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Best open-source Knowledge base software

The best self-hosted knowledge-base split in the c17.io catalog is BookStack for a MIT-shaped shelf of books (the published GitBook / Guru / Document360 manual), Wiki.js when you want that AGPL-3.0 git-backed wiki — /compare/bookstack-vs-wikijs, Docmost when the job is a Notion-shaped team wiki rather than a help-center shelf — /compare/docmost-vs-bookstack, and Alexandrie when you want that MIT offline-first knowledge base. This is not Guru's every Slack-answer SKU or Document360's every AI-search SKU. A Notion canvas stays on /best/docs-wiki. API docs stay on /best/api-documentation.

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Ranked picks

  1. 1

    BookStack

    Shelves / books / pages — the c17 GitBook / Guru / Document360 manual. /compare/bookstack-vs-wikijs.

    When to pick it: A help-center shelf humans will actually browse.

  2. 2

    Wiki.js

    AGPL-3.0 git-backed wiki (requarks/wiki). /compare/bookstack-vs-wikijs.

    When to pick it: Markdown in git if BookStack is not the shape.

    29,095 stars in the catalog

  3. 3

    Docmost

    Open-source Notion-style wiki already on /best/docs-wiki. /compare/docmost-vs-bookstack.

    When to pick it: A team space, not a public help center.

  4. 4

    Alexandrie

    MIT self-hosted knowledge base already on /best/docs-wiki.

    When to pick it: An offline-first wiki if Wiki.js is not the product.

How they compare

ToolLicenseSelf-hostBest for
BookStackNot listedEasyA help-center shelf humans will actually browse.
Wiki.jsGNU Affero General Public License v3.0MediumMarkdown in git if BookStack is not the shape.
DocmostNot listedEasyA team space, not a public help center.
AlexandrieMITEasyAn offline-first wiki if Wiki.js is not the product.

Related pages

FAQ

BookStack or Wiki.js?
BookStack if you want the published Guru / Document360 shelf. Wiki.js if you want git-backed markdown — /compare/bookstack-vs-wikijs.
Guru or Document360?
Same published manual — /replace/guru and /replace/document360.
Is this Notion?
A team wiki stays on /replace/notion and /best/docs-wiki. This page is the help-center shelf.
Are these free?
Wiki.js is AGPL-3.0. Alexandrie is MIT. BookStack and Docmost are the catalog wiki rows. You pay hosting. Template users never pay c17.
How do I deploy it?
Open /stacks/docmost-wiki. Persist Postgres. Import one space.

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