For years, Atlassian’s Confluence has been the leading choice for both wiki software and knowledge management. You can create pages and blogs, share whiteboards, and even use other tools within it via Smart Link and it still has one of the best content editors in a knowledge management system.
However, teams find Confluence hard to navigate because of its “all-in-your-face” interface. It doesn’t encourage users to keep their knowledge bases in tip-top shape.
Competitors also target niche use cases rather than Atlassian’s general approach. For example, SharePoint is used for intranet bases, and Notion is used for customizability.
In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 Confluence alternatives currently dominating the document management and collaboration market.
Top 10 Confluence Alternatives & Competitors in 2024
Although Confluence took a well-deserved title as an industry standard, some of its drawbacks might leave you wanting to choose an alternative.
Getting the best software for your company is a non-compromising priority. These alternatives offer unique features or approaches that might be just what you need.
1. Google Drive
Google Drive is a widely used storage management platform known for prioritizing user-friendly UI and team collaboration.
Because it can integrate with other Google products, it is a handy place to keep your KB files securely. A free account includes 15GB of storage and version control.
Client portals like Ahsuite support embedding Google Workspace files to help you deliver centralized, always-updated self-service resources for your teams and clients.
Pros:
- Industry-standard, most potential users are familiar with the product.
- The built-in sharing and commenting options are granular and easy to use.
- 15GB is enough for smaller teams and is compatible with client portals for sharing.
- Great version control and real-time collaboration features.
Cons:
- It doesn’t have task organization and advanced content management options.
- Public knowledge sharing is difficult if the only option is sending links.
- Backup and syncing don’t have redundancies that other alternatives have.
- Users need to be constantly online to get the best experience.
Pricing:
- Free (15GB)
- Basic ($1.99, 100GB)
- Premium ($9.99, 2TB)
- AI Premium ($19.99, 2TB with AI)
Ratings:
- Capterra: 4.8 out of 5 (27,428)
2. Coda
Coda shares Confluence’s knowledge management philosophy but integrates task management and collaboration features.
It has a tool that offers the ability to add reactions, buttons, and more to encourage and track team interactions, making it easier to collaborate and share or request files.
This is the best alternative to Confluence if you frequently insert rich content blocks for tables, lists, etc. In short, adding content while keeping sections organized and well-formatted.
Pros:
- You can make a project tracker that supports card, detail, calendar, and table views.
- The table options have more varieties (Wikipedia, top choice, time tracker, etc.)
- The task manager is familiar with traditional dedicated products.
- You only pay for Doc Maker accounts (users who can make and manage docs).
Cons:
- Some integrations (like GitHub and Qualtrics) are only included in higher pricing tiers.
- Performance can be inconsistent, depending on your internet and data volume.
- It might not handle embedded links that well (compared to Confluence).
- Document permission needs to be done manually (no user groups).
Pricing:
- Free (Limited Functionalities)
- Pro ($12/Doc Maker/mo)
- Team ($36/Doc Maker/mo)
- Enterprise (Contact Sales)
Ratings:
- G2: 4.7 out of 5 (450 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6 out of 5 (93 reviews)
3. Quip
If Confluence and Coda can feel sluggish and overwhelming, Quip offers a snappier, more user-friendly alternative centered around simplicity and ease of use.
It removed the left sidebar to focus on the commonly used buttons on top, allowing content-focused collaborative editing, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
The tasks and checklist features are on-spec for their intended purposes. In-line chat, similar to Google Docs, lets you comment on specific content.
At its essence, Quip is an upgraded version of Google Docs rather than a new Confluence, with better collaboration tools, integrations, and features for SMBs.
Pros:
- The clean UI can still be improved with the “Focus Mode” to remove sidebar icons.
- Native integration with Salesforce (from the AppExchange platform).
- You can link other docs for reference to establish a single source of truth.
- Live Apps support async communication methods like polls, countdowns, and more.
- Group chat is available either within the document or the platform.
Cons:
- Inserting elements can be slow, especially for project trackers and spreadsheets.
- Apps and Templates are in the “Help & More” section for some reason.
- You can’t change an existing Project Tracker to another view, like “Kanban,” later on.
- No rich text formatting options, just barebones headings, lists, and code blocks.
- Limited customization, even on Live Apps and content creation tools.
Pricing:
- Starter ($10/user/mo)
- Plus ($25/user/mo)
- Advanced ($100/user/month)
Ratings:
- G2: 4.2 out of 5 (1,097 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4 out of 5 (203 reviews)
4. Notion
At this point, Notion can basically be anything — a document management system, an internal knowledge base, a Kanban board, the best free project management software, etc.
With community-supported templates and customizable UIs connected to databases, this software offers many possibilities. Especially in handling KBs.
As one of the top-notch Confluence alternatives, Notion uniquely offers the Custom AI Block, which lets you add pre-defined instructions to your docs.
For example, if you want to summarize a very long doc to avoid long reading sessions, you can set up a Custom AI block that produces summaries when clicked.
