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Ex Libris Alma vs Evergreen ILS

Ex Libris Alma logo

Ex Libris Alma

Software

Unified library services platform for the modern library

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Evergreen ILS logo

Evergreen ILS

Software

Highly scalable open source library software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Evergreen ILS 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; Evergreen ILS server installation is supported only on Debian 10, 11, 12 and 13 and Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04
  • They diverge on capability: Ex Libris Alma covers Unified resource management, Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Ex Libris Alma and Evergreen ILS differ
AttributeEx Libris AlmaEvergreen ILS
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, Desktop, Api
Founded19862006

Identical on both: 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 Ex Libris Alma

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

Only in Evergreen ILS

  • Circulation management
  • MARC cataloging
  • Acquisitions
  • Serials management
  • OPAC with faceted search
  • Patron management
  • Offline circulation
  • SIP2/NCIP support

Both cover

  • Consortia support

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 Evergreen ILS

Evergreen ILS

  • Running a consortium-scale library catalogue and circulation systemnot Ex Libris Alma
  • Self-hosting an open source integrated library system across multiple branchesnot 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

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

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

Evergreen ILS

Free
  • Self-HostedFree
    • Full ILS functionality
    • Circulation system
    • OPAC
  • Hosted (via partners)$200/month
    • Everything in Self-Hosted
    • Managed hosting
    • Professional support

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 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

Questions people ask

Is Ex Libris Alma or Evergreen ILS better?
Neither clearly leads. Ex Libris Alma starts at On request and Evergreen ILS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ex Libris Alma or Evergreen ILS?
Evergreen ILS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Ex Libris Alma and Free for Evergreen ILS.
Does Ex Libris Alma or Evergreen ILS run on more platforms?
Ex Libris Alma runs on Web, Api. Evergreen ILS runs on Web, Desktop, Api.
Can I use Evergreen ILS for free?
Yes. Evergreen ILS 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 Evergreen ILS is typically brought in for.
What can Ex Libris Alma do that Evergreen ILS cannot?
Ex Libris Alma covers Unified resource management, Electronic resource management, Digital asset management, Acquisitions and licensing. Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, MARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. Both handle Consortia support.
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