XWiki vs YesWiki
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted wikis & documentation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
XWiki
Advanced enterprise wiki and application platform
VS
YesWiki
Easy-to-use wiki for collaborative websites
| Feature | XWiki | YesWiki |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 73 · Good |
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | LGPL-2.1 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,313 | ★ 138 |
| First released | 2004 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Confluence, Notion | Confluence, Notion |
What are XWiki and YesWiki?
XWiki
XWiki is an open-source enterprise wiki and structured collaboration platform written in Java. It goes beyond simple wikis with scripting, custom applications, and structured data within pages.
- Structured data in pages
- App building within the wiki
- Extension marketplace
- LDAP and SSO support
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
XWiki vs YesWiki: key differences
XWiki is written in Java, while YesWiki is built with PHP. Licensing differs — LGPL-2.1 for XWiki versus AGPL-3.0 for YesWiki. YesWiki is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for XWiki. XWiki is the more established project (first released 2004), while YesWiki arrived in 2010. XWiki has the considerably larger community, at 1,313 GitHub stars versus 138. XWiki lists first-class Docker deployment; YesWiki does not.
Why pick each one
Choose XWiki if…
- Powerful structured content
- Strong enterprise features
Watch out for
- High memory requirements
- Complex to administer
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 XWiki or YesWiki better?
Neither is universally better. XWiki 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 XWiki and YesWiki free and open-source?
Yes. XWiki is licensed under LGPL-2.1 and YesWiki under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run XWiki and YesWiki with Docker?
XWiki: yes. YesWiki: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, XWiki or YesWiki?
YesWiki has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for XWiki. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.