Best Confluence Alternatives for Software Documentation (2025)

From the same company that brought you Jira and Jira Product Discovery comes Confluence.

Atlassian envisioned Confluence as a team collaboration platform for creating, sharing, and harnessing knowledge across teams. With features such as Pages, Whiteboards, Spaces, and Databases, it makes life easier for companies that manage documents around the globe.

But what if Confluence doesn't have all the features you need to manage your documents and collaborate in real-time? Perhaps it's buggy, slow, and with less-than-ideal integrations. Join us on the hunt for a great Confluence alternative for your team. 👇

The best Confluence alternatives to try in 2025 are:

1. ✨ Featurebase - Overall best Confluence alternative for integrated product management and knowledge base
2. Document360 - Best for structured knowledge bases with analytics
3. Notion - Best for flexible documentation and team collaboration
4. BookStack - Best for self-hosted structured documentation
5. Nuclino - Best for lightweight, real-time collaborative documentation
6. Guru - Best for AI-powered knowledge retrieval
7. Helpjuice - Best for advanced customization and analytics
8. GitBook - Best for developer-friendly documentation with Git integration
9. Docusaurus - Best for static site generation and developer documentation
10. SharePoint - Best for enterprise document management
11. Quip - Best for documentation with built-in spreadsheets and collaboration
12. Bloomfire - Best for AI-powered search and knowledge discovery
13. MediaWiki - Best for open-source wiki-style documentation
14. XWiki - Best for open-source enterprise documentation
15. Slite - Best for simple team documentation with AI-powered search
16. Tettra - Best for knowledge management with Slack integration
17. Basecamp - Best for documentation within project management

Why look for Confluence alternatives?

Confluence is a very popular platform for team collaboration. However, a good chunk of Confluence users have some complaints about the functionalities and features of this app. Let's see why people look for replacements for Confluence.

1. The steep learning curve

If you know a thing or two about Confluence, you should get started early and show other team members how to use all the available features. As one user says:

• "The one thing that makes confluence complex to use is less awareness of the abundance of features available inside the software. Employees need knowledge training before starting to work with software to avoid any type of misconception and confusion during the workflow." (source)

Some parts of the app can be very slow to load, and we've seen multiple occasions of users complaining about templates:

• "While it is true that quality often comes at a cost, I do not find Confluence to be excessively expensive. However, I have encountered some difficulties with certain templates and pages, as they load quite slowly and can be time-consuming. Additionally, the search function could benefit from some improvements, and editors and publishers may find the platform to be somewhat challenging to navigate at times." (source)

And some features are just difficult to understand:

• "The grouping option is sometimes a mess, and to organize the documentation as per the required groups is not up to the mark. It takes a good amount of time and a few hits and misses to completely understand the feature and do it as per the requirements." (source)

And one user was pretty direct about the first-time user experience:

• "Similar to JIRA, Confluence has a slight learning curve, especially for new users. Confluence's editor is user-friendly, but I find it somewhat limited. Enhanced formatting features could cater to users with more sophisticated document layout requirements. For example, it's quite impossible to manage Excel-like tables in JIRA." (source)

2. The search feature does not always work well

A document collaboration tool is only as good as its search option, and in Confluence, it can be difficult to find the right articles. As one user said:

• "It is a little bit difficult to search and find a document in confluence. The only thing that I dislike about confluence." (source)

The biggest problem is that the results are not very accurate, as this user stated:

• "...unlike other tools, you have to be very careful with the words that you will use to search. Unlike with this tool, it was really easy to use. It will provide article results that is connected with the article that you are searching." (source)
• "Confluence can feel cluttered at times, especially with a large volume of pages and spaces, making it challenging to locate older documents. The search functionality, while helpful, could be more intuitive, especially for non-technical users." (source)
• The intuitiveness and ease of use could be a little more "dumbed down." Sometimes, it can be hard to link articles and reference each article. We moved to the cloud version a couple of months ago, and the original version of Confluence felt more user-friendly. (source)

Best Confluence alternatives for knowledge management in 2025

Confluence not meeting your requirements? These are the best alternatives to Confluence to improve your team's workflow and knowledge sharing. From open-source software such as wikis to elaborate tools with a comprehensive suite of features, we have it all in the list below. 👇

1. Featurebase ✨

Featurebase is a modern Confluence and Jira alternative that helps SaaS companies manage user feedback, create beautiful docs, and announce product changes. It’s loved by thousands of product, marketing, and support teams from companies like Nature.com, User.com, and Screenstudio.

