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Library & Archives · head to head

Ex Libris Alma vs ArchivesSpace

Ex Libris Alma logo

Ex Libris Alma

Library & Archives

Unified library services platform for the modern library

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ArchivesSpace logo

ArchivesSpace

Library & Archives

Open source archives information management application

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ArchivesSpace has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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; ArchivesSpace requires Java 17 or 21 (or Java 11/17 for older versions), adding infrastructure complexity
  • They diverge on capability: Ex Libris Alma covers Unified resource management, ArchivesSpace covers Accession management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ex Libris Alma and ArchivesSpace actually diverge.

Attributes where Ex Libris Alma and ArchivesSpace differ
AttributeEx Libris AlmaArchivesSpace
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, ApiUbuntu Linux, macOS, Windows
Founded19862013

Identical on both: 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 Ex Libris Alma

  • Unified resource management
  • Electronic resource management
  • Digital asset management
  • Acquisitions and licensing
  • Circulation and fulfillment
  • Analytics and reporting
  • Resource sharing
  • Consortia support

Only in ArchivesSpace

  • Accession management
  • Resource description
  • Digital object management
  • Agent and subject authorities
  • Location management
  • Assessment module
  • Public user interface
  • EAD/MARCXML export

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Ex Libris Alma

  • Academic libraries managing electronic resources and library services in a single cloud platformnot ArchivesSpace

ArchivesSpace

  • Archives and manuscripts repositories providing web access to collectionsnot Ex Libris Alma
  • Institutions managing digital objects alongside traditional archival materialsnot Ex Libris Alma
  • Community-supported archival organisations seeking open-source solutionsnot Ex Libris Alma

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

ArchivesSpace

  • Requires Java 17 or 21 (or Java 11/17 for older versions), adding infrastructure complexity
  • Mandatory Solr 9 (or 8 for older versions) for all production deployments since v3.2.0
  • Production deployments must use external MySQL 5.x or 8.x; embedded database only for testing
  • Minimum 1 GB RAM required, 2 GB recommended; Docker installation recommended as of v4.0.0 due to complexity

Pricing, plan by plan

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

ArchivesSpace

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ArchivesSpace review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Ex Libris Alma if

  • You need unified resource management.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want electronic resource management.
Ex Libris Alma review

Choose ArchivesSpace if

  • You need accession management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ubuntu Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want resource description.
ArchivesSpace review

Questions people ask

Is Ex Libris Alma or ArchivesSpace better?
Neither clearly leads. Ex Libris Alma starts at On request and ArchivesSpace at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ex Libris Alma or ArchivesSpace?
ArchivesSpace has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Ex Libris Alma and Free for ArchivesSpace.
Does Ex Libris Alma or ArchivesSpace run on more platforms?
Ex Libris Alma runs on Web, Api. ArchivesSpace runs on Ubuntu Linux, macOS, Windows.
Can I use ArchivesSpace for free?
Yes. ArchivesSpace has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ex Libris Alma starts at On request.
What is Ex Libris Alma best used for?
Ex Libris Alma is most often used for academic libraries managing electronic resources and library services in a single cloud platform. Of those, academic libraries managing electronic resources and library services in a single cloud platform is not what ArchivesSpace is typically brought in for.
What can Ex Libris Alma do that ArchivesSpace cannot?
Ex Libris Alma covers Unified resource management, Electronic resource management, Digital asset management, Acquisitions and licensing. ArchivesSpace covers Accession management, Resource description, Digital object management, Agent and subject authorities.
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