# Best open source wikis and knowledge bases > The best open source wiki is SiYuan, with 46,636 GitHub stars, the AGPL-3.0 license and a Docker image; Outline (source-available) and Wiki.js are strong alternatives. This page also breaks the picks down by team size and use: SiYuan leads for startups, small business and enterprise. The overall ranking weighs GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits across the 27 apps in the wikis & knowledge bases category of the appsgit catalog. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | |---|---| | Question | What is the best open source wiki? | | Picks | 25 | | Top pick | SiYuan (46,636 stars) | | Data as of | Oct 7, 2026 | | Canonical URL | https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-wikis | ## Top picks 10 of the 27 apps in the wikis & knowledge bases category, ranked on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [SiYuan](https://appsgit.com/apps/siyuan) (46,636 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker, AI features): SiYuan has 46,636 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 8,702 commits in the last year; it replaces Notion and Evernote. - [Outline](https://appsgit.com/apps/outline) (40,818 stars, BUSL-1.1, source-available, TypeScript, Docker): Outline has 40,818 GitHub stars, is source-available under the BSL 1.1 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 2,031 commits in the last year; it replaces Notion and Dropbox Paper. - [Wiki.js](https://appsgit.com/apps/wiki-js) (29,010 stars, AGPL-3.0, Vue, Docker): Wiki.js has 29,010 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 202 commits in the last year; it replaces Confluence. - [docmost Community Edition](https://appsgit.com/apps/docmost-community-edition) (21,876 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker): docmost Community Edition has 21,876 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 431 commits in the last year; it replaces Notion and Confluence. - [BookStack](https://appsgit.com/apps/bookstack) (19,075 stars, MIT, PHP, Docker): BookStack has 19,075 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 435 commits in the last year; it replaces Confluence. - [Docs](https://appsgit.com/apps/docs) (16,895 stars, MIT, Python): Docs has 16,895 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license and had 1,059 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Docs and Dropbox Paper. - [TiddlyWiki](https://appsgit.com/apps/tiddlywiki) (8,672 stars, BSD-3-Clause, JavaScript): TiddlyWiki has 8,672 GitHub stars, uses the BSD-3-Clause license and had 400 commits in the last year. - [Dokuwiki](https://appsgit.com/apps/dokuwiki) (4,727 stars, GPL-2.0, PHP): Dokuwiki has 4,727 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-2.0 license and had 440 commits in the last year; it replaces Confluence. - [Atomic Server](https://appsgit.com/apps/atomic-server) (1,613 stars, MIT, TypeScript, Docker): Atomic Server has 1,613 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 1,848 commits in the last year. - [XWiki](https://appsgit.com/apps/xwiki) (1,314 stars, LGPL-2.1, Java, Docker): XWiki has 1,314 GitHub stars, uses the LGPL-2.1 license, ships a Docker image and had 3,247 commits in the last year; it replaces Confluence. ## Best for startups Ranked for startups on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses, project websites and recent commits. - [SiYuan](https://appsgit.com/apps/siyuan) (46,636 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker, AI features): SiYuan has 46,636 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 8,702 commits in the last year; it replaces Notion and Evernote. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [BookStack](https://appsgit.com/apps/bookstack) (19,075 stars, MIT, PHP, Docker): BookStack has 19,075 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 435 commits in the last year; it replaces Confluence. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, a permissive license (MIT), a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Wiki.js](https://appsgit.com/apps/wiki-js) (29,010 stars, AGPL-3.0, Vue, Docker): Wiki.js has 29,010 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 202 commits in the last year; it replaces Confluence. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [docmost Community Edition](https://appsgit.com/apps/docmost-community-edition) (21,876 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker): docmost Community Edition has 21,876 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 431 commits in the last year; it replaces Notion and Confluence. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Outline](https://appsgit.com/apps/outline) (40,818 stars, BUSL-1.1, source-available, TypeScript, Docker): Outline has 40,818 GitHub stars, is source-available under the BSL 1.1 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 2,031 commits in the last year; it replaces Notion and Dropbox Paper. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. ## Best for small business Ranked for small business on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses, project websites, recent commits and deploy guides. - [SiYuan](https://appsgit.com/apps/siyuan) (46,636 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker, AI features): SiYuan has 46,636 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 8,702 commits in the last year; it replaces Notion and Evernote. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Outline](https://appsgit.com/apps/outline) (40,818 stars, BUSL-1.1, source-available, TypeScript, Docker): Outline has 40,818 GitHub stars, is source-available under the BSL 1.1 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 2,031 commits in the last year; it replaces Notion and Dropbox Paper, and appsgit has a step-by-step deploy guide for it. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, a project website, a commit in the last 90 days and an appsgit deploy guide. - [Wiki.js](https://appsgit.com/apps/wiki-js) (29,010 stars, AGPL-3.0, Vue, Docker): Wiki.js has 29,010 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 202 commits in the last year; it replaces Confluence. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [docmost Community Edition](https://appsgit.com/apps/docmost-community-edition) (21,876 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker): docmost Community Edition has 21,876 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 431 commits in the last year; it replaces Notion and Confluence. