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Libraries · head to head

Koha vs Omeka

Koha logo

Koha

Libraries

The world's first free and open source library system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Omeka logo

Omeka

Libraries

Publish collections and create rich digital experiences

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Koha no pricing published; Koha is free and open source with no commercial licensing fee; Omeka omeka Classic designed for individual projects rather than large institutional deployments
  • They diverge on capability: Koha covers Circulation management, Omeka covers Item and collection management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Koha and Omeka actually diverge.

Attributes where Koha and Omeka differ
AttributeKohaOmeka
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb
Founded19992007

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Libraries).

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 Omeka

  • Item and collection management
  • Dublin Core metadata
  • Online exhibitions
  • Plugin architecture
  • Theme customization
  • Simple workflow
  • File management
  • Tag and search

Both cover

  • OAI-PMH
  • 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 Omeka

Omeka

  • Academic and research institutions creating digital collections with Dublin Core metadatanot Koha
  • Museums and archives publishing heritage collections with semantic web capabilitiesnot Koha
  • Individual projects and educators creating media-rich online exhibitsnot Koha

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Koha

  • No pricing published; Koha is free and open source with no commercial licensing fee

Omeka

  • Omeka Classic designed for individual projects rather than large institutional deployments
  • Requires self-hosting and technical setup; no managed hosting option in Classic version
  • Omeka S pricing not publicly disclosed, available only for download or sandbox testing
  • Limited scalability for institutions managing multiple extensive collections

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

Omeka

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Omeka 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.
Koha review

Choose Omeka if

  • You need item and collection management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want dublin core metadata.
Omeka review

Questions people ask

Is Koha or Omeka better?
Neither clearly leads. Koha starts at Free and Omeka at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Koha or Omeka?
Koha starts at Free and Omeka at Free.
Does Koha or Omeka run on more platforms?
Koha runs on Web, Api. Omeka runs on 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 Omeka is typically brought in for.
What can Koha do that Omeka cannot?
Koha covers Circulation management, MARC21/UNIMARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. Omeka covers Item and collection management, Dublin Core metadata, Online exhibitions, Plugin architecture. Both handle OAI-PMH, Role-based access, Self-hosted deployment, Cloud deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Koha: How much does Koha cost?

Koha is free and open source. There is no software licensing fee. Development is sponsored by libraries, volunteers, and support companies worldwide.

Source
Omeka: How much does Omeka cost?

Omeka Classic and Omeka S are free to download and use under the GNU GPL open source license. Hosted services through Omeka.net and managed Omeka Services require visiting their respective pricing pages.

Source
Koha: Are there paid support options available?

While no specific pricing is detailed on the main site, Koha mentions paid support options available from support companies, but exact costs require contacting providers directly.

Source
Omeka: Is Omeka open source?

Yes, Omeka is open source software distributed under the GNU copyleft GPL license, making it freely available for individual projects, educational use, and institutional resource management.

Source
Omeka: Are there hosted options for Omeka?

Yes, Omeka.net provides hosted service options and Omeka Services offers managed hosting and support plans, though specific pricing details are not disclosed on the main Omeka website.

Source
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