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Library & Archives · head to head

OCLC WorldShare Management Services vs Evergreen ILS

OCLC WorldShare Management Services logo

OCLC WorldShare Management Services

Library & Archives

Cloud-based library management built on WorldCat

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Evergreen ILS logo

Evergreen ILS

Library & Archives

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: OCLC WorldShare Management Services pricing is not published for WorldShare Management Services; the site routes buyers to a Library Services Consultant rather than listing figures; 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: OCLC WorldShare Management Services covers WorldCat cataloging, Evergreen ILS covers MARC cataloging.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OCLC WorldShare Management Services and Evergreen ILS actually diverge.

Attributes where OCLC WorldShare Management Services and Evergreen ILS differ
AttributeOCLC WorldShare Management ServicesEvergreen ILS
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, ApiWeb, Desktop, Api
Founded19672006

Identical on both: 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 OCLC WorldShare Management Services

  • WorldCat cataloging
  • Acquisitions and invoicing
  • License management
  • Analytics and reporting
  • Interlibrary loan
  • WorldCat Discovery
  • Mobile circulation
  • Request management

Only in Evergreen ILS

  • MARC cataloging
  • Acquisitions
  • Serials management
  • OPAC with faceted search
  • Patron management
  • Offline circulation
  • Consortia support
  • SIP2/NCIP support

Both cover

  • Circulation management
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

OCLC WorldShare Management Services

  • Libraries relying on the shared WorldCat catalog for cataloging and resource sharingnot Evergreen ILS

Evergreen ILS

  • Running a consortium-scale library catalogue and circulation systemnot OCLC WorldShare Management Services
  • Self-hosting an open source integrated library system across multiple branchesnot OCLC WorldShare Management Services

Where each one falls short

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

OCLC WorldShare Management Services

  • Pricing is not published for WorldShare Management Services; the site routes buyers to a Library Services Consultant rather than listing figures

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

OCLC WorldShare Management Services

On request
  • WMS Standard$undefined/year
    • WorldCat cataloging
    • Circulation management
    • Acquisitions
  • WMS Premium$undefined/year
    • Everything in Standard
    • License Manager
    • Advanced analytics

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 OCLC WorldShare Management Services if

  • You need worldcat cataloging.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want acquisitions and invoicing.
OCLC WorldShare Management Services review

Choose Evergreen ILS if

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

Questions people ask

Is OCLC WorldShare Management Services or Evergreen ILS better?
Neither clearly leads. OCLC WorldShare Management Services starts at On request and Evergreen ILS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OCLC WorldShare Management Services or Evergreen ILS?
Evergreen ILS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for OCLC WorldShare Management Services and Free for Evergreen ILS.
Does OCLC WorldShare Management Services or Evergreen ILS run on more platforms?
OCLC WorldShare Management Services runs on Web, Mobile, Api. 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. OCLC WorldShare Management Services starts at On request.
What is OCLC WorldShare Management Services best used for?
OCLC WorldShare Management Services is most often used for libraries relying on the shared worldcat catalog for cataloging and resource sharing. Of those, libraries relying on the shared worldcat catalog for cataloging and resource sharing is not what Evergreen ILS is typically brought in for.
What can OCLC WorldShare Management Services do that Evergreen ILS cannot?
OCLC WorldShare Management Services covers WorldCat cataloging, Acquisitions and invoicing, License management, Analytics and reporting. Evergreen ILS covers MARC cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials management, OPAC with faceted search. Both handle Circulation management, Cloud deployment.
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