Oliver vs FOLIO

OOliver8.6Visit FOLIO7.9Visit

Higher score O Oliver #2 in Library Management 8.6/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Softlink

vs

FOLIO #3 in Library Management 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit FOLIO

• Oliver fits best

  Schools needing rich workflows and SIS integration

• FOLIO fits best

  Academic and larger libraries seeking an open platform

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Side by side

Feature	OOliver 8.6/10 Visit ↗	FOLIO 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.6	7.9
Ranking	#2 in Library Management	#3 in Library Management
Best for	Schools needing rich workflows and SIS integration	Academic and larger libraries seeking an open platform
Pricing model	Paid	Free
Starting price	Pricing on request	Free plan
Free plan	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Email, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs	Docs
Integrations	6 integrations	16 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Oliver 0/2 · FOLIO 2/2
Circulation management	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Acquisition tools	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Cataloging standards	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Deployment	Not checked yet	Both
Patron limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Supported languages	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Handles loans, returns, renewals, bookings, reservations and self-checkout Supports MARC and CSV cataloguing, acquisitions and stocktake Connects with student management and learning platforms	Covers inventory, cataloging, acquisitions, e-resources and circulation Modular applications use an API-driven architecture Integrates with systems including OCLC WorldCat, VuFind and Shibboleth
Cons	Pricing is quote-based rather than published by plan Available on web; no other platform is listed Its stated focus is school libraries and education departments	Requires libraries to choose and operate applications or arrange hosting Commercial hosting and support may be separate from the free software Support channel listed is documentation
Our verdict	Oliver is Softlink Education’s library management system for primary schools, secondary schools and education departments. It brings staff workflows for circulation, acquisitions, cataloguing and reporting together with student-facing… Read the review →	FOLIO is an open-source library services platform from the Open Library Foundation, built for libraries managing print and electronic resources. Its applications cover inventory and bibliographic management, acquisitions, electronic… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Oliver — where it wins

  • Handles loans, returns, renewals, bookings, reservations and self-checkout
  • Supports MARC and CSV cataloguing, acquisitions and stocktake
  • Connects with student management and learning platforms

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing is quote-based rather than published by plan
  • Available on web; no other platform is listed
  • Its stated focus is school libraries and education departments

• FOLIO — where it wins

  • Covers inventory, cataloging, acquisitions, e-resources and circulation
  • Modular applications use an API-driven architecture
  • Integrates with systems including OCLC WorldCat, VuFind and Shibboleth

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires libraries to choose and operate applications or arrange hosting
  • Commercial hosting and support may be separate from the free software
  • Support channel listed is documentation

• OOliver8.6/10 · Pricing on request

  A school-focused library system combining circulation, cataloguing, discovery and SIS integrations.

  Visit SoftlinkFull verdict →
• FOLIO7.9/10 · Free plan

  A modular library platform spanning cataloging, acquisitions, e-resources and circulation.

  Visit FOLIOFull verdict →