Overview

Docmost brings shared documentation onto infrastructure a customer controls, with its documentation stating that data stays on those servers. That makes it a strong fit for teams with data-residency or air-gap requirements, but self-hosting also means operating the deployment yourself; Docker Compose with PostgreSQL and Redis is the recommended route.

It goes beyond prose: Bases support table and Kanban views, and the editor includes diagram tools. For teams already moving from Confluence, Notion, HTML, or Markdown, import support offers a route to bring existing material into the workspace.

Key features

Real-time editing includes live cursors and instant synchronization, so multiple people can work on pages together. Spaces, full-text search, page history, and restore provide useful foundations for shared knowledge and recovery. Version history is supported, though teams should distinguish that capability from the specific page-history and restore features included in Community.

Bases add properties, filters, sorts, and formulas to table and Kanban views. This makes Docmost useful when teams need to track structured information alongside narrative documentation. It is less compelling as a substitute for a dedicated system built around workflows beyond the wiki.

Draw.io, Excalidraw, and Mermaid are available in the editor; integrations or embeds also include Figma, Airtable, Google Drive, Google Sheets, Miro, Loom, and Typeform. AI chat, search, and writing assistance, along with MCP, can use cloud models or local LLMs such as Ollama. That flexibility gives teams a choice of model setup, including local processing, without making AI the product’s only reason to choose it.

Authentication options include email and password, LDAP, SAML 2.0, OIDC, and TOTP MFA, but several require enterprise licensing. The REST API supports creating, reading, updating, and deleting pages, spaces, and other resources, and is also an enterprise feature. Teams should check these licensing requirements before treating Docmost as an API-connected or SSO-ready fit. On-premises deployment can support ITAR, GDPR data sovereignty, and FedRAMP requirements, including air-gapped networks.

Pricing

Docmost uses a freemium model with a free plan and a free trial. Community is the open-source edition and includes real-time collaboration, spaces, full-text search, page history and restore, and public sharing. It is the natural starting point for teams that can work within those capabilities and manage their own deployment.

Business costs 6.00 USD per month, billed $6/seat/mo (annually), with a minimum of 10 seats. The minimum makes this a poor fit for a small team that wants paid features for only a few users; at least 10 seats are required even if fewer people need access. Business includes email support.

Enterprise has custom pricing and adds SCIM, audit logs, SIEM, security controls, page verification and review workflow, and priority support. It is the relevant tier for organizations needing those controls, but API access and several authentication options also require enterprise licensing. Those requirements can make the practical cost of an integration or identity setup more than the Business entry price suggests.

Platforms

Docmost is available as a web product, through self-hosting, and via an API. Self-hosting is the defining deployment advantage, but the recommended Docker Compose setup depends on PostgreSQL and Redis, so teams should be comfortable maintaining that stack.

Who it's for

Choose Docmost if your team wants collaborative documentation on its own infrastructure, values structured Bases and embedded diagrams, or wants AI features that can use local models. It is also worth considering when migrating from one of its supported import sources.

Look elsewhere if you need enterprise authentication or API access but cannot take on enterprise licensing, or if a 10-seat minimum makes Business uneconomical. Community provides a capable open-source foundation, but the paid plan’s minimum and licensing boundaries matter for teams planning integrations or advanced identity controls.

Pros and cons

Pro: Self-hosting keeps deployment on customer infrastructure, supporting teams with data-residency and air-gap needs.
Pro: Real-time editing, Bases, and built-in diagram tools put collaborative writing and structured content in one workspace.
Pro: AI features can use cloud models or local LLMs such as Ollama, giving teams flexibility over model choice.
Con: Business requires at least 10 seats, limiting its appeal to smaller teams that need paid capabilities.
Con: The REST API and several authentication options require enterprise licensing, so integrations and identity needs may push buyers beyond Business.
Con: Self-hosting uses a Docker Compose setup with PostgreSQL and Redis, which adds infrastructure to operate.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Wiki Software, AI Knowledge Base Software, and Knowledge base software.

BookStack is a free, MIT-licensed self-hosted option with an API, suitable when a no-cost self-hosted choice is the priority.
MediaWiki is free software under GNU GPL version 2 or later, with self-hosted and API options for teams seeking a free wiki platform.
MoinMoin is a free, GPL-licensed alternative for teams looking for self-hosted wiki software.
Wiki.js offers a free-forever, AGPL-licensed self-hosted option.
Foswiki is another free alternative.
BlueSpice offers a free distribution with business features including a visual editor, performance search, templates, and PDF export.
Confluence may suit teams wanting a free plan for up to 10 users, with 2 GB file storage and three active whiteboards per user.
PmWiki is free, open-source, self-hosted software that requires PHP.

Verdict

Docmost is a strong choice for teams that want self-hosted collaborative documentation with structured Bases, diagram tools, and the option to use local AI models. Its main advantage is keeping a flexible knowledge workspace on infrastructure the customer controls. Choose another platform if the 10-seat Business minimum does not fit, or if enterprise licensing for API and authentication capabilities is outside your budget.

	Docmost	Gainsight Customer Communities
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	Yes	No
Paid from	—	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	api, self-hosted, Web	api, Web
Free plan	Yes	No
Publishing audience	both	—
SSO support	Yes	—
Version history	Yes	—

Docmost vs Gainsight Customer Communities

Docmost

Gainsight Customer Communities