unsubbed.co
Categories / knowledge-base

Wiki.js

Modern, powerful open-source wiki built on Node.js with a beautiful interface and extensive integrations

AGPL-3.0 Wiki.js GitHub stars Wiki.js latest release Wiki.js last commit Website ↗

Overview

Wiki.js is a modern open-source wiki platform built on Node.js that provides a Confluence-level experience without the licensing costs. Its clean interface supports Markdown, Visual (WYSIWYG), and raw HTML editing, making it accessible to both technical and non-technical team members.

With 25K+ GitHub stars, Wiki.js is one of the most popular self-hosted knowledge base solutions. Built-in support for 12+ authentication providers (Google, GitHub, Azure AD, LDAP) makes it enterprise-ready out of the box.

Key Features

  • Multiple Editors — Markdown, Visual WYSIWYG, and HTML
  • Powerful Search — Built-in search with optional Elasticsearch
  • Authentication — Google, GitHub, Azure AD, LDAP, SAML, and more
  • Access Control — Granular per-page and per-group permissions
  • Git Sync — Two-way sync with GitHub, GitLab, or any Git repo
  • Multilingual — 40+ languages with per-page language variants

Pricing: Self-Hosted vs Confluence

Users Confluence Wiki.js (self-hosted) Savings
10 users $99/mo (Confluence) $5/mo (VPS) $94/mo
25 users $250/mo (Confluence) $5/mo (VPS) $245/mo
100 users $500/mo (Confluence) $10/mo (VPS) $490/mo
500 users $1,000+/mo (Confluence) $20/mo (VPS) $980+/mo

Pros

  • + Beautiful, modern interface with great UX
  • + Multiple editors — Markdown, Visual, and raw HTML
  • + Extensive search with Elasticsearch support
  • + Built-in authentication with 12+ providers
  • + Multilingual with 40+ languages

Cons

  • - Wiki.js 3.0 has been in development for years
  • - Git sync can be unreliable with large repos
  • - Some features require specific databases (PostgreSQL recommended)
  • - Less customizable than BookStack for non-wiki content

Deployment Options for Wiki.js

🐳

Docker

Self-host with Docker Compose

🚀

Coolify

One-click via Coolify panel

☁️

Elestio

Managed hosting from $9/mo

🫛

PikaPods

Simple managed hosting

Frequently Asked Questions

Wiki.js vs BookStack?
Wiki.js for a modern, feature-rich wiki with authentication providers. BookStack for simpler, book-structured documentation. Wiki.js has more features; BookStack is easier to set up and use.
When is Wiki.js 3.0 coming?
Wiki.js 3.0 has been in active development with a major rewrite. Check the GitHub repository for the latest timeline. Version 2.x is stable for production use.
Can Wiki.js replace Confluence?
For internal documentation, yes. Wiki.js has comparable page editing, search, and access control. Confluence has deeper Jira integration and macro ecosystem.
What database should I use?
PostgreSQL is recommended for production. MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, and MS SQL Server are also supported.

Our Verdict

Wiki.js is a modern open-source wiki platform built on Node.js that provides a Confluence-level experience without the licensing costs. Its clean interface supports Markdown, Visual (WYSIWYG), and raw...

Best for: Teams that want a modern, beautiful wiki with powerful search and authentication

Compare Wiki.js

Wiki.js vs BookStack

Wiki.js for feature-rich wiki needs with multiple editors and SSO. BookStack for simpler, structured documentation with a books/chapters/pages model. Both are excellent — choose based on structure preference.