Library & Archives · head to head
Koha vs Archivematica
Koha
Library & Archives
The world's first free and open source library system
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Archivematica
Library & Archives
Free and open source digital preservation system
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Koha no official vendor exists; hosting, support and development come only from third-party providers in a community directory that explicitly carries no official status; Archivematica cannot run natively on Windows; requires virtualization platform with Linux VM
- They diverge on capability: Koha covers Circulation management, Archivematica covers OAIS-compliant workflow.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Koha and Archivematica actually diverge.
| Attribute | Koha | Archivematica |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | Unknown |
| Platforms | Web, Api | Linux, Web |
| Founded | 1999 | 2001 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Koha
- Circulation management
- MARC21/UNIMARC cataloging
- Acquisitions
- Serials management
- Patron management
- OPAC with faceted search
- Reports and statistics
- Z39.50 support
Only in Archivematica
- OAIS-compliant workflow
- Format identification (FIDO/Siegfried)
- File characterization (FITS)
- Format normalization
- PREMIS metadata
- AIP and DIP creation
- Checksum verification
- Micro-services architecture
Both cover
- LDAP
- LDAP
- Role-based access
- Self-hosted deployment
- Cloud deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Koha
- Libraries self-hosting an open source integrated library system for cataloging and circulation without vendor licensing feesnot Archivematica
Archivematica
- Digital preservationnot Koha
- Born-digital archivesnot Koha
- Digitization workflowsnot Koha
- Long-term accessnot Koha
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Koha
- No official vendor exists; hosting, support and development come only from third-party providers in a community directory that explicitly carries no official status
Archivematica
- Cannot run natively on Windows; requires virtualization platform with Linux VM
- Requires 7GB disk space plus 2 to 3 times the collection size during processing, demanding significant storage resources
- Processing large collections requires high-end hardware; small collections require minimal hardware but enterprise use scales expensively
- Known issues with Internet Explorer browser; most extensive testing only in Firefox and Chrome
Pricing, plan by plan
Koha
Free- Self-HostedFree
- Full ILS functionality
- Circulation management
- Cataloging (MARC21/UNIMARC)
- Hosted (via partners)$150/month
- Everything in Self-Hosted
- Managed hosting
- Professional support
Archivematica
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Archivematica review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Koha if
- You need circulation management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want marc21/unimarc cataloging.
Choose Archivematica if
- You need oais-compliant workflow.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Web.
- You also want format identification (fido/siegfried).
Questions people ask
- Is Koha or Archivematica better?
- Neither clearly leads. Koha starts at Free and Archivematica at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Koha or Archivematica?
- Koha starts at Free and Archivematica at Free.
- Does Koha or Archivematica run on more platforms?
- Koha runs on Web, Api. Archivematica runs on Linux, Web.
- Can I use Koha for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Koha best used for?
- Koha is most often used for libraries self-hosting an open source integrated library system for cataloging and circulation without vendor licensing fees. Of those, libraries self-hosting an open source integrated library system for cataloging and circulation without vendor licensing fees is not what Archivematica is typically brought in for.
- What can Koha do that Archivematica cannot?
- Koha covers Circulation management, MARC21/UNIMARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. Archivematica covers OAIS-compliant workflow, Format identification (FIDO/Siegfried), File characterization (FITS), Format normalization. Both handle LDAP, LDAP, Role-based access, Self-hosted deployment.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Archivematica: Is Archivematica free and open source?
Yes. Archivematica is free open-source software released under GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL 3.0). All code is free to study, modify, improve, and distribute.
SourceArchivematica: What standards does Archivematica use for digital preservation?
Archivematica uses METS, PREMIS, Dublin Core, and Library of Congress BagIt specification to generate trustworthy Archival Information Packages (AIPs) for long-term storage.
SourceArchivematica: Does Archivematica include an access system?
Yes. Archivematica is packaged with AtoM, a web-based content management system for providing access to your digital objects.
Source