eHive
eHive: A cloud collection system with a free plan, public profiles, and collection-data APIs. Ranked #5 of 11 in Museum Software by our editors (7.7/10); pricing: Free plan; best for small museums publishing collections on a free plan.
At a glance
- Editor score7.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forSmall museums publishing collections on a free plan
- Free planYes
- Collection catalogingYes
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Catalogues varied object types with configurable field sets and media attachments
- Tracks acquisitions, conservation, rights, loans, and exhibition history
- Publishes searchable public profiles and offers REST API and OAI-PMH access
Where it doesn't
- Cloud-only deployment may not suit museums needing another hosting model
- Support is documentation-based rather than through other listed channels
- Visitor analytics are listed only on Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans
Our verdict on eHive
eHive is a web-based collection cataloguing and management system for museums and collections, including archaeology, archives, art, history, libraries, natural science, and photography and multimedia. It suits small institutions that want to organise object records and make selected records available to the public. Records can include descriptive, acquisition, administration, conservation, and valuation information, with images, documents, audio, or video attached. Collections can remain private or be published through eHive public profiles, where visitors can search and browse by catalogue type and tags.
Its scope reaches beyond basic cataloguing: administration fields cover rights, loans in and out, and exhibition history, while the platform also provides REST API and OAI-PMH access. WordPress is a listed integration, giving museums a route to connect collection content with a website. That mix makes eHive relevant to institutions that want public collection access and data exchange alongside internal recordkeeping, rather than a tool limited to inventory fields. It is cloud-only, so institutions seeking a different deployment model should compare alternatives.
The published plans show a free Starter option; Bronze includes API access, Silver and Gold add visitor analytics, and Platinum includes analytics plus the option to purchase additional record and file storage and user licences. This creates a clear path from free public publishing to paid access and analytics, though the plan names appear more than once in the supplied subscription details. Support is documentation-based. eHive is a sensible fit for small museums prioritising public collection publishing and web access; museums that require another support channel or non-cloud deployment should look elsewhere.
eHive pricing
All 5 eHive plans and prices →
eHive fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Collection cataloging | Yes |
| Loan management | Yes |
| Exhibition management | Yes |
| Rights tracking | Yes |
| Public collections access | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 3 integrations: WordPress, REST API, OAI-PMH |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | ehive.com |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
eHive integrations
eHive lists 3 integrations on its own site.
- WordPress
- REST API
- OAI-PMH
Alternatives to eHive
- Axiell CollectionsBroad collection workflows with online publishing, available cloud-hosted or self-hosted.9.0
- CollectionSpaceA standards-based system for collection records, workflows and public browsing.8.2
- CatalogItA broad museum collections platform with a useful free tier and scalable paid plans.8.2
eHive vs the competition
- eHive vs Axiell Collections
- eHive vs CollectionSpace
- eHive vs CatalogIt
- eHive vs TMS Collections
- eHive vs MuseumPlus
- eHive vs Mimsy XG
Compare eHive with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
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