Library & Archives · head to head
Koha vs Ex Libris Alma
Koha
Library & Archives
The world's first free and open source library system
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Ex Libris Alma
Library & Archives
Unified library services platform for the modern library
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Koha has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- 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; 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
- They diverge on capability: Koha covers Circulation management, Ex Libris Alma covers Unified resource management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Koha and Ex Libris Alma actually diverge.
| Attribute | Koha | Ex Libris Alma |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | open-source | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Founded | 1999 | 1986 |
Identical on both: platforms (Web, Api), 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 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
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 Ex Libris Alma
Ex Libris Alma
- Academic libraries managing electronic resources and library services in a single cloud platformnot 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
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Koha
Free- Self-HostedFree
- Full ILS functionality
- Circulation management
- Cataloging (MARC21/UNIMARC)
- Hosted (via partners)$150/month
- Everything in Self-Hosted
- Managed hosting
- Professional support
Ex Libris Alma
On request- Alma Essentials$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
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 Ex Libris Alma if
- You need unified resource management.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want electronic resource management.
Questions people ask
- Is Koha or Ex Libris Alma better?
- Neither clearly leads. Koha starts at Free and Ex Libris Alma at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Koha or Ex Libris Alma?
- Koha has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Koha and On request for Ex Libris Alma.
- Does Koha or Ex Libris Alma run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Koha for free?
- Yes. Koha has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ex Libris Alma starts at On request.
- 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 Ex Libris Alma is typically brought in for.
- What can Koha do that Ex Libris Alma cannot?
- Koha covers Circulation management, MARC21/UNIMARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. Ex Libris Alma covers Unified resource management, Electronic resource management, Digital asset management, Acquisitions and licensing.