--- title: "Surpass Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra" description: "Is Surpass the right Library Automation solution for you? Explore 129 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/10010536/Surpass/reviews/" page_type: "reviews" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-11-09" --- Surpass 4.8 (129) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated November 9th, 2026 # Reviews of Surpass Ease of use 4.7 Customer Service 4.9 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews MC Mia C Community Engagement TechnicianNon-Profit Organization Management, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “What I like most about Surpass is its strong library management capabilities, security features, and customization options. While there is a learning curve, the system is intuitive and makes book cataloging, managing the library catalog, and tracking materials efficient and reliable.“ January 8, 2026 JG Judy G LibrarianLibraries, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “I only have one complaint...You can't make 13 digit barcodes...or I can't figure out how...“ January 13, 2026 DD Donna D Volunteer librarianLibraries, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “The web page is a nice addition for our patrons to search for titles within our listings and find out what is happening in our church library.“ March 4, 2025 TP Ted P Library Team leadReligious Institutions, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Label printing is imperfect.“ February 8, 2025 BH Brandi H LibrarianEducation Management, 201 - 500 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “I've been using Surpass for 4 years and can count any issues I've had on one hand and they were always resolved that day.“ May 4, 2026 Devendra Kumar S Manager Information Technology and Services, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “One of the main cons of Surpass software is the lack of customization options. While the software is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, users may find that they are limited in the ability to customize their experience.“ January 24, 2023 AS Amy S LibrarianLibraries, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Surpass is very easy to use which means that I am able to keep my focus on the students, where it should be. Whenever I have a question, help is just a chat away - and everyone there is knowledgeable and friendly! “ June 19, 2026 RC Rachelle C LibrarianLibraries, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “The hardest part to Surpass for me, is updating all the new students at the beginning of the school year. “ March 10, 2023 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 129 available reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use R Reviewer Librarian Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Best option for our library!" June 22, 2026 5.0 I have been using Surpass since 2019, and have always had a great experience with it. In that time there have been helpful updates, making my job easier, and the team at Surpass has helped me set up a system that works best for our school. Pros Surpass is very easy to use which means that I am able to keep my focus on the students, where it should be. Whenever I have a question, help is just a chat away - and everyone there is knowledgeable and friendly! I also love that I can send emails to students through Surpass, quickly catalog new books, run reports and personalize our opac. Cons I have no real complaints! I appreciate that when I have a request, or issue, I can put in a ticket. Review Source R Reviewer Librarian Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "We love Surpass " May 5, 2026 5.0 I've been using Surpass for 4 years and can count any issues I've had on one hand and they were always resolved that day. I think my catalog is extremely easy to manage. Using Surpass is the least stressful part of my day. Pros Surpass is super user friendly! After taking over the librarian roll at my school I learned the entire software within weeks! Cons If I could change anything I might add more detailed report options. Seeing some other librarians run reports on social media has made me slightly jealous. Review Source R Reviewer Librarian Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Surpass a library database with all the bells and whistles if you need them" March 23, 2026 5.0 I've used it for 4 years now and it's still a great system for our little library in a retirement community. It's fairly easy to teach the helpers the basics. I keep my own manual I've written as I learn new things in Surpass so I can quickly refer back to a 'hoe to' on anything I need to do Pros Ability to always receeive help whether it's using the help manual online, chatting with Surpass support or calling Cons Nothing I like it all. I learn as I go and don't use all the features available since our libraryvis very small and informal in a retirement community Review Source R Reviewer president Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Surpass Review" January 16, 2026 5.0 Their responsiveness to questions, concerns and needs is really exceptional. They are continually making Surpass more user friendly. Pros Surpass is easy to use and their customer service is excellent. This is the best move we have done with our nonprofit mobile library. It has made things run smoothly. Cons I really have no negative feedback regarding Surpass. The transition was smooth and everyone was helpful. Review Source R Reviewer Managing Librarian Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Great experience for smaller library collection" January 15, 2026 5.0 Surpass has been easy to use, has great customer service, and offers a great value that fits within my organization's budget. Pros We have a relatively basic version of Surpass, and it's an absolutely great value for our needs. The customer service is excellent and is the primary reason I would recommend this software to others; I always know that help is just an email or a phone call away. Cons The only thing that comes to mind is that the user interface in the basic version we use is visually a bit dated, but this has no impact on functionality. Review Source R Reviewer Librarian Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Surpass is an Excellent product for our small library!" January 14, 2026 5.0 I helped catalog an entire library