phpMyFAQ vs XWiki
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted wikis & documentation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
XWiki
Advanced enterprise wiki and application platform
| Feature | phpMyFAQ | XWiki |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 76 · Good | 84 · Excellent |
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | MPL-2.0 | LGPL-2.1 |
| Language | PHP | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 620 | ★ 1,313 |
| First released | 2001 | 2004 |
| Replaces | Zendesk Guide, Confluence | Confluence, Notion |
What are phpMyFAQ and XWiki?
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
XWiki
XWiki is an open-source enterprise wiki and structured collaboration platform written in Java. It goes beyond simple wikis with scripting, custom applications, and structured data within pages.
- Structured data in pages
- App building within the wiki
- Extension marketplace
- LDAP and SSO support
phpMyFAQ vs XWiki: key differences
PhpMyFAQ is written in PHP, while XWiki is built with Java. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for phpMyFAQ versus LGPL-2.1 for XWiki. PhpMyFAQ is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for XWiki. PhpMyFAQ is the more established project (first released 2001), while XWiki arrived in 2004. XWiki has the considerably larger community, at 1,313 GitHub stars versus 620.
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 XWiki if…
- Powerful structured content
- Strong enterprise features
Watch out for
- High memory requirements
- Complex to administer
Frequently asked questions
Is phpMyFAQ or XWiki better?
Neither is universally better. XWiki has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are phpMyFAQ and XWiki free and open-source?
Yes. phpMyFAQ is licensed under MPL-2.0 and XWiki under LGPL-2.1. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run phpMyFAQ and XWiki with Docker?
phpMyFAQ: yes. XWiki: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, phpMyFAQ or XWiki?
phpMyFAQ has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for XWiki. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.