PmWiki vs Read the Docs
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted wikis & documentation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
PmWiki
Wiki-based system for collaborative creation and maintenance of
VS
Read the Docs
Documentation hosting platform you can self-host
| Feature | PmWiki | Read the Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | — | ★ 8,373 |
| First released | 2020 | 2010 |
| Replaces | — | GitBook, Confluence |
Why pick each one
Choose PmWiki if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in PHP
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Choose Read the Docs if…
- Great for versioned project docs
- Automated build pipeline
Frequently asked questions
Is PmWiki or Read the Docs better?
Neither is universally better. Read the Docs has the larger community, while PmWiki is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are PmWiki and Read the Docs free and open-source?
Yes. PmWiki is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Read the Docs under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run PmWiki and Read the Docs with Docker?
PmWiki: check the project docs for container support. Read the Docs: yes.