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Wiki.js: Open Source alternative to Confluence in 2026

Wiki.js is a modern wiki with a Markdown or visual editor, Git-style version control and support for multiple authentication sources, as a flexible alternative to Confluence.

Alternative to Confluence
License AGPL-3.029k starsWebsite GitHub Repository

Audit Snapshot

View notes →

  • License — Matches GitHub

  • GitHub — Active

  • Latest release — 3.0.0-beta.661 · today

  • Docker Compose — Partial

  • Production — Not production-tested by AltFreeStack

Wiki.js vs. Confluence

Pros

  • Highly configurable authentication and storage

Things to consider

  • Fewer enterprise integrations than Confluence

Quick Docker installation guide

Copy this docker-compose.yml, adjust the example passwords and run docker compose up -d on your server. See the full step-by-step guide →

💡 Official SaaS or self-hosted with AltFreeStack?

  • On the official cloud: a recurring monthly fee and usage limits on Confluence.
  • On your own VPS: 100% free software on your own server, with no artificial row, project or user limits.
docker-compose.yml
version: "3.9"
services:
  wikijs:
    image: requarks/wiki:2.5
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    environment:
      - DB_TYPE=postgres
      - DB_HOST=wikijs-db
      - DB_USER=wikijs
      - DB_PASS=wikijs
      - DB_NAME=wikijs
    depends_on:
      - wikijs-db
  wikijs-db:
    image: postgres:15-alpine
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_USER=wikijs
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=change-me-postgres-password # REQUIRED: generate a random secret before first run
      - POSTGRES_DB=wikijs
    volumes:
      - wikijs_pg_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
volumes:
  wikijs_pg_data:

🚀 Deploy in 1 command

Recommended for beginners

Copy this single command and paste it into your freshly created VPS's console (Vultr, DigitalOcean...). It downloads the script, prints it to your screen so you can see exactly what it's about to do (never a blind direct pipe), and only then installs Docker if needed, writes the files with secrets already generated, and starts everything — no nano, no pasting code blocks.

curl -sSL ".../api/deploy?stack=wikijs" -o deploy.sh && cat deploy.sh && bash deploy.sh
See what this script does →

This docker-compose corresponds to an actively maintained project — last commit today.

This docker-compose not working for you? Report it on GitHub →

Technical profile

License
AGPL-3.0
Category
Productivity
Replaces
Confluence
Tech stack
Node.jsVue.jsPostgreSQL

Under the hood

Database

PostgreSQL

Language

Node.js

Platforms

Web

Key features

  • Markdown and visual editor
  • Git-style change history
  • Multiple authentication providers

Frequently asked questions

What is Wiki.js?

A modern open source wiki (AGPL-3.0 license) with a Markdown or visual editor, Git-style change history, and support for multiple authentication providers — built as a flexible alternative to Confluence.

What do you need to deploy Wiki.js?

The official `requarks/wiki` image plus a PostgreSQL database — this page's docker-compose includes both services ready to copy.

Does Wiki.js have as many integrations as Confluence?

Not as many enterprise-catalog integrations, but it's very configurable in authentication and storage — for teams who want a self-hosted wiki without depending on the Atlassian ecosystem, it covers the main use case.

💾 Backups in 3 steps (Day 2)

As long as the ./data folder (the "volume" mapped into the container) exists on your server, your data survives any restart or container update — that's the only thing you need to back up.

1. Create a compressed backup on the server

tar -czvf backup-$(date +%F).tar.gz ./data

2. Download it to your computer

From your computer's terminal (not your server's):

scp root@YOUR_IP:~/app/backup-*.tar.gz ./

3. Restore in case of emergency

tar -xzvf backup-file.tar.gz
🌐 Connect your domain with free SSL

Step 1 — Set up the DNS

In your domain registrar's dashboard (Cloudflare, Namecheap, GoDaddy...), create a record:

Type
A
Name/Host
@ (root domain) or a subdomain, e.g. app
Content/Value
Your server's public IP

Wait 5 to 15 minutes for the record to propagate across the internet.

Step 2 — Automatic reverse proxy with Caddy

One single file, no Nginx config or manual certificates — Caddy issues and renews Let's Encrypt HTTPS on its own.

Create a file called Caddyfile:

yourdomain.com {
    reverse_proxy localhost:3000
}

Start Caddy with this command (pulls the image and runs it in the background):

docker run -d -p 80:80 -p 443:443 --name caddy --restart always -v $PWD/Caddyfile:/etc/caddy/Caddyfile -v caddy_data:/data caddy