# BookStack vs Trilium: Which to Self-Host?

## Quick Verdict

BookStack is the better choice for team documentation, wikis, and structured knowledge bases. TriliumNext is better for personal knowledge management with interconnected notes, cloning, and a hierarchical tree. They solve different problems — pick based on whether your primary use is team docs or personal notes.

## Overview

BookStack organizes content into shelves, books, chapters, and pages — a familiar library metaphor that works well for documentation. It's a PHP/Laravel application with a WYSIWYG editor, RBAC permissions, and multi-user support.

TriliumNext (community fork of the now-unmaintained original Trilium) is a personal knowledge base built around a note tree. Notes can be cloned (appear in multiple places), linked, and organized with attributes. It uses embedded SQLite and runs as a single container.

## Feature Comparison

| Feature | BookStack | TriliumNext |
|---------|-----------|-------------|
| Architecture | PHP/Laravel + MySQL | Node.js + SQLite |
| Organization | Shelves → Books → Chapters → Pages | Hierarchical note tree |
| Editor | WYSIWYG + Markdown | WYSIWYG + code notes |
| Multi-user | Yes (RBAC permissions) | Single-user (with shared access) |
| Search | Full-text | Full-text + attribute search |
| Note cloning | No | Yes (note in multiple locations) |
| API | REST API | REST API + ETAPI |
| Desktop sync | No (web-only) | Yes (desktop client + sync) |
| Note linking | Wiki-style links | Relation maps + backlinks |
| Code highlighting | Yes | Yes (dedicated code notes) |
| Drawing | Built-in diagrams | Canvas notes |
| Docker services | 2 (app + MariaDB) | 1 (single container) |
| RAM usage | 200–400 MB | 150–300 MB |
| Authentication | Built-in + LDAP + SAML + OIDC | Password (serves as encryption key) |

## Installation Complexity

**BookStack** needs two containers — the application and MariaDB. You need to generate an `APP_KEY` before first run and configure the database connection. Setup is straightforward if you've deployed Laravel apps before.

**TriliumNext** is the simpler deployment. Single container, single volume, no external database. Set a password on first launch and you're running. The password also serves as the database encryption key, so don't lose it.

TriliumNext wins on deployment simplicity. BookStack wins on enterprise readiness.

## Performance and Resource Usage

TriliumNext is lighter — 150–300 MB RAM for the single container. Embedded SQLite means no database overhead. It's efficient for single-user workloads.

BookStack needs 200–400 MB for the PHP app plus 200–300 MB for MariaDB. Total footprint is higher but still modest. It handles multi-user concurrent access well.

## Community and Support

BookStack has a large, active community with excellent documentation. The lead developer (Dan Brown) maintains a clear roadmap and consistent release schedule. It's one of the most well-maintained self-hosted documentation platforms.

TriliumNext is a community fork created after the original Trilium developer stepped back. The community is smaller but committed to maintaining the project. Development pace is steady with regular releases.

## Use Cases

### Choose BookStack If...
- You need team documentation with role-based access
- You want a familiar book/chapter/page organization
- You need SSO integration (LDAP, SAML, OIDC)
- You want a polished WYSIWYG editor
- You need audit logging and revision history for compliance

### Choose TriliumNext If...
- You need a personal knowledge management system
- You want note cloning (same note in multiple locations)
- You need desktop sync between server and local client
- You think in graphs and connections rather than hierarchies
- You want encrypted storage (password-based)

## Final Verdict

BookStack and TriliumNext serve fundamentally different use cases. BookStack is documentation — structured, shared, permissioned. TriliumNext is a personal knowledge base — interconnected, flexible, private.

If you need to document processes for a team, BookStack is the clear choice. If you want a "second brain" where notes connect and clone across topics, TriliumNext is purpose-built for that.

Many users run both — BookStack for team docs, TriliumNext for personal notes.

## Related

- [How to Self-Host BookStack](/apps/bookstack/)
- [How to Self-Host TriliumNext](/apps/trilium/)
- [BookStack vs Wiki.js](/compare/bookstack-vs-wiki-js/)
- [BookStack vs Outline](/compare/bookstack-vs-outline/)
- [Trilium vs Joplin](/compare/trilium-vs-joplin/)
- [Best Self-Hosted Note Taking](/best/note-taking/)
- [Replace Confluence](/replace/confluence/)