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Wikis & Knowledge Bases comparison

Docmost vs Outline: which should you self-host in 2026?

Pick Docmost if you want a Confluence-style wiki under a true open-source license; pick Outline if you want a more mature, Notion-like team knowledge base and accept BSL 1.1.

Both are open source and run on your own server. Below: a side-by-side of license, stack and features, live GitHub activity, and our verdict on who should pick which.

Docmost

docmost/docmost

22k GitHub starsLast commit Oct 5, 2026

Collaborative wiki and documentation software (alternative to Confluence, Notion).

  • AGPL-3.0
  • TypeScript
  • Docker
  • Actively maintained
Docmost details

Head-to-head

Docmost vs Outline, side by side

Hand-checked differences first, then live numbers from GitHub, refreshed with every catalog update.

Docmost compared with Outline
AspectDocmostOutline
LicenseAGPL-3.0 core; enterprise features under a separate Docmost Enterprise licenseBusiness Source License 1.1 (source available)
Language/stackTypeScript (NestJS backend, React frontend)TypeScript (Node.js backend, React frontend)
DatabasePostgreSQL and RedisPostgreSQL and Redis; files on local disk or S3-compatible storage
Standout featuresSpaces, groups and permissions, comments, page history, Draw.io, Excalidraw and Mermaid diagramsReal-time editing, nested collections, Slack integration, public sharing, API
AuthenticationBuilt-in email and password accounts; SSO is part of the enterprise featuresRequires Slack, Google, Microsoft, OIDC or email magic-link sign-in
GitHub stars21,87640,818
Commits, last 12 months4312,031
Last commitOct 5, 2026Oct 6, 2026
Latest releasev0.96.0Sep 8, 2026v1.10.1Sep 9, 2026
Main languageTypeScriptTypeScript
Official Docker imageYesYes
Repositorydocmost/docmostoutline/outline

Swipe the table sideways to see both apps. GitHub figures come from the public API. Highlighted values are the higher of the two.

Verdict

Docmost is a newer AGPL-licensed wiki with spaces, permissions, comments and built-in diagrams, aimed at teams replacing Confluence. Outline is more mature, with a fast editor and many integrations, but it is source available under BSL 1.1 and needs an external auth provider or SMTP for sign-in.

Best for

Choose Docmost for

Teams replacing Confluence that want an AGPL wiki with spaces and diagrams.

Best for

Choose Outline for

Teams that want a mature, polished knowledge base with Slack and SSO integrations.

Deploy either in minutes

Not sure yet? Spin up a small VPS or a managed instance, try both for a week, and keep the one that fits.

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FAQ

Docmost vs Outline: FAQ

Still curious? Email info@appsgit.com.

Is Docmost a Confluence alternative?

Yes. Docmost organizes documentation into spaces with permissions, comments and page history, which maps closely to how teams use Confluence.

Which has the more permissive license?

Docmost's core is AGPL-3.0, an OSI-approved open-source license. Outline uses BSL 1.1, which is source available and restricts offering it as a competing hosted service.

Do both need Redis?

Yes. Both Docmost and Outline run on PostgreSQL with Redis, so a typical Docker Compose setup has three containers.

Which is more popular on GitHub, Docmost or Outline?

Outline has 40,818 GitHub stars against 21,876 for Docmost. Over the last twelve months Docmost received 431 commits and Outline received 2,031, so Outline is the more actively developed of the two right now. Stars measure interest, not fit, so weigh them against the differences above.

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