7 best Confluence alternatives to consider in 2026

Confluence is a powerhouse for team documentation, standing as a mature and reliable platform that powers collaboration for thousands of companies. However, every team has unique needs, and some may look for tools that offer different workflows or specialized features. Whether you are looking for a niche tool to work alongside Confluence or a different approach to collaboration, there are several great options available.

I've spent a good amount of time digging through modern knowledge management tools to find the best Confluence alternatives out there right now. This guide will walk you through seven of the top options, breaking down what they’re good at and who they’re really for. The goal is to help you find the configuration that best supports your team's documentation and collaboration workflow.

What is Confluence?

Confluence, made by Atlassian, is a premier corporate wiki built to help teams work together and keep their knowledge in one place. It’s a central hub where people can create, organize, and discuss their work. It is widely used for everything from project plans and meeting notes to comprehensive technical documentation. Because it links up so tightly with other Atlassian tools like Jira, it's the gold standard in many development and IT circles.

Why are teams exploring Confluence alternatives?

Even though Confluence is a major player and industry leader, some teams look for different solutions to match specific internal processes. Teams often compare Notion vs Confluence or look at SharePoint alternatives depending on their ecosystem.

• Seeking a different interface. Confluence is built for depth and complexity. Because it offers so many features, teams seeking a more minimalist approach for less technical staff might look for simpler tools.

• Pricing for different team sizes. While Confluence offers tiered plans, some growing companies explore alternatives to find pricing models that specifically align with their current scale.

• Transition to modern cloud collaboration. Atlassian’s focus on Cloud and Data Center versions has streamlined their offering, though teams with very specific, legacy on-premise requirements may explore other self-hosted options.

• Specialized use cases. Sometimes, you just need a tool focused on a specific niche. Your team might benefit from a lightweight wiki for quick notes, an all-in-one tool that handles tasks differently, or an AI-native platform that complements your current setup.

How I picked the best Confluence alternatives

To put this list together, I focused on tools that offer different strengths to complement a modern workflow. Here’s what I was looking for:

• Ease of use: Interfaces that prioritize a quick start for new teams.

• Core features: Reliable editing tools, real-time collaboration, and effective search functionality.

• Integrations: Tools that work well with everyday software like Slack, Google Drive, and various help desks. Some teams also explore GitBook alternatives for developer documentation or Delve alternatives for enterprise search.

• Value for money: Competitive pricing structures that provide solid feature sets.

• Something unique: A mix of tools, from lightweight wikis and open-source options to AI-powered platforms like eesel AI that enhance your existing knowledge management.

At a glance: Comparing the top Confluence alternatives

Here’s a quick rundown of the seven options we’re about to dive into.

Tool	Best for	Starting price (annual)	Key feature
eesel AI	Instantly unifying existing knowledge with AI	$239/month	AI-powered Q&A across all company apps
Notion	All-in-one workspace for docs, tasks, and databases	$8/user/month	Highly flexible and customizable blocks
Nuclino	Fast and simple internal knowledge bases	$5/user/month	Clean interface and instant search
Google Docs	Teams already in the Google ecosystem	Free (with Google account)	Real-time collaboration and familiarity
XWiki	Customizable, self-hosted knowledge platforms	Free (open source)	Extensibility and data sovereignty
Slite	Async-first and remote team documentation	$8/user/month	Clean editor and decision tracking
BookStack	Simple, opinionated open-source documentation	Free (open source)	Book-like organizational structure

The 7 best Confluence alternatives in 2026

After digging around and trying things out, here are my top picks for the best Confluence alternatives.

1. eesel AI

eesel AI takes a complementary approach. Instead of being another place to store documents, it acts as a smart AI layer that connects to all your existing knowledge sources - including Confluence itself. This is a fantastic option for teams who want to make their current Confluence knowledge even more accessible without a migration project. You simply connect eesel AI to Confluence, Google Docs, Slack, and Notion, and it pulls everything into one searchable brain.

Pros:

• No migration needed. It enhances your current tools in just a few minutes. You get the benefits of an AI-powered system without moving your data.

• Unified search. It gives employees a single spot to ask questions and get answers from every app the company uses, directly from Slack or MS Teams.

