Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware 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 | Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware | YesWiki |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | LGPL-2.1 | 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 | ★ 300 | ★ 138 |
| First released | 2002 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Confluence, SharePoint | Confluence, Notion |
What are Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware and YesWiki?
Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware
Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware is an open-source platform combining a wiki, CMS, forums, and groupware features in a single application. It is known for having a very large set of built-in features.
- Wiki, CMS, and groupware in one
- Huge built-in feature set
- Forums and trackers
- Granular permissions
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
Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware vs YesWiki: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — LGPL-2.1 for Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware versus AGPL-3.0 for YesWiki. YesWiki is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware. Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware is the more established project (first released 2002), while YesWiki arrived in 2010. Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware has the considerably larger community, at 300 GitHub stars versus 138. Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware lists first-class Docker deployment; YesWiki does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware if…
- Everything included out of the box
- No add-ons needed for most needs
Watch out for
- Can feel overwhelming
- Interface is dated
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 Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware or YesWiki better?
Neither is universally better. Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware 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 Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware and YesWiki free and open-source?
Yes. Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware is licensed under LGPL-2.1 and YesWiki under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware and YesWiki with Docker?
Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware: yes. YesWiki: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware or YesWiki?
YesWiki has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.