Mandarin vs Koha ILS

Follett Destiny Library Manager

Evolve Library

Insignia Library System

Liberty

Apollo

Sierra

Compare Mandarin and Koha ILS based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

Follett Destiny Library Manager is a web-based software designed to help K-12 schools manage and record their library's available inventory on a centralized platform. With Follett Destiny Discover, students can receive access to various print and digital resources including audiobooks, subscription databases and more.

Apollo is an integrated library system (ILS) designed to help public libraries streamline operations related to e-items collection, circulation, cataloging, and more. It facilitates integration with products and services, allowing patrons to access or download e-items from within the cloud platform.

Evolve Library is a cloud-based library management system designed for use by school, public, academic, and specialist libraries of varying sizes. The software offers a range of modules covering acquisitions, catalog, circulation, and periodicals, and can be accessed through any web-enabled device.

Mandarin is a web-based library management system targeting smaller private & public facilities with support for cataloguing, circulation & inventory management

Alerts/Notifications

Barcode/Ticket Scanning

Barcoding/RFID

Catalog Management

Church Libraries

Circulation Management

Customizable Branding

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Customization

Data Import/Export

Equipment Tracking

Fee Collection

Full Text Search

Historical Reporting

Inventory Management

Multi-Language

Online Catalog

OPAC

Order Management

Patron Management

Periodicals Management

Private Libraries

Public Libraries

Records Management

Reporting & Statistics

Reserve Shelf Management

School Libraries

Search/Filter

Self Check-In/Check-Out

Self Service Portal

Serials Management

Templates

Third-Party Integrations

User Management

Mandarin

Web-based

Windows

Librarian

I inherited a very poorly cataloged collection: corrupt classification, lost records, level one  (or less) catalog- ing,  lack of subject headings.

The transition from our old system to Mandarin was amazing. I was happy with the ease of implementing the new system and tech support patiently guided any questions.

I highly recommend this software for ease of use and ability to expand circulation options. We separate textbooks and general library but it is all in the same catalog.

Teacher Librarian

It is terrific to have tech support available and I am certainly very pleased with the services MLA solutions offers us in Nagoya, Japan.

I have worked with both Mike and Tom and what a joy it is. Both those fellows are so knowledgeable and always willing to help me out, make suggestions and just do a fantastic job in general.

Media Specialist

We are very pleased with Mandarin Oasis. It has made our lives so much easier, and the customer service is awesome.

I love the customized look I can give to my home page. Mandarin Library is a fun and intuitive program that meet budgetary constaints while allowing me to expand in new ways.

Much as the software is efficient, less developed communities with poor internet infrastucture may find the software irritating due to internet connectivity issues.

We really like the cataloguing module. Very user friendly and the online OPAC is great as well.

Library Director

This library software is easy to use and easy to train students and staff to use. The ability to quickly download catalog records from Library of Congress or other libraries is extremely helpful.

website owner

Amazing and prompt help from Alex and Mike. They are willing to take the time to talk me through a problem when I am hardly coherent about a situation.

IT Administrator

Having to switch between the Equipment, Textbook and General Library databases is sometimes confusing. One often forgets on the first search for an item and has to go back and re-search.

Office Manager

As a small private school, our budget is limited and anything that helps us control inventory and save money in the long-run is a worthwhile investment.

Versatile library automation with room to accommodate new features. Good software support - very available.

The transition could have been awful, but any problems were solved very quickly.

This product was so easy to integrate, very stress free.

If I need to edit a record all of the MARC record fields and subfields show as options for insertion; and it is very easy to delete an unwanted field.

Third, technical support: rapid, on-time and professional. I got a call or e-mail with a rapid and complete response.

Mandarin screenshot: Give library patrons the ability to intuitively search an online catalog of reference resources from anywhere

Mandarin screenshot: Keyword and visual searches provide patrons with a user-friendly method of quickly locating the books and periodicals they require

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid Size Business

Public Administrations

Small Business

Sierra is a library automation system that helps private and public libraries manage electronic resource materials, circulation, cataloging, and more via a unified platform. The application enables employees to customize workflows, manage library acquisitions, track print serials, and configure recurring tasks.

Insignia Library System is a library automation software that helps businesses circulate, track, and manage library items. Key features include cataloging, inventory management, collection analysis, federated search, and reporting.

Liberty is a web-based knowledge management & library automation solution which enables the management of all physical, virtual & electronic library resources

LibLime Koha is a web-based and open-source library automation software designed to help libraries of all types and sizes manage patrons, book clubs, reading groups, and other community outreach programs. Administrators can configure access permissions for staff members.

Access Controls/Permissions

Database Support

Koha ILS

Accounting Assistant

Koha is an excellent software and i would recommend it to any library that is serious about helping its students.

LIBRARY ASSISTANT

The fact that the software is an open source is the biggest disadvantage, The organization risks losing all of the data to hackers.

Bookkeeper

Another disadvantage is that there is no offline access thus there is need for internet to access it.

This system very good and interesting. I think i want to use this system in the resource centre in my office.

Library Assistant

Its slow in open and saving files. It has an option to forgive fines that i feel is a weakness of a software.

accounting assistant

Makes access to library books, eresources and ebooks easy to find within the university library and has ability to decongest the library because of the easy to use and quick access.

Organizing and circulation of library materials using Koha. This gives the advantage of saving time for the reader and making sure that every material in the library is used.

You require IT staff in the library to do updates and trouble shooting  or you may need to consult outside if library has no IT staff, meaning extra costs.

Mandarin vs Koha ILS Comparison (2026)

Mandarin

Koha ILS

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives