Software · head to head
Koha vs Evergreen ILS
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; 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: Koha covers MARC21/UNIMARC cataloging, Evergreen ILS covers MARC cataloging.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Koha and Evergreen ILS actually diverge.
| Attribute | Koha | Evergreen ILS |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Api | Web, Desktop, Api |
| Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), free tier (Yes), 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 Koha
- MARC21/UNIMARC cataloging
- Reports and statistics
- Z39.50 support
- SIP2 integration
- OAI-PMH
- OAuth
Only in Evergreen ILS
- MARC cataloging
- Offline circulation
- Consortia support
- SIP2/NCIP support
- NCIP
Both cover
- Circulation management
- Acquisitions
- Serials management
- Patron management
- OPAC with faceted search
- LDAP
- SIP2
- Z39.50
- EDI
- Shibboleth
- 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 Evergreen ILS
Evergreen ILS
- Running a consortium-scale library catalogue and circulation systemnot Koha
- Self-hosting an open source integrated library system across multiple branchesnot 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
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
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
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 Koha if
- You need marc21/unimarc cataloging.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want reports and statistics.
Choose Evergreen ILS if
- You need marc cataloging.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Api.
- You also want offline circulation.
Questions people ask
- Is Koha or Evergreen ILS better?
- Neither clearly leads. Koha 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, Koha or Evergreen ILS?
- Koha starts at Free and Evergreen ILS at Free.
- Does Koha or Evergreen ILS run on more platforms?
- Koha runs on Web, Api. Evergreen ILS runs on Web, Desktop, Api.
- 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 Evergreen ILS is typically brought in for.
- What can Koha do that Evergreen ILS cannot?
- Koha covers MARC21/UNIMARC cataloging, Reports and statistics, Z39.50 support, SIP2 integration. Evergreen ILS covers MARC cataloging, Offline circulation, Consortia support, SIP2/NCIP support. Both handle Circulation management, Acquisitions, Serials management, Patron management.