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Library & Archives · head to head

Evergreen ILS vs ArchivesSpace

Evergreen ILS logo

Evergreen ILS

Library & Archives

Highly scalable open source library software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ArchivesSpace logo

ArchivesSpace

Library & Archives

Open source archives information management application

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; ArchivesSpace requires Java 17 or 21 (or Java 11/17 for older versions), adding infrastructure complexity
  • They diverge on capability: Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, ArchivesSpace covers Accession management.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Evergreen ILS and ArchivesSpace differ
AttributeEvergreen ILSArchivesSpace
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, ApiUbuntu Linux, macOS, Windows
Founded20062013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), 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 Evergreen ILS

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

Only in ArchivesSpace

  • Accession management
  • Resource description
  • Digital object management
  • Agent and subject authorities
  • Location management
  • Assessment module
  • Public user interface
  • EAD/MARCXML export

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 ArchivesSpace
  • Self-hosting an open source integrated library system across multiple branchesnot ArchivesSpace

ArchivesSpace

  • Archives and manuscripts repositories providing web access to collectionsnot Evergreen ILS
  • Institutions managing digital objects alongside traditional archival materialsnot Evergreen ILS
  • Community-supported archival organisations seeking open-source solutionsnot 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

ArchivesSpace

  • Requires Java 17 or 21 (or Java 11/17 for older versions), adding infrastructure complexity
  • Mandatory Solr 9 (or 8 for older versions) for all production deployments since v3.2.0
  • Production deployments must use external MySQL 5.x or 8.x; embedded database only for testing
  • Minimum 1 GB RAM required, 2 GB recommended; Docker installation recommended as of v4.0.0 due to complexity

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

ArchivesSpace

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ArchivesSpace 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 ArchivesSpace if

  • You need accession management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ubuntu Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want resource description.
ArchivesSpace review

Questions people ask

Is Evergreen ILS or ArchivesSpace better?
Neither clearly leads. Evergreen ILS starts at Free and ArchivesSpace at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Evergreen ILS or ArchivesSpace?
Evergreen ILS starts at Free and ArchivesSpace at Free.
Does Evergreen ILS or ArchivesSpace run on more platforms?
Evergreen ILS runs on Web, Desktop, Api. ArchivesSpace runs on Ubuntu Linux, macOS, Windows.
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 ArchivesSpace is typically brought in for.
What can Evergreen ILS do that ArchivesSpace cannot?
Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, MARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. ArchivesSpace covers Accession management, Resource description, Digital object management, Agent and subject authorities. Both handle LDAP, LDAP, Role-based access, Self-hosted deployment.
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