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Head-to-head · Content Collaboration Software

Confluence vs HackMD

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Confluence #2 in Content Collaboration Software 9.3/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 1 of 5 features Visit Confluence
HackMD #7 in Content Collaboration Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit HackMD

Confluence leads on 0 checks, HackMD on 1, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreConfluence · 9.3/10
  • Lowest starting priceHackMD · $5/seat/mo
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Confluence

Confluence scores higher on our rubric for content collaboration software: 9.3 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #7.

HackMD is cheaper to start at $5/user/mo against $5.42/user/mo.

Confluence is the better fit for teams organizing collaborative knowledge and projects. HackMD is the better fit for markdown-first teams collaborating on technical documents.

  • Confluence fits best

    Teams organizing collaborative knowledge and projects

  • HackMD fits best

    Markdown-first teams collaborating on technical documents

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Confluence 9.3/10 Visit ↗ HackMD 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.6
Ranking #2 in Content Collaboration Software #7 in Content Collaboration Software
Best for Teams organizing collaborative knowledge and projects Markdown-first teams collaborating on technical documents
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $5.42/user/mo $5/seat/mo (best)
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 7 days —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile Cloud, Self-hosted, Browser extension
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, Chrome extension
Support Community, Docs, Phone · 24/7 Email, Community, Docs
Compliance SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI DSS SOC 2, SSO/SAML
Integrations 9 integrations 8 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Confluence 1/5 · HackMD 1/5
Real-time editing Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Approval workflows Not checked yet Not checked yet
Role permissions Not checked yet Not checked yet
Version history ✓ (best) Not checked yet
External guest access Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Storage limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Structured pages, spaces, templates, and version history support shared documentation.
  • Integrates with Jira, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, and other tools.
  • Free and paid plans span small teams through enterprise deployments.
  • Multiple cursors, inline comments, and mentions support live collaboration.
  • GitHub integration includes synchronization and pushes.
  • Prime adds full-text search, PDF export, and unlimited versions.
Cons
  • Free includes 2 GB of file storage; expanded storage starts with Standard.
  • Cloud SSO requires Atlassian Guard Standard unless included with Enterprise.
  • Enterprise pricing is contact-sales and annual-only.
  • Free limits workspaces to 3 teammates, 3 invitees, and 20 GitHub pushes monthly.
  • Offline editing is partial rather than a full offline mode.
  • Prime's listed $5 per-seat monthly price requires annual billing.
Our verdict

Confluence gives teams a shared workspace for creating, organizing, finding, and sharing knowledge. It suits groups that need documentation, knowledge bases, and project information in collaborative pages and structured spaces, rather than…

Read the review →

HackMD is a web-based collaborative Markdown workspace for teams, developers, researchers, educators, and open-source communities. It combines shared notes and documentation with real-time editing, comments, revision recovery, templates,…

Read the review →
  1. ConfluenceContent Collaboration Software 9.3Free plan · 7-day trial
  2. HackMDContent Collaboration Software 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Confluence — where it wins

    • Structured pages, spaces, templates, and version history support shared documentation.
    • Integrates with Jira, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, and other tools.
    • Free and paid plans span small teams through enterprise deployments.

    Where it doesn't

    • Free includes 2 GB of file storage; expanded storage starts with Standard.
    • Cloud SSO requires Atlassian Guard Standard unless included with Enterprise.
    • Enterprise pricing is contact-sales and annual-only.

  • HackMD — where it wins

    • Multiple cursors, inline comments, and mentions support live collaboration.
    • GitHub integration includes synchronization and pushes.
    • Prime adds full-text search, PDF export, and unlimited versions.

    Where it doesn't

    • Free limits workspaces to 3 teammates, 3 invitees, and 20 GitHub pushes monthly.
    • Offline editing is partial rather than a full offline mode.
    • Prime's listed $5 per-seat monthly price requires annual billing.

More comparisons

All content collaboration software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update