Software · head to head
Evergreen ILS vs Ex Libris Alma
Ex Libris Alma
Software
Unified library services platform for the modern library
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Evergreen ILS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- 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; Ex Libris Alma pricing is not published for Alma; the site provides no plans or figures and requires contacting a sales representative for a quote
- They diverge on capability: Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, Ex Libris Alma covers Unified resource management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Evergreen ILS and Ex Libris Alma actually diverge.
| Attribute | Evergreen ILS | Ex Libris Alma |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | open-source | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Desktop, Api | Web, Api |
| Founded | 2006 | 1986 |
Identical on both: 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
- SIP2/NCIP support
Only in Ex Libris Alma
- Unified resource management
- Electronic resource management
- Digital asset management
- Acquisitions and licensing
- Circulation and fulfillment
- Analytics and reporting
- Resource sharing
- API ecosystem
Both cover
- Consortia support
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 Ex Libris Alma
- Self-hosting an open source integrated library system across multiple branchesnot Ex Libris Alma
Ex Libris Alma
- Academic libraries managing electronic resources and library services in a single cloud platformnot 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
Ex Libris Alma
- Pricing is not published for Alma; the site provides no plans or figures and requires contacting a sales representative for a quote
Pricing, plan by plan
Evergreen ILS
Free- Self-HostedFree
- Full ILS functionality
- Circulation system
- OPAC
- Hosted (via partners)$200/month
- Everything in Self-Hosted
- Managed hosting
- Professional support
Ex Libris Alma
On request- Alma Essentials$undefined/year
- Core library services
- Print resource management
- Basic acquisitions
- Alma Premium$undefined/year
- Everything in Essentials
- Electronic resource management
- Digital resource management
- Alma Enterprise$undefined/year
- Everything in Premium
- Multi-institution network
- Consortia management
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.
Choose Ex Libris Alma if
- You need unified resource management.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want electronic resource management.
Questions people ask
- Is Evergreen ILS or Ex Libris Alma better?
- Neither clearly leads. Evergreen ILS starts at Free and Ex Libris Alma at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Evergreen ILS or Ex Libris Alma?
- Evergreen ILS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Evergreen ILS and On request for Ex Libris Alma.
- Does Evergreen ILS or Ex Libris Alma run on more platforms?
- Evergreen ILS runs on Web, Desktop, Api. Ex Libris Alma runs on Web, Api.
- Can I use Evergreen ILS for free?
- Yes. Evergreen ILS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ex Libris Alma starts at On request.
- 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 Ex Libris Alma is typically brought in for.
- What can Evergreen ILS do that Ex Libris Alma cannot?
- Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, MARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. Ex Libris Alma covers Unified resource management, Electronic resource management, Digital asset management, Acquisitions and licensing. Both handle Consortia support.