Side by side
BookStack vs Foswiki
Both stand on knowledge management software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1
BookStack is a no-cost, self-hosted option with structured content, search, authentication, and several export formats. Plan for the required server stack and hosting arrangement before choosing it.
Visit BookStack Free plan APILinuxMac+3
Choose Foswiki if you want a free, self-hosted collaboration platform with structured pages, revision history, and flexible permissions. It is best suited to teams comfortable with manual installation and server administration; extension dependencies may also require extra setup.
Visit FoswikiThe facts
| BookStack | Foswiki | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Professional Support Plan: £450 a year | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Maker | BookStack | Not published |
| Website | bookstackapp.com | foswiki.org |
| On knowledge management software | #1 of 37 | #3 of 37 |
BookStack: what it does well
- Free to download and install under the MIT license.
- Includes WYSIWYG and optional Markdown editing.
- Search spans books, chapters, and pages.
- Built-in MFA can be enforced by role.
- Exports to HTML, PDF, text, Markdown, or ZIP.
What to know first
- Requires PHP 8.2 or newer.
- Requires MySQL 8.0 or MariaDB 10.6 or newer.
- Does not support shared PHP hosting.
- Professional support starts at £450 a year.
Foswiki: what it does well
- Free GNU/GPL software with community support.
- Pages support structured data and advanced search.
- Revision history covers pages and attachments.
- Flexible access controls can protect pages.
- Hundreds of extensions support added features and integrations.
What to know first
- Manual installation assumes basic server administration knowledge.
- Installation requires Perl and required Perl modules.
- Extension dependencies may need manual installation.
Alternatives to BookStack Alternatives to Foswiki The whole list