Trilium Notes vs Wiki.js
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Trilium Notes
Hierarchical note-taking for building knowledge bases
VS
Wiki.js
Modern and powerful open-source wiki
| Feature | Trilium Notes | Wiki.js |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 99 · Excellent | 98 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Vue |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 37,958 | ★ 28,956 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Notion | Confluence, Notion |
What are Trilium Notes and Wiki.js?
Trilium Notes
Trilium Notes is a hierarchical note-taking application designed for building large personal knowledge bases with rich linking and scripting. It targets power users who want a structured second brain. It is deployed via Docker as a server with desktop and web clients.
- Deep hierarchical note tree
- Note attributes and relations
- Scripting and automation
- Encrypted protected notes
Wiki.js
Wiki.js is a modern, feature-rich wiki engine with multiple editors, authentication options, and storage backends. It targets teams and communities building a structured knowledge base. It is deployed via Docker or Node.js.
- Markdown, WYSIWYG and code editors
- Many authentication providers
- Git and storage sync
- Powerful permissions
Trilium Notes vs Wiki.js: key differences
Trilium Notes is written in TypeScript, while Wiki.js is built with Vue. Trilium Notes is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Wiki.js.
Why pick each one
Choose Trilium Notes if…
- Powerful for big knowledge bases
- Flexible structure
- Scriptable
Watch out for
- Steep learning curve
- Single-user oriented
Choose Wiki.js if…
- Flexible and full-featured
- Many auth options
- Good content management
Watch out for
- Configuration can be involved
- Version 3 rewrite in progress
Frequently asked questions
Is Trilium Notes or Wiki.js better?
Trilium Notes is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Wiki.js if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Trilium Notes and Wiki.js free and open-source?
Yes. Trilium Notes is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Wiki.js under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Trilium Notes and Wiki.js with Docker?
Trilium Notes: yes. Wiki.js: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Trilium Notes or Wiki.js?
Trilium Notes has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Wiki.js. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.