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Library & Archives · head to head

Evergreen ILS vs Omeka

Evergreen ILS logo

Evergreen ILS

Library & Archives

Highly scalable open source library software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Omeka logo

Omeka

Library & Archives

Publish collections and create rich digital experiences

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; Omeka omeka Classic designed for individual projects rather than large institutional deployments
  • They diverge on capability: Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, Omeka covers Item and collection management.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Evergreen ILS and Omeka differ
AttributeEvergreen ILSOmeka
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, ApiWeb
Founded20062007

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 Omeka

  • Item and collection management
  • Dublin Core metadata
  • Online exhibitions
  • Plugin architecture
  • Theme customization
  • Simple workflow
  • File management
  • Tag and search

Both cover

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

Omeka

  • Academic and research institutions creating digital collections with Dublin Core metadatanot Evergreen ILS
  • Museums and archives publishing heritage collections with semantic web capabilitiesnot Evergreen ILS
  • Individual projects and educators creating media-rich online exhibitsnot 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

Omeka

  • Omeka Classic designed for individual projects rather than large institutional deployments
  • Requires self-hosting and technical setup; no managed hosting option in Classic version
  • Omeka S pricing not publicly disclosed, available only for download or sandbox testing
  • Limited scalability for institutions managing multiple extensive collections

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

Omeka

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Omeka 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 Omeka if

  • You need item and collection management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want dublin core metadata.
Omeka review

Questions people ask

Is Evergreen ILS or Omeka better?
Neither clearly leads. Evergreen ILS starts at Free and Omeka at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Evergreen ILS or Omeka?
Evergreen ILS starts at Free and Omeka at Free.
Does Evergreen ILS or Omeka run on more platforms?
Evergreen ILS runs on Web, Desktop, Api. Omeka 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 Omeka is typically brought in for.
What can Evergreen ILS do that Omeka cannot?
Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, MARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. Omeka covers Item and collection management, Dublin Core metadata, Online exhibitions, Plugin architecture. Both handle Role-based access, Self-hosted deployment, Cloud deployment.
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