MoinMoin 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 | MoinMoin | phpMyFAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 73 · Good | 76 · Good |
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Python | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 373 | ★ 620 |
| First released | 2000 | 2001 |
| Replaces | Confluence | Zendesk Guide, Confluence |
What are MoinMoin and phpMyFAQ?
MoinMoin
MoinMoin is an open-source wiki engine written in Python with a focus on being easy to use yet extensible. It stores pages as files and supports access control, themes, and a plugin macro system.
- File-based page storage
- Access control lists
- Macro and plugin system
- Theming support
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
MoinMoin vs phpMyFAQ: key differences
MoinMoin is written in Python, while phpMyFAQ is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for MoinMoin versus MPL-2.0 for phpMyFAQ. MoinMoin is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for phpMyFAQ. PhpMyFAQ lists first-class Docker deployment; MoinMoin does not.
Why pick each one
Choose MoinMoin if…
- No database to manage
- Long-running, stable project
Watch out for
- Smaller modern community
- Dated interface in older versions
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 MoinMoin or phpMyFAQ better?
Neither is universally better. phpMyFAQ has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are MoinMoin and phpMyFAQ free and open-source?
Yes. MoinMoin is licensed under GPL-2.0 and phpMyFAQ under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run MoinMoin and phpMyFAQ with Docker?
MoinMoin: check the project docs for container support. phpMyFAQ: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, MoinMoin or phpMyFAQ?
MoinMoin has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for phpMyFAQ. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.