PmWiki

PmWiki is a self-hosted wiki-based content-management system for building and maintaining websites collaboratively. It suits administrators who want page-level permissions and control over storage and customization without a database. Its free, flexible setup is compelling if you can manage a PHP-based installation; readers seeking a hosted service should look elsewhere.

Overview

People can add and edit pages through the web without knowing HTML or CSS, making it practical for groups that need to maintain shared site content. PmWiki stores pages as flat files rather than requiring a database, and its features page says it can handle thousands of pages. That keeps the underlying setup straightforward, though it still requires self-hosting and PHP.

Key features

Permissions and authentication

Administrators can protect an entire site, a page group, or an individual page, with separate controls for reading, editing, and uploading. The ability to work with existing .htaccess, LDAP, and MySQL password databases is useful for teams that want wiki access tied to established credentials.

History and customization

Page histories include restore links, and administrators can configure how many days and revisions to retain. Skins, HTML templates, markup customization, and Cookbook recipes provide ways to adapt the site's appearance and behavior, but put more responsibility for tailoring the experience on the administrator.

Release 2.7.5 fixed a vulnerability affecting versions 2.0.0 through 2.7.4 on Windows servers under certain editing and read-protection conditions. Version 2.7.6 limits visibility of edit IP addresses in page histories to administrators and includes updates for recent PHP versions.

Pricing

PmWiki: free. The software is open source and self-hosted, and requires PHP. It is the natural fit for anyone prepared to run and maintain their own installation; there is no paid software tier to unlock features.

Paid technical support and development: €60, paid once, billed at 60€ / hour, with an invoice provided. This is an optional route for users who want paid help or development rather than relying only on community resources.

Free support resources include a FAQ, troubleshooting guide, error-message descriptions, and mailing lists.

Platforms

PmWiki is listed for Linux, macOS, Windows, web, and self-hosted use. It supports custom domains and API access. Self-hosting makes it suitable for administrators who want control over deployment, but it is not a turnkey hosted wiki.

Who it's for

Choose PmWiki if you need a free collaborative website with configurable page histories, detailed access controls, and flat-file storage, and you are comfortable managing a PHP-based server. It is a weaker fit if you want a managed product or prefer not to take responsibility for installation and administration.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Granular reading, editing, and upload permissions can be applied at site, group, or page level.
• Pros: Flat-file storage avoids a database requirement, while configurable histories offer restore links and control over retention.
• Pros: Free support materials and optional hourly technical help give administrators more than one support path.
• Cons: Self-hosting and the PHP requirement put setup and operation in the user's hands.
• Cons: Customizing behavior through markup and recipes, or appearance through skins and templates, favors administrators willing to configure the site.

Alternatives

For a free self-hosted wiki, MediaWiki is another option, with GNU GPL version 2 or later licensing. MoinMoin is also free software under the GNU GPL. Consider TWiki if you want free Perl CGI source code, templates, and documentation, bearing in mind its web-server administration requirement.

Wiki.js is a free, AGPL-licensed self-hosted alternative. BookStack offers a free self-hosted option under the MIT license. For a hosted option with a defined free-user cap, Confluence has a free plan for 10 users, with 2 GB of file storage and three active whiteboards per user.

Slab may suit a small team wanting a hosted free plan: it covers up to 10 users, unlimited posts and topics, and 90 days of version history, with 10 MB attachments. BlueSpice is a free, self-hosted alternative.

Browse more options in Wiki Software and Knowledge base software.

Verdict

PmWiki is a strong choice for administrators who want a free, self-hosted collaborative site with granular permissions and configurable page histories.