Software · head to head
Evergreen ILS vs FOLIO
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; FOLIO fOLIO is open source with no vendor-run SaaS from the FOLIO project itself; adopters must self-host or contract a third-party hosting partner separately.
- They diverge on capability: Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, FOLIO covers Modular app architecture.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Evergreen ILS and FOLIO actually diverge.
| Attribute | Evergreen ILS | FOLIO |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Desktop, Api | Web, Api |
| Founded | 2006 | 2016 |
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 Evergreen ILS
- Circulation management
- MARC cataloging
- Acquisitions
- Serials management
- OPAC with faceted search
- Patron management
- Offline circulation
- Consortia support
Only in FOLIO
- Modular app architecture
- Circulation and check-out
- Inventory and cataloging
- Acquisitions and invoicing
- Electronic resource management
- User management
- Agreements and licenses
- Course reserves
Both cover
- SIP2
- NCIP
- LDAP
- LDAP
- Role-based access
- Self-hosted 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 FOLIO
- Self-hosting an open source integrated library system across multiple branchesnot FOLIO
FOLIO
- Academic library managementnot Evergreen ILS
- Custom library applicationsnot Evergreen ILS
- Consortial systemsnot Evergreen ILS
- Electronic resource managementnot 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
FOLIO
- FOLIO is open source with no vendor-run SaaS from the FOLIO project itself; adopters must self-host or contract a third-party hosting partner separately.
Pricing, plan by plan
Evergreen ILS
Free- Self-HostedFree
- Full ILS functionality
- Circulation system
- OPAC
- Hosted (via partners)$200/month
- Everything in Self-Hosted
- Managed hosting
- Professional support
FOLIO
Free- Community EditionFree
- Modular app ecosystem
- Circulation management
- Cataloging
- Hosted (via EBSCO/Index Data)$undefined/year
- Everything in Community
- Managed hosting
- Professional support
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 FOLIO if
- You need modular app architecture.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want circulation and check-out.
Questions people ask
- Is Evergreen ILS or FOLIO better?
- Neither clearly leads. Evergreen ILS starts at Free and FOLIO at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Evergreen ILS or FOLIO?
- Evergreen ILS starts at Free and FOLIO at Free.
- Does Evergreen ILS or FOLIO run on more platforms?
- Evergreen ILS runs on Web, Desktop, Api. FOLIO runs on Web, Api.
- 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 FOLIO is typically brought in for.
- What can Evergreen ILS do that FOLIO cannot?
- Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, MARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. FOLIO covers Modular app architecture, Circulation and check-out, Inventory and cataloging, Acquisitions and invoicing. Both handle SIP2, NCIP, LDAP, LDAP.