Instead of having 4+ different tools, Featurebase offers everything in one place to help you build products your users love:

• Knowledge Base: Create a public and internal knowledge base with your own branding, domain, and design to provide easy self-serve help to customers and employees. The AI search bar helps find answers in seconds.
• Feedback collection & management: Create a feedback community where users can request, vote, and comment on features or ideas, fostering user engagement and collaboration. Prioritize your backlog by customers' revenue and much more to build the most impactful features first.
• Surveys (NPS, CSAT, etc.): Measure customer satisfaction and capture feedback through targeted in-app surveys for better decision-making.
• Changelog announcements: Announce product updates and increase feature adoption with neat in-app popups, notification emails, and a dedicated updates page.

Plus, it integrates with your favorite tools already in your workflow, such as Linear, Slack, Intercom, Zendesk, and many more.

It comes with a Free plan and affordable pricing. You can try the paid plans without a credit card, so there's no downside to giving it a go.

We use Featurebase ourselves to build Featurebase, and while we're biased, it's one of the most irreplaceable tools in our toolset. But don't take our word for it—see what thousands of our customers are saying.

✨ Start building products users love with Featurebase for free →

2. Document360

Document360 is a knowledge management platform that helps teams create, manage, and distribute documentation efficiently. Its structured organization, powerful search, and analytics serve as a strong alternative to Confluence for teams that need a dedicated knowledge base.

Top features

1. Intuitive Markdown editor – Write and edit documentation with a Markdown-based editor that includes live previews and formatting options.
2. Version control and rollback – Track and manage multiple versions of documentation, allowing multiple team members to access historical content when needed.
3. Category-based organization – Structure content with a multi-level category system for better navigation and knowledge discovery.
4. Advanced search and analytics – Use AI-powered search and detailed analytics to understand documentation usage and improve content.
5. Multi-language support – Publish documentation in multiple languages to cater to a global audience.

How it’s better than Confluence: It has a more structured knowledge base format, built-in analytics for tracking content effectiveness, and advanced search capabilities for faster knowledge retrieval.

3. Notion

Notion is an all-in-one workspace that combines note-taking, knowledge management, and project collaboration. Notion's database-driven structure and real-time editing, it is as a user-friendly alternative to Confluence for teams that need a more customizable and visually structured documentation platform.

Top features

1. Rich content blocks – Organize documentation using text, tables, images, code snippets, embeds, and more to create an interactive knowledge base.
2. Real-time collaboration – Team members can simultaneously edit, comment, and update documents for effortless collaboration.
3. Database-driven organization – Use relational databases, tags, and filters to structure and categorize documentation dynamically.
4. Powerful search and linking – Find and connect related content with inline links, backlinks, and a robust search function.
5. Easy integration with team tools – Synchronize Notion with Slack, Trello, and GitHub to centralize workflows and documentation in one place.

How it’s better than Confluence: You can create a free knowledge base, but the most useful features cost. Provides a more visually intuitive and flexible documentation experience, real-time collaborative editing, and a database-driven approach for organizing knowledge dynamically.

4. BookStack

BookStack is an open-source knowledge management tool that helps create structured documentation in a user-friendly format. Its book, chapter, and page hierarchy are a strong alternative to Confluence for teams looking for a self-hosted and easy-to-navigate documentation system.

Top features

1. Structured content hierarchy – Organize documentation into books, chapters, and pages for a clear and logical structure.
2. WYSIWYG and Markdown editor – Choose between a rich text editor or Markdown for flexibility in content creation.
3. User roles and permissions – Manage access with granular permissions to control who can view, edit, or manage content.
4. Self-hosting capabilities – Deploy on your infrastructure for full control over data security and customization.
5. Multilingual support – Create documentation in multiple languages to accommodate global teams.

How it’s better than Confluence: It provides a more structured content hierarchy, offers a self-hosted option for better data control, and delivers a more straightforward and intuitive user experience.

5. Nuclino

Nuclino is a modern, fast, and collaborative documentation tool for teams that need a structured and easy-to-use knowledge base. Its clean interface and real-time collaboration features serve as a strong alternative to Confluence for teams that need a more straightforward approach to documentation.

