The DokuWiki Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about DokuWiki in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
DokuWiki
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source wiki software that needs no database
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among docs and wiki tools, read from DokuWiki’s own pages.
Made by Andreas Gohr and the DokuWiki Community · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from DokuWiki’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on DokuWiki’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 25 of the 51 other docs and wiki tools we grade
DokuWiki is open-source wiki software that works without a database, which its makers say keeps maintenance, backup and integration simple. Pages are written in its own plain-text syntax, built-in access controls and authentication connectors handle permissions, and hundreds of community plugins extend it. It is free of charge under the GNU General Public License version 2 and is installed on your own web server.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about DokuWiki, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Help is a community forum and a mailing list, so teams needing vendor support should look elsewhere.
- 1
Best for a wiki with no database to run
DokuWiki is free wiki software that stores pages without a database, so backups and upkeep stay simple.
- 2
It is free
DokuWiki has no paid plan at all. DokuWiki is available free of charge under the GNU General Public License version 2. The project asks companies that use it to consider donating.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
No database required
DokuWiki runs without a database server, which the project presents as the reason it is easy for administrators to maintain, back up and integrate.
- 5
Plain-text wiki syntax
Pages are written in a readable formatting syntax that covers headings, links, lists, tables, footnotes and media files, with syntax highlighting for code blocks.
- 6
Access controls and authentication
Built-in access controls and authentication connectors decide who can read or edit, which the project highlights as useful in an enterprise setting.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 25 of 51
That is against the other docs and wiki tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
DokuWiki is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
DokuWiki at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Andreas Gohr and the DokuWiki Community
- Category
- Docs & Wikis
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a wiki with no database to run
DokuWiki is free wiki software that stores pages without a database, so backups and upkeep stay simple. You host it yourself on a web server with PHP, pages are written in its own plain-text syntax that every editor has to learn, everything beyond the basics comes from plugins, and no apps or integrations are listed. Help is a community forum and a mailing list, so teams needing vendor support should look elsewhere.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free of charge under the GNU General Public License version 2, with no paid edition anywhere in sight. The project simply asks companies that use it to consider a donation. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole wiki engine is a free download for your own web server, nothing held back and no cap to hit. There's no paid plan you'll be nudged towards. |
| Features | C | Access controls, sign-in connectors, feeds pulled in from other sites, interwiki links and dozens of languages. Wiki basics, and the listing shows where they stop: pages are typed in DokuWiki's own syntax rather than a visual editor, everything else comes from plugins, and no integrations are listed. |
| Ease of use | D | You install it yourself on a web server with PHP. Having no database to run means one less thing to maintain, but it's still hosting, every editor has to learn the wiki syntax, and help is a community forum and a mailing list. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A browser, served from your own machine, and that's the lot. No phone or desktop apps, no integrations on record, and anything extra arrives as a plugin. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who DokuWiki is for
- Fits if you want a small team wiki without running a database
- Works for internal docs that need access controls at no cost, with someone to host them
Who it is not for
- Skip it if nobody can host a PHP site, though partners do offer hosting with it pre-installed
- Not for you if your writers expect a visual editor, since pages use DokuWiki's own syntax
- Too light for teams who need vendor support, as help comes from a forum and a mailing list
- Watch out: the bundled web server is for 64-bit Windows and meant for one person's use only
- Skip it if you want apps or integrations, as none are listed and extras come as plugins
Good to know
Good for
- Small teams that want a wiki without running a database
- Administrators who value simple backups and maintenance
- Internal documentation that needs access controls at no cost
Worth knowing
- You install and host it yourself on a web server with PHP. The download page points to partners that offer hosting with DokuWiki pre-installed.
- Pages are written in DokuWiki's own formatting syntax, which editors have to learn.
- The bundled web server option is for 64-bit Windows and is recommended for personal, single-user use only.
- Help comes from the community forum and mailing list; the author asks not to be contacted directly for support.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
DokuWiki is free to use.
The project simply asks companies that use it to consider a donation.
DokuWiki
$0
The full wiki engine, downloaded and installed on your own web server. The download can be customized with languages and popular plugins.
The free plan
DokuWiki is available free of charge under the GNU General Public License version 2. The project asks companies that use it to consider donating.
