-scale library catalogue and circulation system and self-hosting an open source integrated library system across multiple branches are not what Archivematica is typically brought in for.
What can Evergreen ILS do that Archivematica cannot?
Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, MARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. Archivematica covers OAIS-compliant workflow, Format identification (FIDO/Siegfried), File characterization (FITS), Format normalization. Both handle LDAP, LDAP, Role-based access, Self-hosted 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
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Evergreen ILS

More on Archivematica

Keep looking

Other head to heads