Alexandria vs Evergreen

Alexandria7.9Visit EEvergreen7.9Visit

Alexandria #4 in Library Management 7.9/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Alexandria

vs

E Evergreen #5 in Library Management 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Evergreen

• Alexandria fits best

  Libraries needing flexible hosting and circulation tools

• Evergreen fits best

  Libraries seeking free, self-hosted core functionality

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Side by side

Feature	Alexandria 7.9/10 Visit ↗	EEvergreen 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.9	7.9
Ranking	#4 in Library Management	#5 in Library Management
Best for	Libraries needing flexible hosting and circulation tools	Libraries seeking free, self-hosted core functionality
Pricing model	Paid	Free
Starting price	Pricing on request	Free plan
Free plan	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS	Web
Support	Email, Phone, Community, Docs · 24/7	Community, Docs
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Alexandria 0/2 · Evergreen 2/2
Circulation management	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Acquisition tools	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Cataloging standards	Not checked yet	MARC, MARCXML; Z39.50 record import
Deployment	Not checked yet	On-premises
Patron limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Supported languages	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Cloud or self-hosted deployment supports different IT preferences Circulation, catalog, inventory, reporting, and offline workflows in one system SIS, digital-resource, SSO, and MARC integrations support school ecosystems	Supports circulation, check-in, and hold management Catalogs MARC records and imports MARC, MARCXML, and Z39.50 records Includes acquisitions ordering, budget, and invoice tracking
Cons	Pricing requires contacting sales Self-hosting puts updates, backups, and server management on the customer The product is tailored to K–12 school and district libraries	Self-hosted deployment requires libraries to manage hosting Support, migration, and development services may cost extra No AI features are included
Our verdict	Alexandria is a library automation platform from COMPanion Corporation for K–12 schools and districts. It brings together checkout, returns, renewals, holds, reservations, fees, payments, inventory, subscriptions, self-service circulation,… Read the review →	Evergreen is an open-source library automation system for small institutions through large consortia. Its staff interface covers circulation, check-in, holds, and cataloging, while a public access catalog lets patrons discover materials.… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Alexandria — where it wins

  • Cloud or self-hosted deployment supports different IT preferences
  • Circulation, catalog, inventory, reporting, and offline workflows in one system
  • SIS, digital-resource, SSO, and MARC integrations support school ecosystems

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contacting sales
  • Self-hosting puts updates, backups, and server management on the customer
  • The product is tailored to K–12 school and district libraries

• Evergreen — where it wins

  • Supports circulation, check-in, and hold management
  • Catalogs MARC records and imports MARC, MARCXML, and Z39.50 records
  • Includes acquisitions ordering, budget, and invoice tracking

  Where it doesn't

  • Self-hosted deployment requires libraries to manage hosting
  • Support, migration, and development services may cost extra
  • No AI features are included

• Alexandria7.9/10 · Pricing on request

  Flexible cloud or self-hosted library automation with strong K–12 circulation and catalog tools.

  Visit AlexandriaFull verdict →
• EEvergreen7.9/10 · Free plan

  Free, self-hosted library automation with circulation, cataloging, and acquisitions.

  Visit EvergreenFull verdict →