Pros:
- Make the pages interactive with automation buttons ( like one-click summary, etc.)
- Easier to format and organize based on the company’s information/workflow.
- Create or get community-supported templates related to work, projects, and more.
- Supports third-party functionalities by using various integrations.
- Each document has its activity tracker, which is perfect for revisions.
- Managing teams and guests is easier compared to many Confluence rivals.
Cons:
- Performance can suffer when more data is being worked on.
- There needs to be a centralized manner of managing content and automation.
- While customization is excellent, it can provide challenges for scaling later on.
- Users can’t maximize its benefits without proper setup (not plug and play).
- A proper structure is needed to avoid mismatched configurations across users.
Pricing:
- Free
- Plus ($10/user/mo)
- Business ($18/user/mo)
- Enterprise (Contact Sales)
- Optional Notion AI (Additional $8)
Ratings:
- G2: 4.7 out of 5 (5,444 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7 out of 5 (2,181 reviews)
Related: 11 Best Notion Alternatives
5. Guru
Guru is all about features that help teams manage their content workflow. Dedicated settings for collections, cards, tags, and more are to ease out delegation and tracking.
For its price, it provides many well-rounded features – an easily navigable library, a clean and straightforward content editor, and visually appealing analytics.
The AI Training Center has the potential to be a great addition – if you have the time to configure and fine-tune it properly. You can connect it to HRIS systems for easy syncing.
If you want to migrate from Confluence to Guru, you can easily export and import your Confluence files as a new Collection. Heads up, comments are not supported.
Pros:
- The “verify” feature is great for keeping content fresh and accurate.
- The content editor only shows what users would likely use when creating content.
- Combined task assignment and messaging improve contributors’ visibility.
- All collections, cards, and tags settings are isolated for easy delegation.
- Analytics track KPIs that allow decision-makers to see content efficacy.
- “Customer-facing” and “Product Expert” groups are activated by default.
- Supports integration with popular file storage, ticketing, PM, and CRMs.
Cons:
- The tasks feature might be a hit or miss for users who favor traditional PM.
- Users must train, maintain, and fine-tune the AI Training Center to maximize benefits.
- There needs to be an intuitive method of teaching users how to create templates.
- Non-English language support needs to be improved compared to Confluence.
Pricing:
- Free
- All-in-one ($15/user/mo)
- Enterprise (Contact Sales)
Ratings:
- G2: 4.7 out of 5 (1,709 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.8 out of 5 (274)
6. Document360
Most of the best wiki management products focus on content features, but what if it doesn’t fit your team needs? How about branding for client-facing documentation?
Unlike Confluence and other internal knowledge bases, Document360 offers a plethora of functions that let you customize branding options, from domains to appearances.
It is also one of the few Confluence alternatives offering SEO integrations to ensure your clients can easily find your content.
The product is known as a “Knowledge Base Portal” due to its outward focus. But worry not, as internal users also get an HTML-based WYSIWYG editor (what you see is what you get) for view compatibility.
Pros:
- Setting up the client-facing portal is very easy. Setting up categories comes in handy.
- You can fine-tune notifications and audit configurations to follow certain activities.
- Daily system backup, manual backup, and various restore options exist.
- Companies can either opt for shared or private hosting plans based on needs.
- White-label options make the branding more consistent across all content.
- Supports external platforms like Google Tag Manager, Intercom, and custom HTML.
Cons:
- There is no basic spellcheck in the content editor.
- Slash command “/” doesn’t offer many options like Atlassian Confluence.
- The site builder cannot change the website layout (only branding).
- Performance hiccups happen often, even if the data being worked on is small.
- The pricing model makes other tiers available only with annual billing.
- You pay “per project” monthly, regardless of the tier.
Pricing:
- Free
- Standard ($199/mo, $149/mo annual billing)
- Professional ($299/mo annual billing)
- Business (#399/mo annual billing)
- Enterprise ($599/mo annual billing)
Ratings:
- G2: 4.7 out of 5 (404 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7 out of 5 (209 reviews)
7. Nuclino
If you’re a smaller team that just wants to focus on creating and sharing content, Nuclino comes primed and ready to go out of the box.
This product might not be the best if you’re looking for a feature-rich product like Confluence, but it sure tops the ease of use category.
While Confluence doesn’t hide its feature icons, Nuclino keeps everything neat and focused. You navigate your files and insert content blocks like in Notion, but in a more compact view.
In addition, it also utilizes the “@” symbol to make assigning tasks possible (no boards). Nuclino is probably best for a team that needs content done regularly without distraction.
Pros:
- Fast and responsive, with almost no performance hiccups during the testing.
- With a clean user interface, you can focus on the content that you’re working on.
- It offers whiteboards, which a lot of competitors don’t offer.
- Embeddable on client portals that support iframes (like Ahsuite).
Cons:
- You can’t accurately format the images to get the right preview size.