using old barcodes, new barcodes and everything in between. The ease of learning the program was so helpful as I trained others to help. Pros Surpass is very user friendly and intuitive. Any time I have had a problem they have helped me fix it. They go above and beyond to get it right. Cataloging is easy and labeling is easy. Cons I only have one complaint...You can't make 13 digit barcodes...or I can't figure out how...I really don't have any other complaints. Review Source R Reviewer Media Specialist Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Worth Every Penny" January 13, 2026 5.0 So far, our small library has utilized the customization of the website layout especially for the cost of your system. Pros We appreciate how user friendly Surpass is for patrons and also our library staff. Our library catalog was easily uploaded into the Surplus system. Cons Honestly at this time Surpass has worked very well for our library needs. Customer service has been a huge help for our library. Review Source R Reviewer Librarian Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Five Star Customer Service" January 11, 2026 5.0 Surpass works well for our business and whenever there is a hiccup it is a pleasure to reach out and work with Customer Service. Pros My favorite thing about Surpass is actually the Customer Service. They have been quick, kind, empathetic and very positive every time I have reached out. This is very, very much appreciated. Cons There are a few things I would like to tailor to our specific office that I've been told are not possible, like removing due dates from the receipts. Review Source R Reviewer Community Engagement Technician Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "A Flexible System That Improves with Experience" January 9, 2026 5.0 My overall experience with Surpass has been positive. While there is a learning curve, the system is secure, customizable, and effective for library management, book cataloging, and tracking both circulating and non-circulating materials. Pros What I like most about Surpass is its strong library management capabilities, security features, and customization options. While there is a learning curve, the system is intuitive and makes book cataloging, managing the library catalog, and tracking materials efficient and reliable. Cons What I liked least about Surpass is the initial learning curve. While the system is robust and customizable, it can take time for new users to become comfortable navigating all features without additional guidance or training. Review Source David N. Church Library Volunteer Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Not Too Old to Learn" July 1, 2024 5.0 Pros It appears to be very easy to use. As soon as we received our login information we started work inputting our books into the system. Cons I haven't come across anything I don't like so far! Review Source R Reviewer Teacher Librarian Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Proceed with Caution" January 21, 2022 3.0 Pros I like the bright colors on the catalog. I also like that you can catalog books by just typing in the title and author. Cons The follow-up by the Help Desk is pretty much non-existent. The chat feature does not work so if you put in a ticket, you have to log in again to see if your question has been answered. I was hoping it would send me an email. It is also very slow when checking in books. Review Source R Reviewer Library Volunteer Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Five stars! Couldn't be happier!" September 4, 2025 5.0 Overall, the system has greatly improved the way I manage and present our library’s collection, making it both user-friendly for patrons and practical for administrators like myself. Pros I’ve had a very positive experience working with Surpass as an administrator. The process of inputting new resources is straightforward and efficient, with clear fields and options that make organizing materials simple. I especially appreciate the flexibility in customizing records, which allows me to highlight important details and ensure users can easily locate what they need. Navigating around the site is smooth and intuitive—the menus are well-structured, and search features are responsive and accurate. Cons There is nothing so far that I have not liked about Surpass. It has been a learning curve to navigate around the site, so expect to need some time initially. Review Source R Reviewer Coordinator Information and Resources Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Best Library Acquisition!" April 9, 2025 5.0 Surpass has exceeded our expectations and needs. However, it's also simple to use and small enough to manage, and the customer service is immediate and personal. Very happy with our decision to go with Surpass! Pros Customer service is excellent. They respond within minutes to my questions, and are extremely helpful and patient. The OPAC looks amazing and is easy to use. It's also quick and simple to catalogue new entries. Perfect fit for our small library! Cons Sometimes having to type the exact title to find the book in the Resource list. Review Source R Reviewer Volunteer Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Barcode issue" July 1, 2025 5.0 Professional, prompt, kind, helpful. \[sensitive content hidden\] was great. Answer in minutes. The online chat was great. I felt heard and cared for. Pros Promptness of support and an answer in minutes! The online support was perfect and prompt. \[sensitive content hidden\] was kind and knowledgeable. Cons I do not have anything that I disliked. The service is great and the tech support is phenomenal. I would have left this blank because I have nothing that I didn’t like. Review Source R Reviewer Library Team lead Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Terrific product for church libraries" February 10, 2025 5.0 Surpass CL is perfect for our small to medium church library. The price is reasonable and customer service is responsive and helpful. Pros \-It's very flexible - you can add as little or as much detail as you like. -There are multiple ways to enter bibliographic information. -I'm impressed that we can choose to search multiple library catalogs to do copy cataloging. Cons \-Label printing is imperfect. -Using the Add New by ISBN feature can be a bit slow. Review Source R Reviewer Resident Librarian Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Surpass excels" November 