• Specialized support. It doesn't just store information; it actively helps people find and use it, which can reduce repetitive internal questions.

• Simple setup. You can get started for free and set up your AI assistant yourself.

Cons:

• It is not a standalone wiki and is designed to work on top of your existing knowledge sources.

• It primarily uses chat tools like Slack for interaction, which is a different experience from browsing a traditional wiki.

Pricing: eesel AI's pricing is based on AI usage, which helps make costs predictable.

• Team: $239/month (billed annually) for up to 3 bots, 1,000 AI interactions/month, an AI Copilot for helpdesks, and Slack integration.

• Business: $639/month (billed annually) for unlimited bots, 3,000 AI interactions/month, an AI Agent, training on past help desk tickets, and AI actions like ticket triage.

• Custom: Custom pricing for enterprise needs like advanced security and unlimited interactions.

2. Notion

Notion is a popular all-in-one workspace that serves as a flexible alternative for teams. It combines documents, databases, and wikis into one platform. Its block-based editor offers a lot of creative freedom, making it a favorite for startups who want a single tool for roadmaps and internal docs.

Pros:

• Highly flexible. The block system allows you to build customized documents and dashboards.

• Versatile tool. It can handle documentation, tasks, and project tracking in one place.

• Modern design. The user experience is intuitive and approachable for various team roles.

• Template community. A large library of community templates is available to help teams get started quickly.

Cons:

• It can require significant effort to keep organized compared to the more structured nature of Confluence.

• Search capabilities can become less efficient as the volume of content grows.

• While it has integrations, it doesn't offer the same deep, native relationship with Jira that Confluence provides.

Pricing: Notion’s pricing is per person, with several tiers available.

• Free: For individuals, with limited team features.

• Plus: $8/user/month (billed annually) for small teams, including unlimited blocks and file uploads.

• Business: $15/user/month (billed annually) for companies needing SSO and private teamspaces.

• Enterprise: Custom pricing for advanced administrative controls.

3. Nuclino

Nuclino is a lightweight option focused on speed and simplicity. It is designed to be a "collective brain" by offering a focused environment for team knowledge. With a clean interface and instant search, it is a great choice for teams who want a streamlined tool that is easy for everyone to adopt.

Pros:

• High performance. The platform is built to be fast, from page loading to searching.

• Intuitive interface. Most users can start contributing immediately with minimal training.

• Visual graphs. It includes a graph view to help teams visualize how their knowledge is connected.

• Real-time collaboration. It supports concurrent editing, allowing you to see teammate contributions as they happen.

Cons:

• It offers fewer features and customization options than the enterprise-grade Confluence.

• It may not be the primary choice for extremely complex, large-scale technical documentation.

• Permission settings are simpler and less granular than those found in more mature platforms.

Pricing: Nuclino's pricing plans are straightforward and based on user count.

• Free: Allows up to 50 items and 2GB of storage.

• Standard: $5/user/month (billed annually) for unlimited items and admin tools.

• Premium: $10/user/month (billed annually) adds AI features, audit logs, and SSO.

4. Google Docs

Google Docs is a staple for many teams. It is simple, widely accessible, and integrated into the Google ecosystem. While not a dedicated wiki, its collaboration features make it a viable, no-fuss option for small teams or those with basic documentation needs.

Pros:

• Accessible. Available to anyone with a Google account.

• Familiarity. There is almost no learning curve for most professionals.

• Collaboration. It remains a strong standard for real-time document editing and commenting.

• Workspace integration. It works seamlessly with the broader Google Workspace suite.

Cons:

• Organization challenges. Without a wiki structure, managing a large volume of files in Google Drive can become complex.

• Limited wiki functionality. It lacks features like nested pages and advanced knowledge management templates found in Confluence.

• Search scope. It is harder to search for specific knowledge across many disparate files compared to a structured wiki.

Pricing: Google Docs is free for personal use, with professional tiers in Google Workspace plans.

• Personal: Free with 15GB of storage.

• Business Starter: $6/user/month (with annual commitment).

• Business Standard: $12/user/month (with annual commitment) for 2 TB of storage and additional features.

