# Docmost vs Outline

> 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.

## 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 Docmost: Teams replacing Confluence that want an AGPL wiki with spaces and diagrams
- Best for Outline: Teams that want a mature, polished knowledge base with Slack and SSO integrations

## Key differences

| Aspect | Docmost | Outline |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 core; enterprise features under a separate Docmost Enterprise license | Business Source License 1.1 (source available) |
| Language/stack | TypeScript (NestJS backend, React frontend) | TypeScript (Node.js backend, React frontend) |
| Database | PostgreSQL and Redis | PostgreSQL and Redis; files on local disk or S3-compatible storage |
| Standout features | Spaces, groups and permissions, comments, page history, Draw.io, Excalidraw and Mermaid diagrams | Real-time editing, nested collections, Slack integration, public sharing, API |
| Authentication | Built-in email and password accounts; SSO is part of the enterprise features | Requires Slack, Google, Microsoft, OIDC or email magic-link sign-in |

## GitHub numbers

| Metric | Docmost | Outline |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 21,876 | 40,818 |
| Forks | 1,603 | 3,605 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 431 | 2,031 |
| Last commit | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Latest release | v0.96.0 | v1.10.1 |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | BSL 1.1 |
| License type | Open source | Source-available |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| Repository | https://github.com/docmost/docmost | https://github.com/outline/outline |

App pages: [Docmost](https://appsgit.com/apps/docmost-community-edition), [Outline](https://appsgit.com/apps/outline)

## FAQ

### 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.

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Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/compare/docmost-community-edition-vs-outline
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