Archivematica vs Signature PDF
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted document management options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Archivematica
Digital preservation system for long-term archives
VS
Signature PDF
Sign and manipulate PDFs with collaboration, organization, compression
| Feature | Archivematica | Signature PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Document Management | Document Management |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 512 | ★ 818 |
| First released | 2010 | 2025 |
| Replaces | Preservica | — |
Why pick each one
Choose Signature PDF if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in JavaScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Archivematica or Signature PDF better?
Signature PDF is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Archivematica if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Archivematica and Signature PDF free and open-source?
Yes. Archivematica is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Signature PDF under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Archivematica and Signature PDF with Docker?
Archivematica: check the project docs for container support. Signature PDF: yes.