- It sacrifices core features like analytics, calendar syncing, and automation.
- Users can’t categorize their content because no tags or labeling options exist.
- Navigating/managing content is tedious if you have over 20 articles.
Pricing:
- Free
- Standard ($6/user/mo)
- Premium ($12/user/mo)
Ratings:
- G2: 4.7 out of 5 (22 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7 out of 5 (884 reviews)
8. Wiki.js
Open-source is the way to go if you want a free Confluence alternative. But expect a self-hosted setup and limited choices. Wiki.js is the easiest to start with among the open-source Confluence alternatives and competitors.
Confluence users might find the lack of the “/” command jarring at first. To run the wiki software locally, you must also open a Docker Desktop app.
You must also launch the Docker image with “docker compose up -d” every time.
To make the story short, Wiki.js is a breeze to use if you’re familiar with the classic WordPress editor. It is also fast (running locally) and has a robust toolset.
And best of all, it’s free. No monthly subscription is needed.
But first, assess your team’s technical savvy to determine whether the trade-offs and technical hassles would be worth it in the long run.
Pros:
- It’s free – persistence and discipline in updating and backing up are all you need.
- Since it is localized, the performance is almost hiccup-less.
- It was easy to use for a free product on the “content” side.
- Freely available, and the source code can be viewed and modified.
- Supports multiple formats (Markdown, Rich-text WYSIWYG, AsciiDoc, raw HTML).
Cons:
- It needs technical know-how due to its reliance on Docker.
- Users must edit and save pages even when checking off to-do list items.
- There are no templates; you must create your own with CSS and editor.
- Formatting is tedious; there is no “/” command, so you must integrate items manually.
- Permission system and file management could be better
Pricing:
- Free (Opensource)
Ratings:
- G2: 4.2 out of 5 (13 reviews)
9. Helpjuice
Helpjuice doesn’t use the “/” command to access formatting and other editing functions.
Instead, it crammed every formatting icon at the top of the document, unlike best practices. This approach lets you quickly lock into a feature you need, but it can distract some users.
What makes this software great is the automatic 12-hour backup, which is great for managing different projects with varying needs.
Users can enjoy more flexibility in managing their knowledge portal appearance and a better analytics system (internal and external metrics).
Pros:
- You can set the URL and access level within the editor.
- There is a “style template” that can edit the CSS for almost everything.
- It has an SEO-like keyword system to make searching info easier.
- User and category management is intuitive to use.
- Google Apps and SSO (LDAP, SMAL & JWT) authentication are available.
Cons:
- The Article Editor could use a lot of aesthetic and UI improvement.
- Really expensive and only supports 4 users with the $120 Starter Plan.
- Having templates for basic things (not CSS stylesheets) would be a welcome addition.
- You need to re-format your documents if you’re copy-pasting from MS Word.
Pricing:
- Starter ($120/month)
- Run-Up ($200/month)
- Premium Limited ($289/month)
- Unlimited ($659/month)
Ratings:
- G2: 4.5 out of t (48 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7 out of 5 (97 reviews)
10. Zoho Learn
Zoho Learn is a content managing tool that integrates well with other Zoho products. It is Zoho Suite’s wiki to Atlassian’s Confluence.
Known previously as Zoho Wiki, Zoho Learn has balanced essential features with performance. It has the lowest per user per month cost ratio of $1 on the first tier.
This platform works by creating so-called “Spaces” where you can store the articles and manuals for team members and clients to view, share, and edit.
Zoho Learn is free for teams with up to 5 users. It offers 1 GB of storage bandwidth across 3 spaces. Content is shared externally with external URLs.
Pros:
- Free for 5 users, with up to 1GB storage across 3 spaces.
- Affordable pricing, with first-tier plans starting at $1/user/month.
- The analytics dashboard is really helpful for tracking user learning.
- Easy transition if you’re using Google Docs for KMS.
- No-brainer option if you’re already using Zoho Suite products.
Cons:
- Users can only embed videos uploaded on YouTube.
- The side pane can be slow in loading hidden functions (More)
- Custom covers for manuals and articles would be great.
- Templates for the course builder to simplify creating courses with similar structure.
Pricing:
- Free (5 Users)
- Express ($1/user/mo)
- Professional ($3/user/mo)
Ratings:
- G2: 4.2 out of 5 (54 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.88 out of 5 (4 reviews)
Summary
That wraps up the list of top Confluence alternatives in 2024. We hope you feel informed and finally purchase by choosing a Confluence alternative.
The right knowledge management system can vary from one business needs to another. A free plan might be enough for SMBs, but enterprises need collaboration tools.
Ultimately, the best tool is the one that is suitable for your team and allows you to collaborate effectively on projects.
Do you need to deliver regular reports, manage touch-points, and acquire approvals while ensuring that your client’s resources are available as self-service options? A minimalistic and clean client portal like Ahsuite can be a perfect fit for your team. Sign up for a 30-day trial for the Professional Plan.