Modes Complete
Collections management software
Museum software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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£1,800 one-time
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What is Modes Complete
Modes Complete is a collections management system used by museums and other collecting organizations to catalog objects, manage authority data, and track collection activities such as accessions, locations, loans, and condition reporting. It supports day-to-day registrar and collections workflows and can be configured to match local cataloging standards and controlled vocabularies. The product is typically deployed as a database-backed application with options for multi-user access and integrations for reporting and data exchange.
Collections-focused data model
Modes Complete is designed around common museum collections entities such as objects, constituents, locations, accessions, loans, and condition information. This reduces the need for heavy customization to support standard registrar workflows. It also supports structured fields and authority control approaches that help maintain consistency across records.
Configurable fields and workflows
The system supports configuration to align screens, fields, and terminology with an institution’s cataloging practices. This is useful for organizations that need to reflect discipline-specific metadata without building a custom system. Configuration can also help standardize internal processes across multiple departments or sites.
Reporting and data export
Modes Complete supports generating operational reports for common collections tasks (for example, inventories, loan paperwork, and location tracking). Export capabilities help institutions share data with other systems and prepare datasets for digitization or web publishing projects. This can reduce manual re-entry when moving data between tools.
Interface can feel dated
Compared with newer, web-native museum platforms, the user interface may feel less modern and less optimized for lightweight, browser-first use. This can affect onboarding for occasional users and volunteers. Institutions may need additional training and documentation to drive consistent adoption.
Public web publishing not primary
While data can be exported for online access, public-facing collection publishing is not always a core, out-of-the-box experience in many traditional CMS deployments. Organizations may need a separate web collections portal or additional integration work to publish records and media online. This adds implementation time and ongoing maintenance.
Implementation requires planning
As with most museum CMS products, successful use depends on data standards, authority control decisions, and migration quality. Data cleanup and mapping from legacy spreadsheets or older databases can be time-consuming. Smaller organizations without dedicated collections IT support may need external assistance for setup and upgrades.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Modes Complete — Single-user licence (software) | £1,800 (one-off) | Full Modes Complete software (one-off licence). Concurrent-user charging applies; install on unlimited machines but charged for concurrent users. Price effective 1 April 2025. Excludes VAT. |
| Modes Complete — Each additional concurrent user (software) | +£900 (one-off per additional user) | Add-on licence for each additional concurrent user. |
| Modes Complete — Upgrade from Modes Compact (single-user) | +£900 (one-off) | Upgrade price for existing Modes Compact single-user customers. |
| Support & Membership — One user (annual) | £185 per year (recurring) | Technical support, membership of Modes Users Association. First 12 months' support included free with software purchase. Recurring every 12 months. Excludes VAT. |
| Support & Membership — Each additional user (annual) | +£92.50 per additional user per year (recurring) | Support cost per additional concurrent user. First 12 months free with purchase. Excludes VAT. |
