BookStack
BookStack: A capable open-source wiki for teams that want control over hosting and structure. Ranked #31 of 136 in Knowledge Base Software by our editors (6.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for self-hosters wanting a straightforward wiki KB.
At a glance
- Editor score6.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forSelf-hosters wanting a straightforward wiki KB
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Publishing audienceBoth
- Founded2015
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Books, chapters, and pages create clear hierarchical organization
- WYSIWYG, Markdown, search, revisions, and diagrams support daily documentation
- OIDC, SAML 2.0, LDAP, permissions, and a REST API support controlled access
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosting requires an organization to manage its own infrastructure
- No official hosted pricing tiers are provided
- Content analytics are not included
Our verdict on BookStack
BookStack is free, open-source wiki software for teams and organizations that need to organize and publish information on their own hosting infrastructure. Its books, chapters, and pages model suits structured documentation, internal knowledge bases, procedures, and publicly visible information. The web application runs with MySQL or MariaDB, while its multilingual interface and configurable public visibility support varied audiences.
The product’s core strength is its focused documentation workflow. Full-text search spans books, chapters, and pages; authors can use either a WYSIWYG editor or an optional Markdown editor with live preview; and page revisions preserve revision history. Built-in diagrams.net integration adds diagram creation, while the REST API supports automation and imports. These capabilities make BookStack a practical fit for teams that want a straightforward wiki with more structure than a collection of unorganized pages.
Access control and authentication extend its fit for organizational use. Role-based permissions can govern content, and OIDC, SAML 2.0, and LDAP support connect authentication to existing identity systems. The trade-off is operational: BookStack is self-hosted, so the organization must provide and maintain the hosting infrastructure rather than selecting an official hosted tier. Teams seeking a free, controllable wiki with hierarchical content should consider BookStack; teams that depend on content analytics or prefer a managed service should choose an alternative.
Your product? Our editors can test BookStack in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
BookStack pricing
BookStack fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Publishing audience | Both |
| Article limit | Not verified |
| Custom domain | Yes |
| SSO support | Yes |
| Version history | Yes |
| Content analytics | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Compliance & security | SSO/SAML, 2FA |
| Support | Email, Tickets, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 4 integrations: diagrams.net, OIDC, SAML 2.0, LDAP |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | bookstackapp.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
BookStack integrations
BookStack lists 4 integrations on its own site.
- diagrams.net
- OIDC
- SAML 2.0
- LDAP
Alternatives to BookStack
- ConfluenceA mature knowledge workspace with structured content, permissions, search, and Atlassian integrations.9.4
- BlueSpiceA broad, open-source knowledge base with workflows, permissions, analytics, and self-hosting.9.2
- GuruA governed internal knowledge hub with cited AI answers and verification workflows.9.0
See all BookStack alternatives →
Also Ranked In
BookStack is ranked in 4 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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