Skip to content
appsgit

Wikis & Knowledge Bases comparison

Outline vs Wiki.js: which should you self-host in 2026?

Pick Outline if you want a fast, Notion-like team knowledge base with real-time editing; pick Wiki.js if you want a classic, fully open-source wiki with Git sync and many auth options.

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.

Wiki.js

requarks/wiki

29k GitHub starsLast commit Oct 5, 2026

Modern, lightweight and powerful wiki app using Git and Markdown.

  • AGPL-3.0
  • Vue
  • Docker
  • Actively maintained
Wiki.js details

Head-to-head

Outline vs Wiki.js, side by side

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

Outline compared with Wiki.js
AspectOutlineWiki.js
LicenseBusiness Source License 1.1 (source available, with a restriction on offering it as a competing service)AGPL-3.0
Language/stackTypeScript (Node.js and React)Node.js with a Vue frontend
DatabasePostgreSQL and Redis; files on local disk or S3-compatible storageWiki.js 2: PostgreSQL (recommended), MySQL, MariaDB, MS SQL Server or SQLite
AuthenticationRequires an auth provider such as Slack, Google, Microsoft, OIDC, or email magic links via SMTPBuilt-in local accounts plus many modules: LDAP, SAML, OAuth2, OIDC, Google, GitHub and more
Standout featuresReal-time collaborative editing, nested collections, Slack integration, APIMarkdown, WYSIWYG and raw HTML editors, Git storage sync, page-level permissions
Release statusStable releases on a regular cadence2.x is the stable line; the 3.0 rewrite is in beta and not recommended for production
GitHub stars40,81829,010
Commits, last 12 months2,031202
Last commitOct 6, 2026Oct 5, 2026
Latest releasev1.10.1Sep 9, 20263.0.0-beta.628Oct 4, 2026
Main languageTypeScriptVue
Official Docker imageYesYes
Repositoryoutline/outlinerequarks/wiki

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

Verdict

Outline gives teams a polished, real-time collaborative editor and Slack-style integrations, but it is licensed under BSL 1.1 and needs PostgreSQL, Redis and an SSO or email login provider. Wiki.js is AGPL-licensed, supports Markdown and visual editors, Git-backed storage and a long list of auth modules, which suits documentation sites and teams that want a traditional wiki.

Best for

Choose Outline for

Product and engineering teams that want a modern, collaborative knowledge base.

Best for

Choose Wiki.js for

Documentation wikis that need Git sync, flexible auth and a permissive self-host story.

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.

Sponsored links: we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. It never affects rankings.

FAQ

Outline vs Wiki.js: FAQ

Still curious? Email info@appsgit.com.

Is Outline open source?

Outline's code is public but licensed under the Business Source License 1.1, which is source available rather than OSI open source. Self-hosting for your own team is allowed.

Can I use Outline without Slack or Google login?

Yes. Outline supports generic OIDC providers and email magic-link sign-in when SMTP is configured, so you can run it with your own identity provider.

Should I install Wiki.js 2 or 3?

Use Wiki.js 2 for production. Version 3 is a beta rewrite, and the project itself marks it as not for production use.

Which is more popular on GitHub, Outline or Wiki.js?

Outline has 40,818 GitHub stars against 29,010 for Wiki.js. Over the last twelve months Outline received 2,031 commits and Wiki.js received 202, so Outline is the more actively developed of the two right now. Stars measure interest, not fit, so weigh them against the differences above.

Keep comparing

Other comparisons

All comparisons