Worldcat vs Alibris

Struggling to choose between Worldcat and Alibris? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Worldcat is a Education & Reference solution with tags like catalog, library, research.

It boasts features such as Search library catalogs worldwide, Find books, journals, articles, and more, Access digital content, Interlibrary loan, Citation management, Mobile app, APIs for developers and pros including Massive database of library materials, Saves time finding resources, Access hard-to-find or rare items, Share lists and reviews, Integrates with other research tools.

On the other hand, Alibris is a News & Books product tagged with books, used-books, media-marketplace.

Its standout features include Large inventory of new and used books, music, movies, Marketplace connecting buyers and sellers, Searchable catalog, Wishlists, Gift cards, Affiliate program, Inventory management for sellers, and it shines with pros like Huge selection of media, Good prices on used items, Rare and out-of-print items available, Reputable company, Secure transactions.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Worldcat

Worldcat

WorldCat is an online library catalog that allows you to search the collections of libraries around the world. It provides access to over 2 billion items including books, e-books, DVDs, and more from thousands of libraries worldwide.

Categories:
catalog library research

Worldcat Features

  1. Search library catalogs worldwide
  2. Find books, journals, articles, and more
  3. Access digital content
  4. Interlibrary loan
  5. Citation management
  6. Mobile app
  7. APIs for developers

Pricing

  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Massive database of library materials

Saves time finding resources

Access hard-to-find or rare items

Share lists and reviews

Integrates with other research tools

Cons

Requires membership or subscription

Not all libraries participate

Limited preview of digital content

Complex advanced search

Somewhat dated interface


Alibris

Alibris

Alibris is an online marketplace for buying and selling new and used books, music, and movies. It connects buyers and sellers and enables searching across a large inventory of media items.

Categories:
books used-books media-marketplace

Alibris Features

  1. Large inventory of new and used books, music, movies
  2. Marketplace connecting buyers and sellers
  3. Searchable catalog
  4. Wishlists
  5. Gift cards
  6. Affiliate program
  7. Inventory management for sellers

Pricing

  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Huge selection of media

Good prices on used items

Rare and out-of-print items available

Reputable company

Secure transactions

Cons

High shipping costs

Limited selection of newer releases

Website can be slow

Some inaccurate item conditions