Library & Archives · head to head
FOLIO vs Evergreen ILS
FOLIO
Library & Archives
The open source library services platform reimagined
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Evergreen ILS
Library & Archives
Highly scalable open source library software
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: FOLIO fOLIO is open source with no vendor-run SaaS from the FOLIO project itself; adopters must self-host or contract a third-party hosting partner separately.; 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: FOLIO covers Modular app architecture, Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which FOLIO and Evergreen ILS actually diverge.
| Attribute | FOLIO | Evergreen ILS |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Api | Web, Desktop, Api |
| Founded | 2016 | 2006 |
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 FOLIO
- Modular app architecture
- Circulation and check-out
- Inventory and cataloging
- Acquisitions and invoicing
- Electronic resource management
- User management
- Agreements and licenses
- Course reserves
Only in Evergreen ILS
- Circulation management
- MARC cataloging
- Acquisitions
- Serials management
- OPAC with faceted search
- Patron management
- Offline circulation
- Consortia support
Both cover
- SIP2
- NCIP
- LDAP
- Role-based access
- Self-hosted deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
FOLIO
- Academic library managementnot Evergreen ILS
- Custom library applicationsnot Evergreen ILS
- Consortial systemsnot Evergreen ILS
- Electronic resource managementnot Evergreen ILS
Evergreen ILS
- Running a consortium-scale library catalogue and circulation systemnot FOLIO
- Self-hosting an open source integrated library system across multiple branchesnot FOLIO
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
FOLIO
- FOLIO is open source with no vendor-run SaaS from the FOLIO project itself; adopters must self-host or contract a third-party hosting partner separately.
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
FOLIO
Free- Community EditionFree
- Modular app ecosystem
- Circulation management
- Cataloging
- Hosted (via EBSCO/Index Data)$undefined/year
- Everything in Community
- Managed hosting
- Professional support
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 FOLIO if
- You need modular app architecture.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want circulation and check-out.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is FOLIO or Evergreen ILS better?
- Neither clearly leads. FOLIO starts at Free and Evergreen ILS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, FOLIO or Evergreen ILS?
- FOLIO starts at Free and Evergreen ILS at Free.
- Does FOLIO or Evergreen ILS run on more platforms?
- FOLIO runs on Web, Api. Evergreen ILS runs on Web, Desktop, Api.
- Can I use FOLIO for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is FOLIO best used for?
- FOLIO is most often used for academic library management, custom library applications, consortial systems, electronic resource management. Of those, academic library management and custom library applications are not what Evergreen ILS is typically brought in for.
- What can FOLIO do that Evergreen ILS cannot?
- FOLIO covers Modular app architecture, Circulation and check-out, Inventory and cataloging, Acquisitions and invoicing. Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, MARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. Both handle SIP2, NCIP, LDAP, Role-based access.