Software · head to head
Evergreen ILS vs Koha
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; Koha no official vendor exists; hosting, support and development come only from third-party providers in a community directory that explicitly carries no official status
- They diverge on capability: Evergreen ILS covers MARC cataloging, Koha covers MARC21/UNIMARC cataloging.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Evergreen ILS and Koha actually diverge.
| Attribute | Evergreen ILS | Koha |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Desktop, Api | Web, Api |
| Founded | 2006 | 1999 |
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
- MARC cataloging
- Offline circulation
- Consortia support
- SIP2/NCIP support
- NCIP
Only in Koha
- MARC21/UNIMARC cataloging
- Reports and statistics
- Z39.50 support
- SIP2 integration
- OAI-PMH
- OAuth
Both cover
- Circulation management
- Acquisitions
- Serials management
- OPAC with faceted search
- Patron management
- SIP2
- Z39.50
- EDI
- LDAP
- Shibboleth
- LDAP
- Role-based access
- Shibboleth
- 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 Koha
- Self-hosting an open source integrated library system across multiple branchesnot Koha
Koha
- Libraries self-hosting an open source integrated library system for cataloging and circulation without vendor licensing feesnot 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
Koha
- No official vendor exists; hosting, support and development come only from third-party providers in a community directory that explicitly carries no official status
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
Koha
Free- Self-HostedFree
- Full ILS functionality
- Circulation management
- Cataloging (MARC21/UNIMARC)
- Hosted (via partners)$150/month
- Everything in Self-Hosted
- Managed hosting
- Professional support
Which should you pick?
Choose Evergreen ILS if
- You need marc cataloging.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Api.
- You also want offline circulation.
Choose Koha if
- You need marc21/unimarc cataloging.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want reports and statistics.
Questions people ask
- Is Evergreen ILS or Koha better?
- Neither clearly leads. Evergreen ILS starts at Free and Koha at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Evergreen ILS or Koha?
- Evergreen ILS starts at Free and Koha at Free.
- Does Evergreen ILS or Koha run on more platforms?
- Evergreen ILS runs on Web, Desktop, Api. Koha 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 Koha is typically brought in for.
- What can Evergreen ILS do that Koha cannot?
- Evergreen ILS covers MARC cataloging, Offline circulation, Consortia support, SIP2/NCIP support. Koha covers MARC21/UNIMARC cataloging, Reports and statistics, Z39.50 support, SIP2 integration. Both handle Circulation management, Acquisitions, Serials management, OPAC with faceted search.