Antora vs phpMyFAQ
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted wikis & documentation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Antora | phpMyFAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | MPL-2.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 800 | ★ 620 |
| First released | 2017 | 2001 |
| Replaces | Confluence, GitBook | Zendesk Guide, Confluence |
What are Antora and phpMyFAQ?
Antora
Antora is an open-source documentation site generator built for technical content authored in AsciiDoc. It assembles documentation from multiple versioned Git repositories into a single coherent site.
- AsciiDoc-based documentation
- Multi-repository aggregation
- Built-in versioning
- Static output
phpMyFAQ
phpMyFAQ is a mature open-source FAQ and knowledge base system written in PHP. It supports multi-language content, categories, user permissions, and a powerful search for building help centers.
- FAQ-focused knowledge base
- Multi-language content
- Granular permissions
- Powerful search
Antora vs phpMyFAQ: key differences
Antora is written in JavaScript, while phpMyFAQ is built with PHP. PhpMyFAQ is the more established project (first released 2001), while Antora arrived in 2017. PhpMyFAQ lists first-class Docker deployment; Antora does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Antora if…
- Great for large multi-repo docs
- Strong versioning support
Watch out for
- AsciiDoc learning curve
- No web-based editing
Choose phpMyFAQ if…
- Purpose-built for help centers
- Mature and stable
Watch out for
- Interface feels dated
- Less suited to free-form wikis
Frequently asked questions
Is Antora or phpMyFAQ better?
Neither is universally better. Antora has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Antora and phpMyFAQ free and open-source?
Yes. Antora is licensed under MPL-2.0 and phpMyFAQ under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Antora and phpMyFAQ with Docker?
Antora: check the project docs for container support. phpMyFAQ: yes.