BookStack vs Wiki.js
Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
BookStack
A free, MIT-licensed self-hosted wiki that organises pages into shelves, books and chapters.
Wiki.js
An open-source, Node.js-based wiki with Markdown, Git sync and many login options.
The short answer
BookStack suits teams that want a simple self-hosted wiki that non-technical staff understand immediately, thanks to its shelves, books and chapters. Wiki.js suits technical teams that want flexible authentication, search back ends and Git-backed storage. The biggest difference is structure versus modularity: BookStack enforces a clear hierarchy, Wiki.js offers folders, tags and many pluggable modules.
BookStack or Wiki.js: our take
Both are free, open-source wikis you run on your own server, with no paid edition, so support comes from documentation and the community rather than a vendor. BookStack borrows from a library: shelves hold books, books hold chapters, and chapters hold pages. It is easy for anyone to grasp, though the rigid hierarchy does not suit loosely linked notes. Wiki.js organises pages in folders with tags and offers Markdown with live preview, a visual editor and raw HTML editing. BookStack has a WYSIWYG editor with optional Markdown and live preview, plus revisions, page templates and draw.io diagrams.
Wiki.js is built around modules, more than 50 of them. Authentication can come from LDAP, SAML, OAuth providers, Okta, Auth0 and others; search can use the built-in engine, PostgreSQL, Elasticsearch or Algolia; and content can sync to GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket or Azure DevOps for backup. BookStack covers the common login needs with LDAP, SAML and OpenID Connect and has role-based permissions down to individual items.
The technical footprint differs. BookStack runs on PHP with MySQL or MariaDB and fits on modest hardware; it is MIT licensed, with source on Codeberg, and is maintained largely by one lead developer. Wiki.js runs on Node.js, supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server and SQLite, and is AGPL-3.0 licensed. Its stable branch is 2.x, while a 3.0 rewrite has been in development for years, which some users see as a risk. Neither matches SaaS wikis for real-time co-editing.
Pick BookStack if you want an internal wiki that office staff will use without training. Pick Wiki.js if your team is technical, wants docs mirrored to Git, or needs a specific identity provider or search engine.
Which should you pick?
Choose BookStack if…
- Teams that want a simple, free wiki they host themselves
- Fully free and MIT licensed
- Easy-to-grasp shelves, books and chapters structure
Choose Wiki.js if…
- Technical teams that want a free self-hosted wiki with Git-backed storage
- Many authentication and search modules
- Content can sync to Git for backup
About each app
What is BookStack?
BookStack is an open-source wiki you install on your own server. Its structure borrows from a library: shelves contain books, books contain chapters, and chapters contain pages, which makes it easy for non-technical staff to understand where things go. Pages are written in a WYSIWYG editor, or in Markdown with live preview if you prefer, and there are revisions, page templates, full-text search, diagrams via draw.io, and role-based permissions down to individual items. Logins can come from LDAP, SAML or OpenID Connect, and the interface is translated into many languages. It runs on PHP with a MySQL or MariaDB database, so it fits on modest hardware and many hosting setups. The project is maintained largely by one lead developer with community help, and it is entirely free with no paid edition, although that means support comes from docs and the community rather than a vendor. It is a common choice for IT teams, homelabs and organisations replacing an internal Confluence.
What is Wiki.js?
Wiki.js is a self-hosted wiki built on Node.js, released under the AGPL-v3 licence. It offers several editors, including Markdown with live preview, a visual editor and raw HTML, and organises pages in folders with tags. Its module system is the main attraction: authentication can come from LDAP, SAML, OAuth providers, Okta, Auth0 and others; search can use the built-in engine, PostgreSQL, Elasticsearch or Algolia; and content can be synced to Git repositories or cloud storage for backup. Group-based permissions, multilingual content and theming are included. It runs on most platforms and works with PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server or SQLite. The 2.x branch is the stable release, while a long-promised 3.0 rewrite has been in development for years, which some users see as a risk for the project's pace. It is completely free with no paid edition, so support comes from the community and documentation.
Side by side
| Attribute | BookStack | Wiki.js |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Open source | Open source |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Self-hosted | Web, Self-hosted |
| Best for | Teams that want a simple, free wiki they host themselves | Technical teams that want a free self-hosted wiki with Git-backed storage |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verified facts, compared
Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.
BookStack vs Wiki.js pricing
Platforms
| Platform | BookStack | Wiki.js |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| Self-hosted |
BookStack facts
4 of 4 verified- License
- MIT
- Checked Oct 25, 2026bookstackapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “BookStack is fully free and open, MIT licensed.”
- Self-hosting
- Yes, self-hosted only
- Checked Oct 25, 2026bookstackapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “BookStack is a simple, self-hosted, easy-to-use platform for organising and storing information.”
- Source code
- Hosted on Codeberg
- Checked Oct 25, 2026bookstackapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “The source is available on Codeberg.”
- Markdown editor
- Optional, with live preview
- Checked Oct 25, 2026bookstackapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Optional Markdown Editor If you prefer to write in Markdown then BookStack supports you.”
Wiki.js facts
5 of 5 verified- License
- AGPL-3.0
- Checked Oct 25, 2026js.wiki(opens source in a new tab)
- “Released under the AGPL-v3 license.”
- Databases
- PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MS SQL Server, SQLite
- Checked Oct 25, 2026js.wiki(opens source in a new tab)
- “Install anywhere Works on virtually any platform and is compatible with either PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MS SQL Server or SQLite!”
- Git sync
- GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps
- Checked Oct 25, 2026js.wiki(opens source in a new tab)
- “Git Synchronize or backup your content to popular Git services such as GitHub, GitLab, BitBucket, Azure DevOps and more.”
- Integrations
- 50+ modules
- Checked Oct 25, 2026js.wiki(opens source in a new tab)
- “100M+ Downloads 29000+ Stars on GitHub View on GitHub Over 50+ integrations”
- GitHub license
- AGPL-3.0
- Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “License: AGPL-3.0 (GNU Affero General Public License v3.0).”
Pros and cons of BookStack
- Fully free and MIT licensed
- Easy-to-grasp shelves, books and chapters structure
- WYSIWYG and Markdown editors
- LDAP, SAML and OIDC login
- Self-hosted only; you run updates and backups
- Rigid hierarchy doesn't suit loosely linked notes
- No vendor support contract
Pros and cons of Wiki.js
- Many authentication and search modules
- Content can sync to Git for backup
- Markdown, visual and HTML editors
- Major 3.0 release has been slow to arrive
- Self-hosted only, with no paid support
- Real-time co-editing is limited compared with SaaS wikis
Other apps to consider
BookStack vs Wiki.js: common questions
Is BookStack better than Wiki.js?
BookStack suits teams that want a simple self-hosted wiki that non-technical staff understand immediately, thanks to its shelves, books and chapters. Wiki.js suits technical teams that want flexible authentication, search back ends and Git-backed storage. The biggest difference is structure versus modularity: BookStack enforces a clear hierarchy, Wiki.js offers folders, tags and many pluggable modules.
Is BookStack free?
Yes. BookStack is free, open-source software you can host yourself.
Is Wiki.js free?
Yes. Wiki.js is free, open-source software you can host yourself.
Is BookStack or Wiki.js open source?
Both are open source.
Which platforms do BookStack and Wiki.js support?
BookStack: Web and Self-hosted. Wiki.js: Web and Self-hosted.