Realms Wiki vs Zim
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?
Realms Wiki
Git-backed wiki that stores pages as Markdown
VS
Zim
A desktop wiki and personal knowledge base
| Feature | Realms Wiki | Zim |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 824 | ★ 2,194 |
| First released | 2014 | 2008 |
| Replaces | Confluence | OneNote, Notion |
Why pick each one
Choose Realms Wiki if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Realms Wiki or Zim better?
Zim is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Realms Wiki if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Realms Wiki and Zim free and open-source?
Yes. Realms Wiki is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Zim under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Realms Wiki and Zim with Docker?
Realms Wiki: yes. Zim: check the project docs for container support.