DokuWiki vs TiddlyWiki

DokuWiki is a server-side, PHP-based wiki engine that stores content as flat text files with ACL-based permissions and revision history, built for shared team…

Best for DokuWiki: Teams that need a shared, permissioned wiki with revision history and a large plugin/template ecosystem, run on a PHP server without needing a database.
Best for TiddlyWiki: Individuals who want a fully portable, single-file personal notebook that can be opened in any browser with no server setup, and who want to customize the interface itself via WikiText.

At a Glance

 DokuWikiTiddlyWiki
Primary categoryKnowledge BaseKnowledge Base
RatingNot documentedNot documented
Pricing modelFree / Open Sourceopen-source
Starting priceFreeFree
Free planYesNot documented
Free trialNot documentedNot documented
PlatformsWebWeb
Team collaborationNot documentedNot documented
AI featuresNot documentedNot documented
Public APINot documentedNot documented

Key Differences

Deployment Model

DokuWiki: DokuWiki runs as a server-side PHP application (no database required, but a PHP server is needed).

TiddlyWiki: TiddlyWiki can run as a single self-contained HTML file with no server at all, and optionally as a Node.js app for a client/server setup.

A no-server option removes hosting entirely, which matters for fully portable or offline use cases.

Content Model

DokuWiki: DokuWiki uses a traditional page-based wiki structure with ACL permissions and revision history.

TiddlyWiki: TiddlyWiki organizes content as non-linear, interlinked 'tiddlers' rather than a fixed page hierarchy.

A non-linear note model suits free-form idea capture, while a page-based model suits structured reference documentation.

Multi-User Collaboration

DokuWiki: DokuWiki documents access control lists (ACLs) for managing multi-user read/edit permissions.

TiddlyWiki: TiddlyWiki's own listed cons state that its single-file/local model means there is no built-in real-time multi-user collaboration.

Teams needing simultaneous multi-editor access with permission tiers need a system built for that from the ground up.

Hosting Flexibility

DokuWiki: DokuWiki is documented as self-hosted only, with no official managed hosting plan.

TiddlyWiki: TiddlyWiki offers multiple hosting options: a local file, Node.js/AWS Lambda, or the independently run Tiddlyhost service for hosted accounts.

Having an independent hosted option lowers the barrier for users who don't want to self-host at all.

Customization Approach

DokuWiki: DokuWiki is extended primarily through its large community plugin and template ecosystem.

TiddlyWiki: TiddlyWiki's entire user interface is implemented in editable WikiText, making it fully hackable but requiring users to learn its WikiText scripting system for advanced changes.

Plugin-based extension is generally easier to adopt than rewriting UI components in a custom scripting language.

Feature-by-Feature

Deployment & Hosting

FeatureDokuWikiTiddlyWiki
No database requiredAvailableAvailable
Runs as a single portable file with no serverUnavailableAvailable
Node.js server modeNot documentedAvailable
Command-line toolingNot documentedAvailable

Content Organization

FeatureDokuWikiTiddlyWiki
Non-linear / tiddler-based notesUnavailableAvailable
Simple wiki markup syntaxAvailableAvailable
Fully hackable/editable UINot documentedAvailable
Independent hosted service availableUnavailableAvailable

Collaboration & Extensibility

FeatureDokuWikiTiddlyWiki
Access control lists (multi-user permissions)AvailableNot documented
Revision historyAvailableNot documented
Plugin/template ecosystemAvailableNot documented
Real-time multi-user collaborationNot documentedUnavailable

Pricing Compared

Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.

DokuWiki

Open Source — Free N/A

TiddlyWiki

TiddlyWiki — Free N/A

Pros & Cons

DokuWiki

Pros

  • Completely free and open-source with no licensing costs.
  • No database dependency makes installation, backup, and migration simple.
  • Fine-grained, namespace-based access control beyond what many database-backed wikis offer.
  • Long track record of stability with over two decades of continuous development.

Cons

  • File-based storage can become slower to search at very large page counts compared to database-backed wikis.
  • User interface and editing experience feel dated compared to modern collaborative tools like Notion or Confluence.
  • No official managed hosting or commercial support from the core project.
  • Plugin quality varies since most are community-maintained rather than officially vetted.

TiddlyWiki

Pros

  • Completely free and open source with no subscription or account required
  • Extremely portable since the whole notebook can be a single file
  • Fully offline-capable and private by default
  • Highly customizable through plugins, themes, and macros
  • No vendor lock-in since data is stored in plain, user-owned files

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for WikiText syntax and the tiddler-based mental model
  • Interface feels dated compared to modern note apps like Notion or Obsidian
  • Syncing across multiple devices requires manual setup or third-party tools
  • Mobile experience is less polished than the desktop and browser experience
  • Advanced customization requires familiarity with its filter and macro syntax

Use Cases

Choose DokuWiki: Teams that need a shared, permissioned wiki with revision history and a large plugin/template ecosystem, run on a PHP server without needing a database.
Choose TiddlyWiki: Individuals who want a fully portable, single-file personal notebook that can be opened in any browser with no server setup, and who want to customize the interface itself via WikiText.
Need both: A person might use TiddlyWiki as a personal, single-file notebook for their own quick notes and idea capture, while their team maintains a shared DokuWiki instance with ACL-based permissions for official documentation — the two serve different scales (personal vs. shared) rather than overlapping directly.

DokuWiki

  • Internal IT documentation — Document infrastructure, procedures, and runbooks in a lightweight wiki that is easy to back up alongside server configuration.
  • Small team knowledge base — Give a small organization a searchable, versioned internal knowledge base without standing up a database server.
  • Software project documentation — Host user manuals and technical documentation for a software project with fine-grained edit permissions.

TiddlyWiki

  • Self-hosted developer knowledge base — Developers and technical writers build a file-based, plugin-extensible knowledge base without relying on a hosted service.
  • Non-linear research notes — Researchers use tiddlers, tags, and links to organize complex, interconnected notes and references.
  • Privacy-first personal notebook — Privacy-conscious users keep a fully offline, local-first notebook with no cloud account required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which needs a server to run?

DokuWiki requires a PHP server. TiddlyWiki can run as a single HTML file with no server at all, though it also supports an optional Node.js server mode.

Which is better for a shared team wiki?

DokuWiki documents ACL-based multi-user permissions for shared editing. TiddlyWiki's own cons note it lacks built-in real-time multi-user collaboration due to its single-file/local model.

Which is better for personal note-taking?

TiddlyWiki is described as a non-linear personal notebook built around interlinked tiddlers, whereas DokuWiki uses a more traditional shared, page-based wiki structure.

Are both free?

Yes — DokuWiki is GPL-2.0 licensed and TiddlyWiki is BSD-3-Clause licensed, both free and open source with no pricing plans.

Is there a hosted version of either?

TiddlyWiki has the independently run Tiddlyhost service offering hosted accounts. DokuWiki has no official managed hosting plan documented.

How old are these two projects?

Both trace back to 2004 — DokuWiki's founded_year is documented as 2004, and TiddlyWiki was first released in 2004 by creator Jeremy Ruston.

Read the full DokuWiki review · Read the full TiddlyWiki review