4 Open Source Alternatives To Atlassian Confluence

BookStack is an open-source, self-hosted platform designed to make organizing and storing information simple and efficient. Built with PHP and Laravel, it provides a user-friendly interface for creating and managing documentation or wiki content. BookStack is ideal for teams and individuals looking for a straightforward solution to document management without the complexities and costs associated with other platforms.

• Free & Open Source: BookStack is fully free and open-source, licensed under MIT. The source code is available on GitHub.
• Easy, Simple Interface: Features a WYSIWYG editor and organizes content into Books, Chapters, and Pages.
• Searchable and Connected: Fully searchable content with the ability to link to specific paragraphs.
• Configurable: Customizable options for name, logo, registration, and visibility settings.
• Simple Requirements: Built on PHP and Laravel, using MySQL for data storage. Can run on minimal server resources.
• Built-In diagrams.net: Integrated diagrams.net drawing capability for creating diagrams within documentation.
• Multi-Lingual: Supports multiple languages, thanks to community contributions.
• Optional Markdown Editor: Provides a markdown editor with live-preview functionality.
• Integrated Authentication: Supports various authentication methods including social providers and enterprise solutions like Okta, SAML2, and LDAP.
• Powerful Features: Includes cross-book sorting, page revisions, image management, and a robust role and permission system.
• Multi-Factor Authentication: MFA options like TOTP and static backup codes are built-in and can be enforced per role.
• Dark & Light Modes: Offers both light and dark themes, configurable at the user level.

BookStack is a versatile and powerful tool that simplifies the process of creating and managing documentation, making it accessible for users of all technical levels.

Outline is a powerful, open-source knowledge base designed to help teams organize their information efficiently. With its beautiful interface and blazing fast performance, Outline ensures that your team can collaborate in real-time without any hassle. It supports markdown, making document editing intuitive and enjoyable. Outline integrates seamlessly with tools like Slack, Figma, and Loom, ensuring that your workflow remains uninterrupted. Plus, it offers robust security features and customizable options to fit your brand's needs.

• Intuitive editing experience: A fast editor with markdown support, slash commands, and interactive embeds.
• Real-time collaboration: Collaborate on documents in real-time with comments and threads to keep conversations organized.
• Powerful search and question answering: Instantly search across your workspace and get direct AI answers to your questions.
• Slack integration: Search, share, and ask questions from your documents without leaving chat. Get notifications when documents are updated.
• Public sharing: Share documents publicly or privately with your team, using your own brand colors, logos, and domain.
• Blazing fast: Documents load instantly, search is speedy, and navigating the UI is snappy.
• Dark mode: A beautiful dark mode that's easy on the eyes for night owls.
• Security & permissions: Manage read & write permissions, user groups, guest users, and public sharing.
• 20+ Integrations: Integrate with tools like Slack, Figma, Loom, and more. Open API available for custom integrations.
• Multilingual support: Includes translations for 17 languages, including French, Spanish, German, Korean, and Chinese.
• Open source: Source code is public, and development is done in the open. Host on your own infrastructure if preferred.
• Customizable: Use custom domains and white label with your own brand and colors.

Outline is continuously updated with new features and fixes. Its public changelog keeps you informed about the latest developments. With Outline, your team can stay organized, collaborate effectively, and keep all knowledge easily accessible.

DokuWiki is an open-source wiki software that is simple to use and highly versatile. Unlike many other wiki platforms, DokuWiki does not require a database, making it easy to install and maintain. It is favored for its clean and readable syntax, which ensures that both novice and advanced users can create and manage content effortlessly. With built-in access controls and authentication connectors, DokuWiki is particularly well-suited for enterprise environments. Additionally, its extensive plugin ecosystem, contributed by a vibrant community, allows for a wide range of use cases beyond traditional wiki functions. Here are some of the key features of DokuWiki:

• Easy Installation: No database required, making setup straightforward.
• Readable Syntax: Clean and simple syntax that is easy for users to learn and use.
• Access Controls: Built-in access controls for managing user permissions and content security.
• Authentication Connectors: Supports various authentication methods for secure access.
• Extensive Plugins: A wide range of plugins available to extend functionality.
• Customization: Flexible customization options through templates and plugins, with support for developing custom extensions.
• Community Support: Active community providing support, translations, and contributions.

DokuWiki is a popular choice for those seeking a reliable and flexible wiki solution. Its ease of use, combined with powerful features and community support, makes it an excellent tool for collaborative documentation and knowledge sharing.

Docmost is an open-source platform designed to make team knowledge management and collaboration seamless. It serves as a powerful alternative to proprietary solutions like Confluence and Notion, providing a robust environment for creating, organizing, and sharing documentation, wikis, and knowledge bases. With real-time collaborative editing, advanced permissions, and support for diagrams and rich content, Docmost empowers teams to work together efficiently and securely. Its flexible deployment options, including self-hosting, make it suitable for organizations of all sizes and industries.

Key product features include:

• Real-time collaborative editor: Multiple users can edit pages simultaneously, with support for rich text, diagrams, tables, math (LaTeX), embeds, and more.
• Diagrams: Integrated support for Mermaid, Draw.io, and Excalidraw allows users to create and embed diagrams directly within documentation.
• Public sharing: Pages can be shared publicly via links, making it easy to distribute knowledge outside your organization when needed.
• Permissions system: Granular control over who can view, edit, or manage content ensures information is secure and only accessible to the right people.
• Spaces: Organize content into dedicated spaces for different teams, projects, or departments, providing structure and focus.
• Groups: Manage user groups and assign unified permissions, simplifying access control across your organization.
• Comment system: Inline commenting enables contextual discussions and feedback directly on documentation pages.
• Page history: Track changes over time and revert to previous versions, ensuring accountability and easy recovery from mistakes.
• Search: Fast, full-text search powered by Postgres helps users quickly find the information they need across all pages.
• Attachments: Effortlessly attach images and files, with support for both S3 and local storage drivers.
• Import / Export: Import and export pages in Markdown and HTML, and migrate content from Confluence and Notion, ensuring no vendor lock-in.
• Translations: Available in over 10 languages, making it accessible to global teams.

Docmost is designed with security and flexibility in mind, offering both cloud and self-hosted options. Its open-source nature means organizations can customize and extend the platform to fit their unique needs. With a comprehensive feature set and a focus on collaboration, Docmost is an excellent choice for teams seeking a modern, open, and secure knowledge management solution.