Library & Archives · head to head
Koha vs FOLIO
Koha
Library & Archives
The world's first free and open source library system
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
FOLIO
Library & Archives
The open source library services platform reimagined
- 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; 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.
- They diverge on capability: Koha covers Circulation management, FOLIO covers Modular app architecture.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Koha and FOLIO actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), free tier (Yes), 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 FOLIO
- Modular app architecture
- Circulation and check-out
- Inventory and cataloging
- Acquisitions and invoicing
- Electronic resource management
- User management
- Agreements and licenses
- Course reserves
Both cover
- LDAP
- SIP2
- LDAP
- Role-based access
- Self-hosted 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 FOLIO
FOLIO
- Academic library managementnot Koha
- Custom library applicationsnot Koha
- Consortial systemsnot Koha
- Electronic resource managementnot 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
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.
Pricing, plan by plan
Koha
Free- Self-HostedFree
- Full ILS functionality
- Circulation management
- Cataloging (MARC21/UNIMARC)
- Hosted (via partners)$150/month
- Everything in Self-Hosted
- Managed hosting
- Professional support
FOLIO
Free- Community EditionFree
- Modular app ecosystem
- Circulation management
- Cataloging
- Hosted (via EBSCO/Index Data)$undefined/year
- Everything in Community
- Managed hosting
- Professional support
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 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.
Questions people ask
- Is Koha or FOLIO better?
- Neither clearly leads. Koha starts at Free and FOLIO at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Koha or FOLIO?
- Koha starts at Free and FOLIO at Free.
- Does Koha or FOLIO 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?
- 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 FOLIO is typically brought in for.
- What can Koha do that FOLIO cannot?
- Koha covers Circulation management, MARC21/UNIMARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. FOLIO covers Modular app architecture, Circulation and check-out, Inventory and cataloging, Acquisitions and invoicing. Both handle LDAP, SIP2, LDAP, Role-based access.