SHSelfHostIndex

AFFiNE vs Wiki.js

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
AFFiNE Workspace for docs, whiteboards and databases VS Wiki.js Modern and powerful open-source wiki
FeatureAFFiNEWiki.js
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupUnder-an-hour setup
Health score100 · Excellent98 · Excellent
CategoryNotes & Knowledge BaseNotes & Knowledge Base
LicenseMITAGPL-3.0
LanguageTypeScriptVue
Setup difficultyMediumMedium
Min. RAM1,024 MB512 MB
Deploymentdockerdocker, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 72,916★ 28,956
First released20222017
ReplacesNotion, MiroConfluence, Notion

What are AFFiNE and Wiki.js?

AFFiNE

AFFiNE is an open-source knowledge base that combines documents, whiteboards, and databases in a single workspace. It targets users wanting an all-in-one alternative to Notion and Miro. It is deployed via Docker.

  • Docs, whiteboard and database in one
  • Local-first data model
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Edgeless canvas mode

Read the full AFFiNE guide →

Wiki.js

Wiki.js is a modern, feature-rich wiki engine with multiple editors, authentication options, and storage backends. It targets teams and communities building a structured knowledge base. It is deployed via Docker or Node.js.

  • Markdown, WYSIWYG and code editors
  • Many authentication providers
  • Git and storage sync
  • Powerful permissions

Read the full Wiki.js guide →

AFFiNE vs Wiki.js: key differences

AFFiNE is written in TypeScript, while Wiki.js is built with Vue. Licensing differs — MIT for AFFiNE versus AGPL-3.0 for Wiki.js. Wiki.js is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for AFFiNE. Wiki.js is the more established project (first released 2017), while AFFiNE arrived in 2022. AFFiNE has the considerably larger community, at 72,916 GitHub stars versus 28,956.

Why pick each one

Choose AFFiNE if…

  • Versatile workspace
  • Local-first design
  • Modern UI

Watch out for

  • Self-hosting still maturing
  • Resource intensive
AFFiNE details

Choose Wiki.js if…

  • Flexible and full-featured
  • Many auth options
  • Good content management

Watch out for

  • Configuration can be involved
  • Version 3 rewrite in progress
Wiki.js details

Frequently asked questions

Is AFFiNE or Wiki.js better?

Neither is universally better. AFFiNE has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are AFFiNE and Wiki.js free and open-source?

Yes. AFFiNE is licensed under MIT and Wiki.js under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run AFFiNE and Wiki.js with Docker?

AFFiNE: yes. Wiki.js: yes.

Which is lighter on resources, AFFiNE or Wiki.js?

Wiki.js has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for AFFiNE. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.

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