EPrints
EPrints is free, open-source repository software for making academic outputs discoverable online.
What EPrints is
EPrints is free, open-source repository software for making academic outputs discoverable online. It can also support collections of research data, educational resources, theses, journals, conference materials and other repository projects. Organizations can adapt branding, data schemas, collection workflows and metadata displays, and connect a repository to systems such as a CRIS or institutional website. The software runs as a Linux service with MySQL and Apache, so self-installation requires a suitable Linux server and prerequisite packages. The maker identifies EPrints 3.4.7, released in September 2025, as the current 3.4 version; installation packages and guides cover CentOS, Red Hat, Fedora, Ubuntu and Debian. Pre-built repository options are available for research data, impact data and open education. Administrators can add plugins through the EPrints Bazaar. OAI-PMH is enabled by default for read-only access, and documentation describes a REST API for third-party read and write access. EPrints Services offers hosting, support contracts and consultancy; community resources include a user group, mailing list, wiki and registry.
Good
- Free and open-source
- Supports several types of research and educational repositories
- Customizable workflows, schemas and metadata displays
- OAI-PMH is enabled by default
- Offers a REST API for third-party access
Watch out
- Self-installation requires a suitable Linux server
- Self-installation also requires prerequisite packages
Who it suits
EPrints suits institutions and organizations that want a customizable repository for academic outputs or related collections. Self-installation is a fit for those with a suitable Linux server and the required packages.
Verdict
EPrints offers a configurable, freely available base for institutional and specialist repositories. Organizations planning to install it themselves should account for its Linux server and package requirements.
Plans and prices
From EPrints's own pricing page, checked 11 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| EPrints Core | Free | Open-source software; freely available; requires a suitable Linux-based server for self-installation |
The facts
Each one read from EPrints's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API and harvesting
- EPrints documentation says OAI-PMH is enabled by default for read-only access, and describes an open CRUD-based REST API for third-party read and write access.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Community help
- The EPrints community site lists a public user group, technical support mailing list, documentation wiki, and registry as resources for installing, customizing, and running repositories.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Current release
- The maker identifies EPrints 3.4.7, released in September 2025, as the current version of EPrints 3.4.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Installations can be customized for branding, data schemas, collection workflows, metadata record presentation, and integrations with systems such as CRIS or institutional websites.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Download and distributions
- EPrints 3.4 can be freely downloaded, and the download site provides v3.4.7 packages, flavors, and install guides for CentOS/Red Hat/Fedora and Ubuntu/Debian.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Extensions
- The EPrints Bazaar is described as an app store where repository administrators can install plugins and extensions in a single click.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Interoperability
- The maker says installations can integrate with external systems such as a CRIS or institutional website.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Notable requirement
- Self-installation requires a suitable Linux-based server and prerequisite packages.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Other repository uses
- It is also used for research data, educational resources, theses, journals, conferences, and bespoke repository purposes.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- EPrints is an open-source digital repository platform used mainly to promote and share academic outputs through a discoverable web presence.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Repository flavors
- The maker says pre-built options are available for Research Data, Impact Data, and Open Educational repositories.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security updates
- The maker says security-related updates are backported and patched to existing EPrints Services hosted services ahead of upgrade projects.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- EPrints Services offers hosting, support contracts, and one-off consultancy for EPrints installations or extensions.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Technology
- EPrints runs as a Linux service backed by a MySQL database and an Apache web server.checked 11 Oct 2026
The company
- Headquarters
- Southampton, United Kingdom (University of Southampton)checked 28 Sep 2026
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