Read from download.dokuwiki.org on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Open-source wiki software that needs no database. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, wiki.
Access controls, sign-in connectors, feeds pulled in from other sites, interwiki links and dozens of languages.
- No database required
- DokuWiki runs without a database server, which the project presents as the reason it is easy for administrators to maintain, back up and integrate.
- Plain-text wiki syntax
- Pages are written in a readable formatting syntax that covers headings, links, lists, tables, footnotes and media files, with syntax highlighting for code blocks.
- Access controls and authentication
- Built-in access controls and authentication connectors decide who can read or edit, which the project highlights as useful in an enterprise setting.
- Plugins
- Hundreds of plugins are available. The download page can bundle popular ones, such as CAPTCHA, Upgrade, Wrap, Translation and Gallery, into the package.
- Feeds and interwiki links
- A page can pull in data from external RSS and Atom feeds, and interwiki links give quick links to pages on other wikis such as Wikipedia.
- Languages and a portable option
- The interface comes in dozens of languages, and an optional download adds a minimal Windows web server with PHP for trying DokuWiki or running it from a USB stick.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
DokuWiki is made by Andreas Gohr and the DokuWiki Community.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
25/51
Other docs and wiki tools it is graded above
DokuWiki's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 25 of the 51 other docs and wiki tools we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 39 of 51) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
DokuWiki has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 52 docs and wiki tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. DokuWiki’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 38 of 51
- AFree plan and trialAbove 39 of 51
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 51
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 51
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 51
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 47 docs and wiki tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. DokuWiki is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
DokuWiki is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could make
- Wiki: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: roles and permissions.
What this rests on. DokuWiki’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
MediaWiki, BookStack, Wiki.js, XWiki and Docmost
The 5 tools DokuWiki is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
MediaWiki
Free
- 2.8GPA
BookStack
Free plan · from £450/yr
Free self-hosted wiki organized into books, chapters and pages.
- BookStack also covers Markdown, templates and diagrams.
- 2.8GPA
Wiki.js
Free
Open-source wiki software built on Node.js with Git sync.
- Wiki.js also covers Markdown and diagrams.
- 3.4GPA
XWiki
Free plan · from €309/yr
Open-source enterprise wiki with structured data and apps.
- XWiki also covers databases.
- 2.6GPA
Docmost
Free plan · from $6/mo
Open-source collaborative wiki you deploy on your own servers.
- Docmost also covers AI search, databases and diagrams.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is DokuWiki free?
Yes. DokuWiki is free to use.
How much does DokuWiki cost?
DokuWiki lists one plan. DokuWiki: $0.
What platforms does DokuWiki work on?
DokuWiki is available on Web.
Does DokuWiki have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. DokuWiki is listed for Web.
Does DokuWiki have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. DokuWiki is listed for Web.
Is DokuWiki open source?
Yes. DokuWiki is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes DokuWiki?
DokuWiki is made by Andreas Gohr and the DokuWiki Community.
What are the alternatives to DokuWiki?
The closest alternatives to DokuWiki in our directory are MediaWiki, BookStack, Wiki.js, XWiki and Docmost.
How does DokuWiki compare with other docs and wiki tools?
DokuWiki's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 25 of the 51 other docs and wiki tools we grade, and level with 8.
Is DokuWiki good value for money?
ToolGPA grades DokuWiki A for value for money. DokuWiki has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of DokuWiki?
DokuWiki is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: roles and permissions.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from DokuWiki’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from DokuWiki's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-10.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Andreas Gohr and the DokuWiki Community. Prices change, so check dokuwiki.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- DokuWiki, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/dokuwiki
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "DokuWiki: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/dokuwiki
Know someone choosing between docs and wiki tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/dokuwiki/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
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- Docs & Wikis Insider's GuideEvery one of the 52 docs and wiki tools we grade, compared
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- Google Docs Insider's GuideBrowser-based word processor, free with a Google Account3.4 GPA
- ONLYOFFICE Insider's GuideOpen-source office suite for documents, sheets, slides and PDFs3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what DokuWiki’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. DokuWiki is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Andreas Gohr and the DokuWiki Community. Prices and plans change: check dokuwiki.org before you buy.