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Libraries · head to head

ArchivesSpace vs Omeka

ArchivesSpace logo

ArchivesSpace

Libraries

Open source archives information management application

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: ArchivesSpace requires Java 17 or 21 (or Java 11/17 for older versions), adding infrastructure complexity; Omeka omeka Classic designed for individual projects rather than large institutional deployments
  • They diverge on capability: ArchivesSpace covers Accession 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 ArchivesSpace and Omeka actually diverge.

Attributes where ArchivesSpace and Omeka differ
AttributeArchivesSpaceOmeka
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
PlatformsUbuntu Linux, macOS, WindowsWeb
Founded20132007

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 ArchivesSpace

  • Accession management
  • Resource description
  • Digital object management
  • Agent and subject authorities
  • Location management
  • Assessment module
  • Public user interface
  • EAD/MARCXML export

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

  • Role-based access
  • Self-hosted deployment
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

ArchivesSpace

  • Digital archive managementnot Omeka
  • Repository managementnot Omeka
  • Cultural heritage preservationnot Omeka

Omeka

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

Where each one falls short

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

ArchivesSpace

  • Requires Java 17 or 21 (or Java 11/17 for older versions), adding infrastructure complexity
  • Mandatory Solr 9 (or 8 for older versions) for all production deployments since v3.2.0
  • Production deployments must use external MySQL 5.x or 8.x; embedded database only for testing
  • Minimum 1 GB RAM required, 2 GB recommended; Docker installation recommended as of v4.0.0 due to complexity

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

ArchivesSpace

Free
  • Very Small$300/year
    • Academic/Public Library tier (JSTOR/Artstor Very Small, etc.)
    • Non-Academic: 0-50 FTE staff
  • Small$1000/year
    • Academic/Public Library tier (JSTOR/Artstor Small, etc.)
    • Non-Academic: 51-150 FTE staff
  • Medium$3000/year
    • Academic/Public Library tier (JSTOR/Artstor Medium, etc.)
    • Non-Academic: 151-300 FTE staff
  • Large$5000/year
    • Academic/Public Library tier (JSTOR/Artstor Large, etc.)
    • Non-Academic: 301-400 FTE staff

Omeka

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Omeka review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ArchivesSpace if

  • You need accession management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ubuntu Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want resource description.
ArchivesSpace 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 ArchivesSpace or Omeka better?
Neither clearly leads. ArchivesSpace 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, ArchivesSpace or Omeka?
ArchivesSpace starts at Free and Omeka at Free.
Does ArchivesSpace or Omeka run on more platforms?
ArchivesSpace runs on Ubuntu Linux, macOS, Windows. Omeka runs on Web.
Can I use ArchivesSpace for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ArchivesSpace best used for?
ArchivesSpace is most often used for digital archive management, repository management, cultural heritage preservation. Of those, digital archive management and repository management are not what Omeka is typically brought in for.
What can ArchivesSpace do that Omeka cannot?
ArchivesSpace covers Accession management, Resource description, Digital object management, Agent and subject authorities. Omeka covers Item and collection management, Dublin Core metadata, Online exhibitions, Plugin architecture. Both handle Role-based access, Self-hosted deployment, Cloud deployment, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ArchivesSpace: Is ArchivesSpace free to use?

ArchivesSpace application is free to download and use. However, community membership is required and costs $300-$7,500 annually depending on organization type and size.

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
ArchivesSpace: How much does ArchivesSpace membership cost?

Membership costs range from $300/year (Very Small institutions) to $7,500/year (Very Large institutions). Costs are based on FTE staff size for non-academic archives (0-50 staff: $300; 400+ staff: $7,500) or JSTOR/Artstor classification for academic institutions.

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
ArchivesSpace: When does the ArchivesSpace membership year run?

ArchivesSpace membership runs from July 1 to June 30 each year and renews annually. New members joining outside this period receive prorated fees for their initial term.

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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