phpMyFAQ vs Wikmd
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted wikis & documentation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | phpMyFAQ | Wikmd |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 76 · Good | 78 · Good |
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | MPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 620 | ★ 424 |
| First released | 2001 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Zendesk Guide, Confluence | Confluence, Notion |
What are phpMyFAQ and Wikmd?
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
Wikmd
Wikmd is a lightweight, file-based wiki that stores all pages as Markdown files and tracks changes with Git. It offers a clean web interface for editing without a database.
- Markdown file storage
- Git-tracked history
- No database required
- Search across pages
phpMyFAQ vs Wikmd: key differences
PhpMyFAQ is written in PHP, while Wikmd is built with Python. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for phpMyFAQ versus MIT for Wikmd. Wikmd is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for phpMyFAQ. PhpMyFAQ is the more established project (first released 2001), while Wikmd arrived in 2020.
Why pick each one
Choose phpMyFAQ if…
- Purpose-built for help centers
- Mature and stable
Watch out for
- Interface feels dated
- Less suited to free-form wikis
Choose Wikmd if…
- Easy to back up with Git
- Simple to host
Watch out for
- Smaller feature set
- Basic access control
Frequently asked questions
Is phpMyFAQ or Wikmd better?
Neither is universally better. phpMyFAQ has the larger community, while Wikmd is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are phpMyFAQ and Wikmd free and open-source?
Yes. phpMyFAQ is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Wikmd under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run phpMyFAQ and Wikmd with Docker?
phpMyFAQ: yes. Wikmd: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, phpMyFAQ or Wikmd?
Wikmd has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for phpMyFAQ. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.