Wiki.js vs Zettlr
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Wiki.js
Modern and powerful open-source wiki
VS
Zettlr
Markdown editor for writers, researchers, and Zettelkasten users
| Feature | Wiki.js | Zettlr |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 98 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Vue | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 28,956 | ★ 13,577 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Confluence, Notion | Notion, Obsidian |
What are Wiki.js and Zettlr?
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
Zettlr
Zettlr is a desktop Markdown editor designed for academic writing and Zettelkasten note management, with citation support and internal linking. While desktop-first, it works on plain Markdown folders that can sync between machines.
- Zettelkasten linking
- Citation manager support
- Multi-format export
- Folder-based projects
Wiki.js vs Zettlr: key differences
Wiki.js is written in Vue, while Zettlr is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Wiki.js versus GPL-3.0 for Zettlr. Zettlr is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Wiki.js. Wiki.js has the considerably larger community, at 28,956 GitHub stars versus 13,577. Wiki.js lists first-class Docker deployment; Zettlr does not.
Why pick each one
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
Choose Zettlr if…
- Strong academic features
- Plain Markdown files
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- No native sync server
Frequently asked questions
Is Wiki.js or Zettlr better?
Neither is universally better. Wiki.js has the larger community, while Zettlr is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Wiki.js and Zettlr free and open-source?
Yes. Wiki.js is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Zettlr under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Wiki.js and Zettlr with Docker?
Wiki.js: yes. Zettlr: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Wiki.js or Zettlr?
Zettlr 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.