Koha vs Artemis

KKoha8.8Visit Artemis8.5Visit

Higher score K Koha #3 in School Library Management Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 6 features Visit Koha

vs

Artemis #5 in School Library Management Software 8.5/10 Pricing on request ✓ 5 of 6 features Visit Artemis

• Koha fits best

  Budget-conscious schools with technical capacity

• Artemis fits best

  Multi-campus schools and asset tracking

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Side by side

Feature	KKoha 8.8/10 Visit ↗	Artemis 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.8	8.5
Ranking	#3 in School Library Management Software	#5 in School Library Management Software
Best for	Budget-conscious schools with technical capacity	Multi-campus schools and asset tracking
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Free plan	—
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Self-hosted	Cloud
Platforms	Web, Linux	Web
Support	Community, Docs, Live chat	Email, Phone, Tickets, Community
Integrations	5 integrations	7 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market
Features Koha 5/6 · Artemis 5/6
Circulation tools	✓	✓
Acquisitions	✓	✓
Borrower portal	✓	✓
Custom reporting	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
MARC records	✓	✓
Student system sync	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Deployment	On-premise	Cloud
Our review
Pros	Free and open-source with circulation, acquisitions, and cataloging MARC frameworks, imports, authorities, serials, and custom reporting Borrower portal, offline circulation, notices, and label printing	Multi-campus administration supports district-wide library operations. Roster integration connects student and staff records automatically. Textbook and educational asset tracking extends beyond library collections.
Cons	On-premise Linux deployment requires technical administration Community-governed rather than a single-vendor SaaS product SIS synchronization is not established as a core fit	Pricing is quoted per library under an annual subscription. Some services are exceptions to the base subscription. The platform is web-based rather than open source.
Our verdict	Koha is a free, open-source integrated library system for libraries ranging from single-branch institutions to large consortia. For school libraries, it brings core circulation workflows such as checkout, check-in, renewal, and offline… Read the review →	Artemis is a hosted, web-based integrated library system for K-12 school libraries, serving individual schools and multi-school districts. Its core tools cover cataloging, checkout, check-in, renewals, self-checkout, acquisitions,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Koha — where it wins

  • Free and open-source with circulation, acquisitions, and cataloging
  • MARC frameworks, imports, authorities, serials, and custom reporting
  • Borrower portal, offline circulation, notices, and label printing

  Where it doesn't

  • On-premise Linux deployment requires technical administration
  • Community-governed rather than a single-vendor SaaS product
  • SIS synchronization is not established as a core fit

• Artemis — where it wins

  • Multi-campus administration supports district-wide library operations.
  • Roster integration connects student and staff records automatically.
  • Textbook and educational asset tracking extends beyond library collections.

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing is quoted per library under an annual subscription.
  • Some services are exceptions to the base subscription.
  • The platform is web-based rather than open source.

• KKoha8.8/10 · Free plan

  A capable, free ILS for schools that can manage an on-premise Linux deployment.

  Visit KohaFull verdict →
• Artemis8.5/10 · Pricing on request

  A hosted school library system with circulation, roster sync, and multi-campus asset tracking.

  Visit ArtemisFull verdict →