5. XWiki

XWiki is a powerful, open-source Confluence alternative for teams that want full control. As a self-hosted option, it offers total data ownership and extensive customization. It is a solid choice for technical teams and companies with specific data sovereignty requirements.

Pros:

• Open-source. The software is free to access, allowing for complete transparency.

• Highly extensible. You can customize the platform using apps, macros, and scripts to fit exact needs.

• Data ownership. Hosting on your own servers provides full control over your environment.

• Structured data. It allows for the creation of structured data and small internal applications.

Cons:

• Technical maintenance. Setting up and maintaining the platform requires internal development resources.

• User interface. The default design may feel more traditional compared to newer, cloud-first tools.

• Complexity. The vast array of features may be more than what's needed for simple documentation.

Pricing: The XWiki software is free and open-source. Paid plans are available for professional support and hosting.

• Starter: From €816/year for 25 users on XWiki Cloud.

• Basic: From €1,876/year for 25 users with enhanced support.

• Business & Enterprise: Custom pricing for larger teams needing specialized support.

6. Slite

Slite is designed for remote and asynchronous teams who need a focused space for documentation. It combines the simplicity of a notes app with the organizational structure of a wiki, encouraging clear communication and decision tracking. For a detailed breakdown of costs, see our Slite pricing guide.

Pros:

• Remote-first. Features are tailored for asynchronous collaboration.

• Focused editor. The minimalist design helps writers focus on their content.

• Clear organization. Channels help keep documents organized by topic or team.

• Activity feed. The "Catch up" feature allows users to see new updates quickly.

Cons:

• It is less robust than Confluence for complex project management or advanced technical documentation.

• The free plan has limited features for growing teams.

Pricing: Slite’s plans are based on features and user count.

• Standard: $8/user/month (billed annually) for the core knowledge base and AI search.

• Knowledge Suite: $20/user/month (billed annually) for advanced enterprise search across multiple tools.

• Enterprise: Custom pricing for audit logs and dedicated account management.

7. BookStack

BookStack is a free, open-source alternative that prioritizes a simple, familiar structure. It uses a "Books, Chapters, and Pages" metaphor that makes documentation easy to browse and organize.

Pros:

• Simple structure. The book-based organization is immediately understandable for all users.

• Clean UI. The interface is approachable for both technical and non-technical staff.

• Free to use. There are no license fees for this self-hosted platform.

• Essential features. Includes a visual editor, Markdown support, and role-based permissions.

Cons:

• Rigid structure. The specific book metaphor might not suit every documentation style.

• Self-hosting requirement. Requires technical knowledge for setup and ongoing maintenance.

• Targeted feature set. It is a focused tool and does not aim to provide the extensive collaboration features of large platforms like Confluence.

Pricing:

• Free: BookStack is self-hosted and completely free to use.

This video provides a comparison of Confluence and Notion, two popular choices for team documentation.

How to choose the right Confluence alternative for your team

Selecting the best tool depends on your team's specific goals. Consider these questions:

1. What is your primary goal? Are you looking to find a more specialized workflow, or are you trying to unlock knowledge that is already in your systems? If you want to enhance your current setup, an AI layer like eesel AI is a great choice.

2. Who will be using it? A platform for a large, cross-functional organization has different requirements than a small, specialized team. Prioritize ease of use if you need company-wide adoption.

3. Do you have self-hosting requirements? If your team needs to host data on private servers, open-source options like XWiki or BookStack are ideal.

4. What is your budget? Consider both the per-user subscription costs and the time required to set up a new system. Often, enhancing what you already have provides the best return on investment.

Find the right Confluence alternative for your team

While Confluence remains the industry leader for a reason, exploring alternatives can help you find a tool that perfectly matches your team's unique style. Whether you prefer the flexibility of Notion, the simplicity of Nuclino, or the control of an open-source solution, there is a platform that can support your goals.

Before starting a migration, consider if you can achieve your goals by simply making your current knowledge easier to find. A tool like eesel AI works within your existing ecosystem to provide quick, accurate answers to your team in the apps they use every day. Instead of moving your knowledge, you can simply make it work better for you.