eHive
Collections management software
Museum software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$120 per year
Free Trial unavailable
Free version
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Medium
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What is eHive
eHive is a cloud-based collections management system used to catalog, manage, and publish collection records for museums, historical societies, archives, and private collections. It supports object records with images and metadata, and can publish selected records to a public-facing web portal. The product is typically used by small to mid-sized organizations that want a hosted system with web access and optional public discovery.
Cloud hosting and web access
eHive runs as a hosted service, reducing the need for local server infrastructure and in-house IT administration. Users can access the system through a web browser, which supports distributed teams and volunteers. This deployment model can simplify upgrades and maintenance compared with on-premises collection databases.
Public collections publishing
eHive includes options to publish collection records to a public portal, supporting discovery and outreach. Organizations can control what is visible publicly versus kept private for internal management. This can reduce the need to build and maintain a separate public collections website for basic online access.
Image-centric object records
The system supports attaching images and descriptive metadata to object records, which fits common museum and heritage cataloging workflows. It is designed for day-to-day cataloging and collection documentation rather than only inventory lists. This focus can be useful for organizations prioritizing digitization and online visibility.
Limited enterprise museum suite
eHive is primarily a collections cataloging and publishing tool rather than a full museum operations suite. Organizations that require tightly integrated modules for complex workflows (for example, advanced conservation, exhibitions, loans, and multi-department approvals) may need additional tools or integrations. Larger institutions may find gaps compared with more comprehensive museum platforms.
Customization and reporting constraints
As a hosted product, deep customization of data models, workflows, and highly tailored reporting can be more constrained than systems designed for extensive local configuration. Some organizations may need to adapt internal processes to the product’s structure. Advanced analytics and bespoke exports may require additional effort or external tooling.
Data portability considerations
Moving large collections between systems can require careful mapping of fields, controlled vocabularies, and media assets. Depending on the organization’s cataloging standards, data cleanup may be needed to achieve consistent records and public presentation. Institutions with strict metadata standards may need to validate how well the system supports their preferred schemas and authority control.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Free (Entry Level) | 1 user; 200 records; 50 MB storage; no API access; no visitor analytics; permanently free (auto-renews). |
| Bronze | $120 per year (or $540 per 5 years) | 1 user; 5,000 records; 1 GB storage; API access; no visitor analytics. |
| Silver | $300 per year (or $1,350 per 5 years) | 3 users; 20,000 records; 5 GB storage; API access; visitor analytics included. |
| Gold | $600 per year (or $2,700 per 5 years) | 10 users; 50,000 records; 20 GB storage; API access; visitor analytics included. |
| Platinum | $1,200 per year (or $5,400 per 5 years) | 20 users; 100,000 records; 50 GB storage; API access; visitor analytics included. |