Top features

1. Real-time document collaboration – Teams can work on documents simultaneously, leave comments, and track changes in real-time.
2. Simple and intuitive interface – A distraction-free design makes it easy to create, navigate, and organize documentation without unnecessary complexity.
3. Graph-based knowledge organization – Connect related documents visually using a mind map-style structure for better knowledge discovery.
4. Markdown support – Write and format content quickly using Markdown for a streamlined documentation workflow.
5. Integration with team tools – Connect Nuclino with Slack, Trello, and other productivity apps and project management tools to centralize workflows and manage multiple teams simultaneously.

How it’s better than Confluence: It offers a more lightweight and intuitive interface, real-time collaborative editing, and a unique graph-based organization system for easier knowledge navigation.

6. Guru

Guru is a collaborative knowledge management tool to centralize and streamline company documentation. Guru's AI-powered search and browser extension for instant knowledge retrieval, it is a strong alternative to Confluence for teams looking for an intuitive way to manage and access documentation.

Top features

1. AI-powered knowledge suggestions – Automatically surface relevant documentation in real time based on a user’s workflow and context.
2. Browser extension for quick access – Access knowledge instantly from within other tools like Slack, Salesforce, and Google Docs without switching tabs.
3. Real-time collaboration and verification – Teams can edit and update content collaboratively, with built-in verification workflows to keep documentation accurate.
4. Tagging and organization – Categorize and structure knowledge with tags, collections, and boards for easy navigation.
5. Slack and Microsoft Teams integration – Retrieve and share documentation directly within communication platforms to improve team productivity.

How it’s better than Confluence: Offers AI-powered knowledge retrieval, a browser extension for instant access, and built-in verification workflows to ensure documentation stays accurate and up to date.

7. Helpjuice

Helpjuice is a knowledge management tool that helps organizations create, manage, and distribute documentation efficiently. Helpjuice's powerful search capabilities, advanced customization options, and analytics, it serves as a strong alternative to Confluence for teams that need a dedicated documentation and knowledge-sharing platform.

Top features

1. Customizable knowledge base – Design and structure documentation to fit your organization’s needs with extensive branding and layout options.
2. Advanced search functionality – Quickly locate relevant content with an intelligent search engine that indexes articles, attachments, and metadata.
3. Collaboration and version control – Allow teams to work together on documentation with version tracking, permissions, and approval workflows.
4. Multi-language support – Create and manage documentation in multiple languages to serve a global audience.
5. Analytics and insights – Track article performance, search trends, and user behavior to continuously improve documentation.

How it’s better than Confluence: Provides a more intuitive and customizable interface, offers advanced analytics to measure documentation effectiveness, and includes multi-language support for global teams.

8. Gitbook

GitBook is a documentation tool that helps teams create, collaborate on, and publish structured knowledge bases. Its clean interface, real-time collaboration, and Git integration, it is a strong alternative to Confluence for teams looking for a more modern and developer-friendly documentation platform.

Top features

1. Markdown and WYSIWYG editor – Create documentation using Markdown for developers or a WYSIWYG editor for non-technical users.
2. Real-time collaboration – Edit documents with team members simultaneously, leave comments, and track changes in real-time.
3. Custom branding and domains – Personalize documentation portals with a custom domain, logo, and themes to align with your company’s brand.
4. Versioning and access control – Manage different versions of documentation and set role-based permissions for viewing and editing content.
5. Integration with developer tools – Sync with GitHub, GitLab, and other developer tools to keep documentation aligned with code updates.

How it’s better than Confluence: Provides a cleaner and more modern interface, real-time collaboration with team editing, and Git integration for smooth version control and documentation updates.

9. Docusaurus

Docusaurus is an open-source documentation framework for building fast, SEO-friendly documentation websites. Its Markdown-based approach and developer-friendly features serve as a strong alternative to Confluence for teams that need structured and high-performance documentation.

Top features

1. Markdown-based documentation – Write content in Markdown for a simple, efficient, and developer-friendly documentation workflow.
2. Static site generation – Generate fast, SEO-optimized static documentation websites with pre-rendered pages for improved performance.
3. Versioning and localization – Manage multiple versions of documentation and provide translated content to support global users.
4. Custom themes and plugins – Extend functionality and tailor the appearance of documentation sites with a flexible theming and plugin system.
5. Integration with Git and CI/CD – Automate documentation updates by syncing with GitHub and integrating with CI/CD pipelines.

