The PBworks Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about PBworks 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.
PBworks
The Insider’s Guide
Hosted team wikis and file sharing for organizations
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among docs and wiki tools, read from PBworks’s own pages.
Made by PBworks, Inc. · checked Nov 12, 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 PBworks’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on PBworks’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 3 of the 69 other docs and wiki tools we grade
PBworks hosts private wikis where teams keep pages, files and documents together, with access for people inside or outside the organization. A free account covers small groups, and paid options are priced per user or as a yearly starter package. The vendor sells wiki, project, legal, agency and education versions.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about PBworks, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Editing needs no code, but wikis, permissions and outside access are set up by you.
- 1
Best for a simple private team wiki
PBworks hosts private team wikis, with a free account for up to 15 people and the dearer plans at $20 per user a month.
- 2
Paid plans start at $20 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $20 per user / month.
- 3
There is a free plan
Free account: up to 15 internal users, 5 external users, 5 wikis and 50 MB of storage, with email support and no time limit.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Private wikis
Teams create private wikis that combine page content, links, embedded images, videos and files.
- 6
Page editing without code
Pages are edited and formatted without learning markup.
- 7
Access for outside users
Access can be granted to people outside the organization, in addition to internal users.
- 8
A 2.0 GPA, above 3 of 69
That is against the other docs and wiki tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of PBworks you could make: wiki and documents. What surrounds it you could not. The 2 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
PBworks at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $20 per user / month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- PBworks, Inc., since 2005
- Category
- Docs & Wikis
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for a simple private team wiki
PBworks hosts private team wikis, with a free account for up to 15 people and the dearer plans at $20 per user a month. The free account holds only 50 MB, the pages read carry a 2020 copyright, and the paid figure has no billing period stated.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | $20 per user a month, close to the category's middle at $18 and under its dearer quarter at $82.50. The page gives no billing period, and Wiki Hub Starter is $1,995 a year for 20 users. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A free account with 15 internal users, 5 external users, 5 wikis and email support, no time limit. The 50 MB of storage is a cap you will reach. |
| Features | C | Private wikis, editing without code, outside users, search and notifications. That covers a basic wiki, with nothing beyond. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. Editing needs no code, but wikis, permissions and outside access are set up by you. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only; the pages read list no apps or integrations, only that content is reachable on computer, smartphone or tablet. |
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 PBworks is for
- Fits if you want a hosted private wiki for a small group and no server
- Works for teams that need to share files with a few outside people
Who it is not for
- Tight if you store files, as the free account holds 50 MB
- Watch out: the pages read are marked 2020 and give $20 per user without a billing period, so check before relying on it
- Skip it if you need integrations, as none are listed
- Pricey if you grow, since Wiki Hub Starter is $1,995 a year for 20 internal users
Good to know
Good for
- Small teams wanting a free private wiki with external guests
- Organizations sharing wikis and files with clients
Worth knowing
- The free account is capped at 50 MB of storage.
- The pages read are marked with a 2020 copyright and the pricing page states the $20 per user figure without a billing period, so re-check before relying on it.
- Separate Hub versions exist for projects, agencies, legal, business and education, and a custom quote is offered.
- The pages read list no desktop or mobile app; the vendor says content is reachable by computer, smartphone or tablet.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$20
A month to start, for each person. There is a free plan too
PBworks has a free plan. Paid plans start at $20 per user / month.
Free
$0
Up to 15 internal users, 5 external users, 5 wikis and 50 MB of storage.
Upgrade
$20
per user / month (billing period not stated)
Per-user upgrade from the free account.
Wiki Hub Starter Package
$1,995
per year for 20 internal users
20 internal users, 100 GB of storage and unlimited wikis.
The free plan
Free account: up to 15 internal users, 5 external users, 5 wikis and 50 MB of storage, with email support and no time limit.
Read from pbworks.com on Nov 12, 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
Hosted team wikis and file sharing for organizations. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: wiki, documents, file sharing.
Private wikis, editing without code, outside users, search and notifications.
- Private wikis
- Teams create private wikis that combine page content, links, embedded images, videos and files.
- Page editing without code
- Pages are edited and formatted without learning markup.
- Access for outside users
- Access can be granted to people outside the organization, in addition to internal users.
- Search and organization
- Content is organized by folder and found through search.
- Notifications
- Automated notifications keep members up to date on changes.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
PBworks is made by PBworks, Inc., and has been around since 2005.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
3/69
Other docs and wiki tools it is graded above
PBworks's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 3 of the 69 other docs and wiki tools we grade, and level with 6.
Its paid plans start at $20 a month for each person, against a middle price of $18.50 for the category: 28 of the 51 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 27 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 docs and wiki tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. PBworks’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 15 of 69
- CFree plan and trialAbove 7 of 69
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 69
- CEase of useAbove 15 of 69
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 69
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 63 docs and wiki tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. PBworks 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
The plain part of PBworks you could make: wiki and documents. What surrounds it you could not. The 2 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 60 of the 69 other docs and wiki tools grade higher. It costs $240 a year.
What you could make
- Wiki and documents: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
What this rests on. PBworks’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
Wikidot, Confluence, Nuclino, BookStack and MediaWiki
The 5 tools PBworks is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Wikidot
Free plan · from $49.90/yr
Hosted wiki sites with free and paid accounts.
- PBworks also covers documents and file sharing.
- 3.0GPA
Confluence
Free plan · from $6.70/mo
Team wiki and docs workspace from Atlassian, tied to Jira.
- Only Confluence lists iOS and Android apps.
- PBworks also covers file sharing.
- Confluence also covers databases, whiteboard and templates.
- 3.0GPA
Nuclino
Free plan · from $6/mo
Lightweight team wiki with docs, boards and whiteboards.
- Only Nuclino lists macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- PBworks also covers file sharing.
- Nuclino also covers whiteboard and kanban boards.
- 2.8GPA
BookStack
Free plan · from £450/yr
Free self-hosted wiki organized into books, chapters and pages.
- BookStack is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- PBworks also covers documents and file sharing.
- BookStack also covers Markdown, templates and diagrams.
- 2.6GPA
MediaWiki
Free
The free wiki software that powers Wikipedia.
- MediaWiki is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- PBworks also covers documents and file sharing.
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 PBworks free?
PBworks has a free plan. Free account: up to 15 internal users, 5 external users, 5 wikis and 50 MB of storage, with email support and no time limit.
How much does PBworks cost?
PBworks lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does PBworks work on?
PBworks is available on Web.
Does PBworks have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. PBworks is listed for Web.
Does PBworks have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. PBworks is listed for Web.
Is PBworks open source?
PBworks is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Who makes PBworks?
PBworks is made by PBworks, Inc. It dates from 2005.
What are the alternatives to PBworks?
The closest alternatives to PBworks in our directory are Wikidot, Confluence, Nuclino, BookStack and MediaWiki.
How does PBworks compare with other docs and wiki tools?
PBworks's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 3 of the 69 other docs and wiki tools we grade, and level with 6.
Is PBworks good value for money?
ToolGPA grades PBworks C for value for money. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4.
Could I make my own version of PBworks?
The plain part of PBworks you could make: wiki and documents. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from PBworks’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from PBworks's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
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 PBworks, Inc. Prices change, so check pbworks.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- PBworks, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/pbworks
- 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, "PBworks: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/pbworks
Know someone choosing between docs and wiki tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/pbworks/guide
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Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what PBworks’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. PBworks is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by PBworks, Inc. Prices and plans change: check pbworks.com before you buy.