--- description: Discover the benefits and disadvantages of Koha. Learn the software price, see the description, and read the most helpful reviews for UK business users. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/capterra/og_logo-e5a8c001ed0bd1bb922639230fcea71a.png?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress title: Koha Pricing, Cost & Reviews - Capterra UK 2026 --- Breadcrumb: [Home](/) > [Library Automation Software](/directory/30022/library-automation/software) > [Koha](/software/153941/koha) # Koha Canonical: https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/153941/koha Page: 1 / 2\ Next: [Next page](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/153941/koha?page=2) > ByWater offers the highest level of implementation, support, hosting, development and training for the Koha Open Source ILS > > Verdict: Rated **4.3/5** by 11 users. Top-rated for **Likelihood to recommend**. ----- ## Overview ### Who Uses Koha? ByWater supports libraries of all shapes and sizes including public and academic libraries of all sizes, special academic libraries, law libraries and large consortia. ## Quick Stats & Ratings | Metric | Rating | Detail | | **Overall** | **4.3/5** | 11 Reviews | | Ease of Use | 4.0/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Customer Support | 4.6/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Value for Money | 4.3/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Features | 4.1/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Recommendation percentage | 70% | (7/10 Likelihood to recommend) | ## About the vendor - **Company**: ByWater Solutions - **Founded**: 2009 ## Commercial Context - **Pricing model**: Per User (Free version available) - **Pricing Details**: Pricing is based on bibliographic record count and circulation statistics - **Target Audience**: 11–50 - **Deployment & Platforms**: Cloud, SaaS, Web-based, Android (Mobile), iPhone (Mobile), iPad (Mobile) - **Supported Languages**: English - **Available Countries**: United States ## Features - Circulation Management - Fee Collection - Inventory Management - OPAC - Patron Management - Periodicals Management - Reserve Shelf Management - Self Check-In/Check-Out - Serials Management ## Support Options - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat ## Category - [Library Automation Software](https://www.capterra.co.uk/directory/30022/library-automation/software) ## Alternatives 1. [Mandarin](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/29128/mandarin) — 4.7/5 (60 reviews) 2. [Surpass](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/8980/surpass) — 4.8/5 (128 reviews) 3. [Simple Little Library System](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/189633/simple-little-library-system) — 4.7/5 (29 reviews) 4. [Follett Destiny Library Manager](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/8972/destiny-library-manager) — 4.5/5 (35 reviews) 5. [Librarika](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/1053729/librarika) — 4.0/5 (2 reviews) ## Reviews ### "I am Not a fan" — 3.0/5 > **Miranda** | *20 June 2024* | Libraries | Recommendation rating: 0.0/10 > > **Pros**: The people. The customer service is great. > > **Cons**: The product itself is not great. I am having trouble with the system keeping up with my cataloging. > > The system is not keeping up with cataloging. I catalog a book and then search for it in system, and it is not there. ----- ### "Koha has it all for Library Management" — 5.0/5 > **Mercy** | *11 October 2018* | Libraries | Recommendation rating: 10.0/10 > > **Pros**: The fact that it is a first free automated library software, I am entitled to receive a customer care support 24/7. By being automated, it is easy for students to individually check-in and check-out. This software has got a version that can be installed in Android devices as well as iOS devices to serve the students in case of book search and tracking which in turn reduces overcrowding at computer checkpoints in the library. Just not to forget, the customization options of OPAC is more than excellent. > > **Cons**: If only there was an option of deleting lenders in batch, I would really appreciate but the software is superb. ----- ### "Extremely powerful software to host a Library, but difficult to use" — 4.0/5 > **Aaron** | *31 March 2021* | Information Technology & Services | Recommendation rating: 7.0/10 > > **Pros**: Koha is extremely flexible and powerful, allowing you to effectively setup a full features Library website without having to purchase any expensive software. The Koha server supports a robust catalog search feature, powerful user management, relatively easy way to scan in new books, and even the ability to print out barcodes for said books. And with a bit of work, you can customize Koha to display a nice web portal. There is also a robust support community to help you out, something you will most likely need. > > **Cons**: By far the biggest con is simply how difficult Koha is to use. While the initial setup isn't too difficult, anything beyond that can be extremely complicated. The Koha backend is extremely dense and non-intuitive. While there is a search feature to find different settings, the settings themselves are labeled in an opaque manner, making it difficult to know what you are searching for. Furthermore, any kind of editing you would like to on the web portal must be done using CSS, there is absolutely no WYSIWYG editor of any kind. > > Once I learned the ins and outs and various quirks of Koha, I like it, and think it is a very powerful and valuable piece of software for libraries. The fact that it is free is a huge plus, as most libraries are non-profit and don't have a huge budget, let alone an IT budget. ByWater solutions, that supports Koha, is fairly responsive, but not always the most helpful. ----- ### "KOHA: AN ONLINE CATALOGUE" — 5.0/5 > **Matambo** | *14 April 2021* | Information Services | Recommendation rating: 5.0/10 > > **Pros**: KOHA is a typically an online software. It works well with many web based applications. With the help of proxy server contents of a particular library can be accessed remotely. > > **Cons**: Deployment of KOHA involves too technical ICT expertise. One basically needs the support of an ICT technician to install the software. > > In combination of Dspace, patrons are able to access and use digitised information resources online. This makes things easy for both librarian and patron ----- ### "Good for what it is, wish it was streamlined" — 4.0/5 > **Rachel** | *4 September 2020* | Libraries | Recommendation rating: 7.0/10 > > **Pros**: It's open source so that is a big selling point. It's easy to fiddle with and shift and change things. As someone who is new to library software, it's easy onboarding and easy to figure out without a complicated tutorial. > > **Cons**: The search functionality is an issue for our patrons. Often you can search the exact book title and not get the book. The tags can be hit or miss. We have glitches that we're often dealing with and never really get solved so it sometimes just looks unprofessional. The process to upload images seems overly complicated, having to copy and paste MARC instead of just having the upload process embedded into the record. The UX could be improved and streamlined in several areas to reduce clicks or make it easy to alter multiple entries at once instead of one by one. > > Easy to learn, easy to use but you get what you (don't) pay for so to speak. ----- Page: 1 / 2\ Next: [Next page](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/153941/koha?page=2) ## Links - [View on Capterra](https://www.capterra.co.uk/software/153941/koha) ## This page is available in the following languages | Locale | URL | | de | | | de-AT | | | de-CH | | | en | | | en-AE | | | en-AU | | | en-CA | | | en-GB | | | en-IE | | | en-IL | | | en-IN | | | en-NZ | | | en-SG | | | en-ZA | | | es | | | es-AR | | | es-CL | | | es-CO | | | es-CR | | | es-DO | | | es-EC | | | es-MX | | | es-PA | | | es-PE | | | fr | | | fr-BE | | | fr-CA | | | fr-LU | | ----- ## Structured Data