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Evergreen ILS vs MUI

Evergreen ILS logo

Evergreen ILS

Libraries

Highly scalable open source library software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MUI logo

MUI

Web Development

React component library implementing Material Design

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; MUI escaping the Material Design look takes more theming effort than teams expect
  • They diverge on capability: Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, MUI covers Large component set.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Evergreen ILS and MUI differ
AttributeEvergreen ILSMUI
Pricing modelopen-sourceOpen-source core with paid tiers for advanced components
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, ApiWeb
CategoryLibrariesWeb Development
Founded2006Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 MUI

  • Large component set
  • Theming system
  • Accessibility
  • TypeScript 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 MUI
  • Self-hosting an open source integrated library system across multiple branchesnot MUI

MUI

  • Building an admin or internal application quickly with components that already worknot Evergreen ILS
  • Teams needing accessible complex widgets without building themnot Evergreen ILS
  • Products where Material Design is an acceptable or desired starting pointnot 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

MUI

  • Escaping the Material Design look takes more theming effort than teams expect
  • Bundle size is significant, and careless imports pull in far more than needed
  • Advanced components such as the full data grid require a paid licence
  • Major version upgrades have historically required real migration work

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

MUI

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Core component library
    • Theming
    • Community 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.
Evergreen ILS review

Choose MUI if

  • You need large component set.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want theming system.
MUI review

Questions people ask

Is Evergreen ILS or MUI better?
Neither clearly leads. Evergreen ILS starts at Free and MUI at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Evergreen ILS or MUI?
Evergreen ILS starts at Free and MUI at Free.
Does Evergreen ILS or MUI run on more platforms?
Evergreen ILS runs on Web, Desktop, Api. MUI runs on 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 MUI is typically brought in for.
What can Evergreen ILS do that MUI cannot?
Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, MARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. MUI covers Large component set, Theming system, Accessibility, TypeScript support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Evergreen ILS: Is Evergreen ILS free?

Yes, Evergreen ILS is a free open source library management system. The software is available at no cost for libraries and organizations to install, deploy, and customize according to their needs.

Source
MUI: Is MUI free?

The core library is open source and free. Advanced components, including the full-featured data grid, require a paid licence.

Evergreen ILS: Does Evergreen ILS offer commercial support or hosting?

Evergreen ILS website does not list commercial hosting or support services. As an open source project, it relies on community contributions and institutional deployments. Libraries may arrange custom support through integrators or consultants, but no official commercial offerings are detailed on the website.

Source
MUI: Can MUI look non-Material?

Yes, through the theming system, but a substantial departure takes real work. Teams wanting full design control often prefer unstyled primitives instead.

MUI: Does MUI handle accessibility?

Components follow WAI-ARIA patterns by default, which is a large part of why teams adopt it.

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