Docmost vs Outline
Docmost and Outline are free apps you can use instead of Notion and Confluence. Outline is closer on the Confluence list. Docmost is closer on the Notion list.
A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement. How this works
Instead of Notion
Last checked October 15, 2026
Docmost is #1 (69). Outline is #5 (59).
Docmost
#1 · Closest
10 of 10 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.What you give up: offline editing. You only get part of: databases and multiple views, public sharing and simple sites, and templates, and 2 more.
Outline
#5
10 of 10 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.What you give up: databases and multiple views and offline editing. You only get part of: public sharing and simple sites, templates, and mobile apps, and 1 more.
Scroll sideways to see both apps.
| Feature | Docmost#1 · 6910 of 10 checked features | Outline#5 · 5910 of 10 checked features |
|---|---|---|
| Rich documents and nested pagesCounts for 10 | Full | Full |
| Databases and multiple viewsCounts for 10 | PartialStructured collections exist, but they are not Notion-style relational databases. | Missing |
| Real-time collaborationCounts for 8 | Full | Full |
| Public sharing and simple sitesCounts for 5 | PartialPages can be published. Notion-style sites and forms are out of scope. | PartialDocuments can be shared publicly. It is not a site builder. |
| Offline editingCounts for 6 | Missing | Missing |
| Comments and mentionsCounts for 4 | Full | Full |
| TemplatesCounts for 3 | PartialYou can duplicate pages. There is no equivalent template gallery. | Partial |
| Mobile appsCounts for 5 | PartialResponsive web app, no separate native apps confirmed here. | PartialUsable in the mobile browser. Native apps are not the product. |
| Data on your computer or a server you runCounts for 8 | Full | PartialYou can run it yourself for your own team. The BSL forbids selling it as a service. |
| API and integrationsCounts for 5 | PartialAn API exists; some integration features are enterprise-licensed. | Full |
Where they differ
Databases and multiple views
Worth 10 points. Docmost does part of it. Structured collections exist, but they are not Notion-style relational databases. Outline does none of it.
Data on your computer or a server you run
Worth 8 points. Docmost does all of it. Outline does part of it. You can run it yourself for your own team. The BSL forbids selling it as a service.
API and integrations
Worth 5 points. Docmost does part of it. An API exists; some integration features are enterprise-licensed. Outline does all of it.
Both do all of these: rich documents and nested pages, real-time collaboration, and comments and mentions.
Also ranked: AFFiNE is #2 (69). AppFlowy is #3 (66). Obsidian is #4 (59). Anytype is #6 (59).
Obsidian (#4) and Outline (#5) score 59 with the same share of the checklist checked. The order follows that tie.
Instead of Confluence
Last checked October 15, 2026
Outline is #1 (91). Docmost is #2 (84).
Docmost
#2
6 of 6 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.You only get part of: permissions and search.
Outline
#1 · Closest
6 of 6 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.You only get part of: your own server, for your team.
Scroll sideways to see both apps.
| Feature | Docmost#2 · 846 of 6 checked features | Outline#1 · 916 of 6 checked features |
|---|---|---|
| Pages in a nested wikiCounts for 10 | Full | Full |
| Real-time collaborative editingCounts for 8 | Full | Full |
| PermissionsCounts for 8 | PartialIt is a team wiki. Space-level Confluence permissions were not re-checked feature by feature. | FullCollections and membership. You also need an external auth provider. |
| File attachmentsCounts for 4 | Full | Full |
| SearchCounts for 6 | Partial | Full |
| Your own server, for your teamCounts for 8 | FullThe AGPL core is the part you run yourself. Company directories are a separate license. | PartialRunning it yourself for your own team is allowed. The Business Source License forbids offering Outline as a competing hosted service. |
Where they differ
Permissions
Worth 8 points. Docmost does part of it. It is a team wiki. Space-level Confluence permissions were not re-checked feature by feature. Outline does all of it. Collections and membership. You also need an external auth provider.
Search
Worth 6 points. Docmost does part of it. Outline does all of it.
Your own server, for your team
Worth 8 points. Docmost does all of it. The AGPL core is the part you run yourself. Company directories are a separate license. Outline does part of it. Running it yourself for your own team is allowed. The Business Source License forbids offering Outline as a competing hosted service.
Both do all of these: pages in a nested wiki, real-time collaborative editing, and file attachments.
Also ranked: BookStack is #3 (82). Wiki.js is #4 (73).
Instead of Atlassian Data Center
Last checked October 29, 2026
Docmost is #4 (42). Outline is #5 (42).
Docmost
#4
7 of 7 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.What you give up: issues, boards, and projects, an importer for Jira Data Center, and a support desk. You only get part of: an importer for Confluence and company login, such as LDAP or SSO.
Outline
#5
7 of 7 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.What you give up: issues, boards, and projects, an importer for Jira Data Center, and a support desk. You only get part of: an importer for Confluence and company login, such as LDAP or SSO.
Scroll sideways to see both apps.
| Feature | Docmost#4 · 427 of 7 checked features | Outline#5 · 427 of 7 checked features |
|---|---|---|
| Issues, boards, and projectsCounts for 10 | Missing | MissingOutline is a wiki, not an issue tracker. |
| An importer for Jira Data CenterCounts for 8 | Missing | Missing |
| A team wikiCounts for 8 | FullA team wiki. | FullA team wiki. |
| An importer for ConfluenceCounts for 6 | PartialCheck the current import docs before you promise a Confluence move. | PartialConfluence import exists. Test one space. |
| A support deskCounts for 6 | Missing | Missing |
| Company login, such as LDAP or SSOCounts for 6 | Partial | PartialYou bring an identity provider. |
| Runs on servers you controlCounts for 8 | Full | Full |
Also ranked: OpenProject is #1 (62). Plane is #2 (48). Zammad is #3 (46). BookStack is #6 (37).
Docmost (#4) and Outline (#5) score 42 with the same share of the checklist checked. The order follows that tie.
The facts on file
Docmost
An open-source team wiki with real-time editing.
- Rules
- Open source. AGPL-3.0 (core)
- Code under the ee directories is the Docmost Enterprise license, not AGPL.
- Run it yourself
- Setup: medium. Docker Compose is the documented path. You run the app plus Postgres.
- Free plan
- The AGPL core is free to run on your own server.
- They host it
- No hosted price on file.
- Where it runs
- Web, Run it yourself
Last checked October 29, 2026
Outline
A fast team wiki under the Business Source License.
- Rules
- Code is public. Business Source License 1.1
- Selling, reselling, or hosting Outline as a service breaches the community license.
- Run it yourself
- Setup: medium. Docker and a Postgres database are the usual install. You also need an authentication provider.
- Free plan
- Running the community edition yourself is free within the BSL terms. Outline also sells hosted Business and Enterprise plans.
- They host it
- No hosted price on file.
- Where it runs
- Web, Run it yourself
Last checked October 29, 2026
Which one to pick
Docmost
Pick Docmost if you care more about the Notion list. Databases are partial there. Outline has none. The AGPL core can run on your own server. On the Confluence list, permissions and search are partial. The license is AGPL-3.0 for the core. Setup is medium.
Outline
Pick Outline if you care more about the Confluence list. Permissions and search are full there. The license is Business Source License 1.1. You can read the code. Selling it as a service breaches the community license. On the Notion list, databases are missing. Setup is medium.