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LibraryThing for Libraries vs Evergreen ILS

LibraryThing for Libraries logo

LibraryThing for Libraries

Software

Enrich your OPAC with social discovery features

From
$500/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Evergreen ILS logo

Evergreen ILS

Software

Highly scalable open source library software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Evergreen ILS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: LibraryThing for Libraries oPAC enhancement only, not a complete library management system; 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: LibraryThing for Libraries covers Book cover images, Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LibraryThing for Libraries and Evergreen ILS actually diverge.

Attributes where LibraryThing for Libraries and Evergreen ILS differ
AttributeLibraryThing for LibrariesEvergreen ILS
Starting price$500/yearFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Desktop, Api
Founded20052006

Identical on both: 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 LibraryThing for Libraries

  • Book cover images
  • Similar books recommendations
  • Tag browsing
  • Series information
  • Author biographies
  • User reviews
  • Lexile measures
  • Awards information

Only in Evergreen ILS

  • Circulation management
  • MARC cataloging
  • Acquisitions
  • Serials management
  • OPAC with faceted search
  • Patron management
  • Offline circulation
  • Consortia support

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

LibraryThing for Libraries

  • OPAC enhancementnot Evergreen ILS
  • Reader advisorynot Evergreen ILS
  • Catalog enrichmentnot Evergreen ILS
  • Discovery improvementnot Evergreen ILS

Evergreen ILS

  • Running a consortium-scale library catalogue and circulation systemnot LibraryThing for Libraries
  • Self-hosting an open source integrated library system across multiple branchesnot LibraryThing for Libraries

Where each one falls short

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

LibraryThing for Libraries

  • OPAC enhancement only, not a complete library management system

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

LibraryThing for Libraries

$500/year
  • Small Library$500/year
    • Book covers
    • Similar books
    • Tag browsing
  • Medium Library$1200/year
    • Everything in Small
    • Lexile measures
    • Author information
  • Large Library$2500/year
    • Everything in Medium
    • Stack maps
    • Custom widgets

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 LibraryThing for Libraries if

  • You need book cover images.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want similar books recommendations.
LibraryThing for Libraries review

Choose Evergreen ILS if

  • You need circulation management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Api.
  • You also want marc cataloging.
Evergreen ILS review

Questions people ask

Is LibraryThing for Libraries or Evergreen ILS better?
Neither clearly leads. LibraryThing for Libraries starts at $500/year and Evergreen ILS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LibraryThing for Libraries or Evergreen ILS?
Evergreen ILS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $500/year for LibraryThing for Libraries and Free for Evergreen ILS.
Does LibraryThing for Libraries or Evergreen ILS run on more platforms?
LibraryThing for Libraries runs on Web, iOS, Android. Evergreen ILS runs on Web, Desktop, Api.
Can I use Evergreen ILS for free?
Yes. Evergreen ILS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. LibraryThing for Libraries starts at $500/year.
What is LibraryThing for Libraries best used for?
LibraryThing for Libraries is most often used for opac enhancement, reader advisory, catalog enrichment, discovery improvement. Of those, opac enhancement and reader advisory are not what Evergreen ILS is typically brought in for.
What can LibraryThing for Libraries do that Evergreen ILS cannot?
LibraryThing for Libraries covers Book cover images, Similar books recommendations, Tag browsing, Series information. Evergreen ILS covers Circulation management, MARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management. Both handle Cloud deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

LibraryThing for Libraries: What does LibraryThing for Libraries add to an existing OPAC?

LibraryThing for Libraries enriches OPAC displays with tags, book reviews, ratings, series data, awards information, shelf browsing, similar books recommendations, and QR codes from over 153 million books.

Source
LibraryThing for Libraries: How many tags does LibraryThing provide?

LibraryThing provides access to over 169 million library-vetted tags across 153 million books, enabling browse-based discovery beyond traditional keyword search.

Source
LibraryThing for Libraries: Does LibraryThing offer mobile access?

Yes, Library Anywhere provides mobile web catalog access and native apps for iPhone and Android phones without installation or maintenance required.

Source
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