How it’s better than Confluence: Offers faster performance with static site generation, simplifies documentation management with Git-based workflows, and provides advanced customization through themes and plugins.

10. SharePoint

SharePoint is a Microsoft-powered Confluence alternative for document management, project collaboration, and internal knowledge sharing. Its enterprise-grade features, deep integration with Microsoft 365, and structured content organization make it a strong alternative to Confluence for businesses that require secure and scalable documentation solutions.

Top features

1. Document libraries and version control – Store, organize, and manage documentation with built-in version tracking, ensuring data integrity and historical access.
2. Customizable intranet and wikis – Create internal documentation hubs, wikis, and portals tailored to your organization’s needs.
3. Microsoft 365 integration – Connect with Word, Excel, Teams, and OneDrive to centralize knowledge management within existing workflows.
4. Advanced permission controls – Set granular access controls and security settings to manage who can view, edit, or share documentation, which enhances team collaboration.
5. Enterprise search capabilities – Use SharePoint’s powerful search engine to locate documentation across teams, projects, and departments quickly.

How it’s better than Confluence: It provides stronger enterprise security, deeper integration with Microsoft 365, and more structured document management with advanced permission settings.

11. Quip

Quip is a documentation and collaboration platform that combines documents, spreadsheets, and team chat in one interface. Its real-time editing and structured organization serve as an alternative to Confluence for teams that need a streamlined way to manage documentation alongside communication.

Top features

1. Real-time collaborative editing – Team members can work on documents with live updates, comments, and chat built into the interface.
2. Integrated spreadsheets – Create and embed spreadsheets directly within documents, making it easy to manage data-driven documentation.
3. Task management features – Assign tasks, track progress, and link documentation to project workflows to keep teams aligned.
4. Version history tracking – View past document versions, track changes, and revert to previous content when necessary.
5. Salesforce integration – Connect with Salesforce to centralize documentation and workflows for customer and internal knowledge bases.

How it’s better than Confluence: Offers real-time collaboration with integrated team chat, built-in spreadsheets for data management, and direct integration with Salesforce for better knowledge sharing in sales and support teams.

12. Bloomfire

Bloomfire is a knowledge management tool that helps teams create, organize, and share internal documentation. Its AI-powered search and intuitive content structure serve as a strong alternative to Confluence for teams looking for an easier way to manage company knowledge.

Top features

1. AI-powered search – Quickly locate documentation by searching text within documents, images, and videos, ensuring easy access to information.
2. Rich media support – Upload and manage various content formats, including PDFs, images, videos, and presentations.
3. Content categorization and tagging – Organize documentation using categories, tags, and filters to improve navigation and knowledge discovery.
4. Collaboration tools – Enable team members to comment, ask questions, and interact with documentation to keep knowledge up to date.
5. Analytics and insights – Track user engagement, search trends, and content performance to optimize documentation effectiveness.

How it’s better than Confluence: Has AI-powered search for deeper content discovery, supports rich media formats, and offers built-in analytics for tracking documentation usage and engagement.

13. XWiki

XWiki is an open-source enterprise wiki software for creating structured documentation, knowledge bases, and collaborative content. The extensibility and customization capabilities, it is a flexible alternative to Confluence for teams needing more control over their documentation environment.

Top features

1. Structured content management – Organize documentation with advanced structuring tools, including hierarchical pages, templates, and metadata.
2. Version control and history tracking – Keep track of all changes, view previous versions, and restore content when necessary.
3. Advanced permissions management – Set granular access controls to determine who can view, edit, or manage specific documentation.
4. Customization and extensibility – Use extensions, themes, and macros to tailor the platform to your documentation needs.
5. Self-hosting and cloud options – Deploy XWiki on your own infrastructure or use a managed cloud solution, offering flexibility for different team sizes.

How it’s better than Confluence: It provides more customization options, structured content management, and an open-source model that allows for greater control over documentation workflows.

14. Slite

Slite is a streamlined knowledge management platform that helps teams create, organize, and collaborate on internal documentation. The real-time editing and intuitive structure make it a strong alternative to Confluence for teams looking for a lightweight and user-friendly documentation solution.