12, 2024 5.0 I would rate it a 10 on a scale of 1-10. We reviewed 49 systems before making a final decision to go with Surpass. Once we saw it, there was no question. Pros Ease of use! Timely and detailed response form Surpass Knowledge experts! Cons We can't get it operational fast enough - no fault of Surpass. The process is clearly defined. Review Source R Reviewer Computer Specialist Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Sanity Saving Software" August 22, 2022 5.0 Far better than my expectations. From the initial chat on their website, to the detail found on the website, to the support both before the sale and after the sale. They have been far better than I could have anticipated. Pros The most important feature of any software, the truest selling point for me was the ability to import MARC records from ancient library software (circa 2006). I had put off upgrading library software for so long and with a collection of over 10,000 copies I was most worried about losing that data. The software/hardware combination of the old system was on its last legs, and the initial software developer was very slow to respond to upgrading to their newer system. With Surpass they gave me a demo of which I tested their import feature and it was extremely easy to import everything I intended without the need for support on that feature. Second most important feature was they still sell the ability for a local installation. I am not too keen on cloud-based SaaS solutions. The third real selling point was the service; and that was true even from before the sale, but has continued after the sale as well. The level of service has blown my mind away. Even nit-picky type of things I have asked they have resolved. Cons Honestly the least liked is that some features display along the bottom of the software, not where I expect to find tabs for options. \[Note: I learn new software by clicking through menus/options and testing things.\] That, and few other things make the software feel a little clunky, maybe utilitarian. But it does what I need, and I am not picky on UI components once everything is setup and I know how to work it. Review Source R Reviewer Teachers, Director Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Surpass is huge a value " July 24, 2023 5.0 The overall experience has been wonderful. We could not function to the highly organized level without Surpass. It saves us time & money. The reporting options are extremely helpful, finding what information Is needed so quickly has added positive productivity. Pros That I can use it from other devices.The reporting systemFinding students quickly Cons Training, I have not taken the time needed to fully understand all that Surpass does or how it all works. I would like a training map, that shows me how to train and in what order, from the basics and on. Review Source R Reviewer Media Clerk Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "We love Surpass!" May 23, 2023 5.0 Pros I have used Surpass at two different libraries over the years and it is a wonderful system. It is very user friendly and easy to train people to use. We just switched to Surpass Cloud and so far it is great. The learning curve from the windows based system to the cloud based system is small and there are some features in the cloud that we didn't have before that are GREAT! Cons There really isn't anything we don't like. Some of the reports are a little tricky to find (Resource vs. Patron vs. Circulation - deciding which one it would be under) but once you find them they provide a wealth of information. Review Source R Reviewer Volunteer Librarian Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Surpass Support Staff" March 27, 2024 5.0 When you are a 'one person shop' it is good to know that you have the support staff to do just that - support you. In my first library life, I mostly did legal research. So the world of cataloging was overwhelming to start. But the support group always knows how to help migrate to the Cloud, resize labels, put the OPAC on our website, change default settings and fix glitches in copy cataloging. No question has ever been too small. Pros I have especially enjoyed creating nested Explore buttons for our unique online catalog. Cons Sometimes the online instructions for working in the Cloud can be a bit confusing, but the support staff is always there to walk you through them. Review Source R Reviewer Chair operations Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Changing over to the Cloud" December 19, 2023 5.0 Works well for our Community Library. Easy to train new volunteers on its use. Pros The changeover was very quick and easy. Help screens are available for the pages that at first were a little different than Windows Surpass. But in a few moments, you can see the correct procedure for your transaction. Cons There are no cons yet. The changeover does need a little time to see the difference but then it is easy. We at the library have no real issues. Review Source R Reviewer Tech Coordinator Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Surpass 2022-2023" June 8, 2023 5.0 It was a great year with them. Pros Ease of use and excellent customer support!! Cons I have one need that they don't do at this time...but maybe in the future!!! They try to work hard to meet the customers needs!! Review Source R Reviewer Media Aide Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Media Aide" September 3, 2024 5.0 Great. system, user friendly, many option for assistance with program \\. Pros Able to import entire class list into the system, \[sensitive content hidden\] from technical support was a big help. Cons Still learning the system and wish there was a new user training already set up. Review Source R Reviewer Media Clerk Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Surpass " February 17, 2022 5.0 Whenever I have a problem or issue the staff at Surpass is wonderful! Always friendly and professional. Pros Very user friendly and if you happen to have an issue their customer service is a call away! Cons There is nothing I can think of that I'd change. Review Source R Reviewer Operations Analyst Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Used for correctional library." February 4, 2022 5.0 Pros the program is very organized and user-friendly. Cons The backup was a little confusing at first. However, once I had completed it via the walkthrough it almost came naturally. Review Source