Zettlr 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?
Zettlr
Markdown editor for writers, researchers, and Zettelkasten users
VS
Wiki.js
Modern and powerful open-source wiki
| Feature | Zettlr | Wiki.js |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Vue |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13,354 | ★ 28,727 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Notion, Obsidian | Confluence, Notion |
Why pick each one
Choose Wiki.js if…
- Flexible and full-featured
- Many auth options
- Good content management
Frequently asked questions
Is Zettlr or Wiki.js better?
Neither is universally better. Wiki.js has the larger community, while Zettlr is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Zettlr and Wiki.js free and open-source?
Yes. Zettlr is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Wiki.js under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Zettlr and Wiki.js with Docker?
Zettlr: check the project docs for container support. Wiki.js: yes.