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [BookStack](https://appsgit.com/apps/bookstack) (19,075 stars, MIT, PHP, Docker): BookStack has 19,075 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 435 commits in the last year; it replaces Confluence. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. ## Best for enterprise Ranked for enterprise on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [SiYuan](https://appsgit.com/apps/siyuan) (46,636 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker, AI features): SiYuan has 46,636 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 8,702 commits in the last year; it replaces Notion and Evernote. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Outline](https://appsgit.com/apps/outline) (40,818 stars, BUSL-1.1, source-available, TypeScript, Docker): Outline has 40,818 GitHub stars, is source-available under the BSL 1.1 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 2,031 commits in the last year; it replaces Notion and Dropbox Paper. For enterprise it also scores on a commit in the last 90 days. - [Wiki.js](https://appsgit.com/apps/wiki-js) (29,010 stars, AGPL-3.0, Vue, Docker): Wiki.js has 29,010 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 202 commits in the last year; it replaces Confluence. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [docmost Community Edition](https://appsgit.com/apps/docmost-community-edition) (21,876 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker): docmost Community Edition has 21,876 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 431 commits in the last year; it replaces Notion and Confluence. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Docs](https://appsgit.com/apps/docs) (16,895 stars, MIT, Python): Docs has 16,895 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license and had 1,059 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Docs and Dropbox Paper. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. ## How this list was made - Candidates: the 27 apps in the wikis & knowledge bases category. Archived projects and projects with no commit in the last two years are left out. - Base score: GitHub stars on a log scale plus commits in the last 12 months (log scale, capped at 1,000). - Bonus points for a published Docker image, an OSI-approved open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - Each "Best for" section re-ranks the same apps with that audience's profile (for example startups add points for permissive licenses, project websites and recent commits; small business for Docker images and deploy guides). - Source-available apps can rank, but they are labelled and never described as open source. ## FAQ ### Is SiYuan free? Yes. SiYuan is open-source software released under the AGPL-3.0 license, so you can self-host it at no cost. You only pay for the server it runs on, and some projects also offer an optional paid cloud plan. ### Which open source wiki is best for a startup? SiYuan ranks first for startups, with 46,636 GitHub stars, the AGPL-3.0 license and a Docker image; BookStack and Wiki.js follow. The startups ranking adds points for Docker images, permissive licenses, project websites and recent commits on top of stars and activity. ### Which open source wiki is best for a small business? SiYuan ranks first for small business, with 46,636 GitHub stars, the AGPL-3.0 license and a Docker image; Outline (source-available) and Wiki.js follow. The small business ranking adds points for Docker images, open-source licenses, project websites, recent commits and deploy guides on top of stars and activity. ### Can I self-host these wikis and knowledge bases with Docker? Yes, 7 of the 10 picks. SiYuan, Outline and Wiki.js publish Docker images, so you can run them on a VPS or home server with Docker Compose. The others install from their own packages or source; follow each project's install guide. ### Are all of these wikis and knowledge bases open source? 9 of the 10 apps on this list are open source; 1 is source-available. Source-available licenses add conditions, such as limits on hosted or commercial use, so read them before you deploy. ## Related questions - [What is the best open source note-taking app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-note-taking-apps) - [What is the best open source database tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-database-tools) - [What is the best open source search engine?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-search-engines) - [What is the best open source budgeting app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-budgeting-software) - [What is the best open source CMS?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-cms) - [What is the best open source team chat app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-team-chat) - [What is the best open source file sharing app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-file-sharing) - [What is the best open source document management system?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-document-management) ## See also - [All wikis & knowledge bases apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/wikis-knowledge) - [All note-taking & editors apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/note-taking) - [All database management apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/database-management) - [Open-source alternatives to Notion](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/notion) - [Open-source alternatives to Evernote](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/evernote) - [Open-source alternatives to Obsidian](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/obsidian) - [Open-source alternatives to Dropbox Paper](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/dropbox-paper) - [Open-source alternatives to Confluence](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/confluence) - [Open-source alternatives to Google Docs](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/google-docs) - [Outline vs Wiki.js](https://appsgit.com/compare/outline-vs-wiki-js) - [Docmost vs Outline](https://appsgit.com/compare/docmost-community-edition-vs-outline) - [BookStack vs Wiki.js](https://appsgit.com/compare/bookstack-vs-wiki-js) - [How to self-host Outline with Docker Compose](https://appsgit.com/guides/outline) --- Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-wikis Source: appsgit (https://appsgit.com), the app store for github. 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