Top features

1. Rich-text editor – Write and format documentation easily with a clean, distraction-free editor that supports images, tables, and embeds.
2. Real-time collaboration – Teams can edit documents simultaneously, leave comments, and track changes to keep documentation up to date.
3. Structured organization – Use channels, folders, and tags to categorize documentation and make it easier to find important content.
4. AI-powered search – Quickly locate relevant information across all documents with intelligent search functionality.
5. Integration with team tools – Connect with Slack, Trello, and Notion to streamline workflows and keep documentation accessible.

How it’s better than Confluence: It has a more modern and intuitive user interface, real-time collaborative editing, and AI-powered search for faster knowledge retrieval.

15. Mediawiki

MediaWiki is an open-source wiki software used to create and manage structured documentation. Initially developed for Wikipedia, it is a highly flexible alternative to Confluence, offering customization, scalability, and full control over content management.

Top features

1. Wiki-style documentation – Create interlinked, structured knowledge bases that make it easy to navigate and reference information.
2. Version control and history tracking – Track all changes, view previous versions, and restore content when needed, ensuring transparency and accountability.
3. Extensive customization – Modify functionality with plugins, extensions, and themes to tailor the platform to your team’s needs.
4. User access controls – Manage permissions to restrict or allow access to certain pages based on roles and responsibilities.
5. Self-hosted deployment – Maintain complete control over your documentation by hosting MediaWiki on your own infrastructure.

How it’s better than Confluence: It gives a fully customizable, self-hosted solution with unlimited content structuring, extensive revision history, and a flexible wiki-style approach to documentation management.

16. Tettra

Tettra is a lightweight, structured knowledge management platform that lets teams document, share, and organize internal information. Its focus on team-based documentation and Slack integration means it's a strong alternative to Confluence for companies looking for a simpler way to manage knowledge.

Top features

1. Easy-to-use editor – Create and format documentation effortlessly with a clean, intuitive editor that requires no technical knowledge.
2. Knowledge verification – Assign subject matter experts to verify content, ensuring that documentation remains accurate and up to date.
3. Slack integration – Quickly search for and share documentation within Slack, making knowledge easily accessible without switching tools.
4. Organized knowledge hierarchy – Use categories, subcategories, and search functionality to keep documentation structured and easy to navigate.
5. Permission controls – Manage who can view, edit, or verify knowledge, keeping sensitive information secure while allowing collaboration.

How it’s better than Confluence: Offers a cleaner, more streamlined experience with built-in knowledge verification, deep Slack integration, and a more structured approach to keeping documentation organized and up to date.

17. Basecamp

Basecamp is a collaboration and project management platform with features for organizing internal documentation. While it is primarily built for team communication and task management, its built-in document storage and knowledge-sharing tools make it a viable alternative to Confluence for teams looking for a more lightweight documentation solution.

Top features

1. Docs & Files storage – Store and organize documents, notes, and knowledge base content in a centralized location accessible to all team members.
2. Message boards – Share important company updates, policies, and discussions in a structured format, making it easy to reference key information.
3. Campfire chat – Collaborate on documentation in real-time with built-in team chat, reducing the need for lengthy email threads.
4. Task-linked documentation – Attach documentation to projects and tasks, ensuring that relevant information is always accessible in context.
5. Client access controls – Share select documents with clients while keeping internal notes and documentation private, offering flexibility in knowledge management.

How it’s better than Confluence: It provides a simpler, more intuitive interface for documentation storage, integrates seamlessly with task management, and includes built-in team communication tools to streamline collaboration.

Conclusion

Confluence is a solid choice for creating, managing, and sharing documentation without requiring significant technical expertise from anyone on your team. However, most teams find Confluence challenging to use, and despite a solid set of key features, there are better options in the market.

Featurebase is a modern and powerful Confluence alternative. It helps you replace 4+ tools by letting you collect feedback, announce product updates, build a Help Center, and run surveys. It has helped thousands of companies, like Nature.com, User.com, and Screenstudio, reach the next level by buidling products users love.

What's best is that it comes with a Free plan, and the onboarding is super simple, so there's no downside to trying it out! 👇

✨ Start building products your users love with Featurebase for free →