MDwiki vs Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted wikis & documentation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | MDwiki | Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | GPL-3.0 | LGPL-2.1 |
| Language | JavaScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,187 | ★ 300 |
| First released | 2013 | 2002 |
| Replaces | Confluence | Confluence, SharePoint |
What are MDwiki and Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware?
MDwiki
MDwiki is a completely client-side wiki engine that renders a set of Markdown files into a navigable site without any server-side processing or database. Pages are loaded and rendered on demand directly in the browser.
- Pure client-side rendering
- No server logic
- Markdown content
- Themeable layout
Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware
Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware is an open-source platform combining a wiki, CMS, forums, and groupware features in a single application. It is known for having a very large set of built-in features.
- Wiki, CMS, and groupware in one
- Huge built-in feature set
- Forums and trackers
- Granular permissions
MDwiki vs Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware: key differences
MDwiki is written in JavaScript, while Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for MDwiki versus LGPL-2.1 for Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware. MDwiki is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware. Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware is the more established project (first released 2002), while MDwiki arrived in 2013. MDwiki has the considerably larger community, at 3,187 GitHub stars versus 300. Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware lists first-class Docker deployment; MDwiki does not.
Why pick each one
Choose MDwiki if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (3.2k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
Choose Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware if…
- Everything included out of the box
- No add-ons needed for most needs
Watch out for
- Can feel overwhelming
- Interface is dated
Frequently asked questions
Is MDwiki or Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware better?
MDwiki is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are MDwiki and Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware free and open-source?
Yes. MDwiki is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware under LGPL-2.1. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run MDwiki and Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware with Docker?
MDwiki: check the project docs for container support. Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, MDwiki or Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware?
MDwiki has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.