Wikmd 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 | Wikmd | YesWiki |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 78 · Good | 73 · Good |
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 424 | ★ 138 |
| First released | 2020 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Confluence, Notion | Confluence, Notion |
What are Wikmd and YesWiki?
Wikmd
Wikmd is a lightweight, file-based wiki that stores all pages as Markdown files and tracks changes with Git. It offers a clean web interface for editing without a database.
- Markdown file storage
- Git-tracked history
- No database required
- Search across pages
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
Wikmd vs YesWiki: key differences
Wikmd is written in Python, while YesWiki is built with PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for Wikmd versus AGPL-3.0 for YesWiki. Wikmd is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for YesWiki. YesWiki is the more established project (first released 2010), while Wikmd arrived in 2020. Wikmd has the considerably larger community, at 424 GitHub stars versus 138. Wikmd lists first-class Docker deployment; YesWiki does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Wikmd if…
- Easy to back up with Git
- Simple to host
Watch out for
- Smaller feature set
- Basic access control
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 Wikmd or YesWiki better?
Neither is universally better. Wikmd has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Wikmd and YesWiki free and open-source?
Yes. Wikmd is licensed under MIT and YesWiki under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Wikmd and YesWiki with Docker?
Wikmd: yes. YesWiki: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Wikmd or YesWiki?
Wikmd has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for YesWiki. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.