phpMyFAQ vs YesWiki
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted wikis & documentation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | phpMyFAQ | YesWiki |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 76 · Good | 73 · Good |
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | MPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 620 | ★ 138 |
| First released | 2001 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Zendesk Guide, Confluence | Confluence, Notion |
What are phpMyFAQ and YesWiki?
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
YesWiki
YesWiki is a free wiki engine focused on simplicity and collaboration, allowing groups to build databases of structured information through form-based content. It is widely used by associations and community networks.
- Form-based databases
- Bazar content system
- Simple page editing
- Theme customization
phpMyFAQ vs YesWiki: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for phpMyFAQ versus AGPL-3.0 for YesWiki. YesWiki is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for phpMyFAQ. PhpMyFAQ is the more established project (first released 2001), while YesWiki arrived in 2010. PhpMyFAQ has the considerably larger community, at 620 GitHub stars versus 138. PhpMyFAQ lists first-class Docker deployment; YesWiki does not.
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 YesWiki if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is phpMyFAQ or YesWiki better?
Neither is universally better. phpMyFAQ has the larger community, while YesWiki is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are phpMyFAQ and YesWiki free and open-source?
Yes. phpMyFAQ is licensed under MPL-2.0 and YesWiki under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run phpMyFAQ and YesWiki with Docker?
phpMyFAQ: yes. YesWiki: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, phpMyFAQ or YesWiki?
YesWiki 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.