When managing your team’s knowledge, both BookStack and BlueSpice MediaWiki offer distinct benefits. Here’s a concise breakdown of what each platform brings to the table and who they’re best for.

BookStack’s clean,  page-based editing tools make it easy to organize and manage content. However, its simplicity comes with trade-offs. Advanced features like workflow automation, structured approvals, and complex data management are missing. Customization is possible but limited, and its extension library is relatively small. If your needs are straightforward, BookStack is an excellent no-fuss option.

BlueSpice is designed for scalability and use cases of medium and large companies. It offers comprehensive workflow features and compliance-ready approval systems, making it ideal for regulated environments. These workflows also include task-based review reminders and approvals that align with industry standards. It is therefore ideal for teams that require formalized content management practices for audits, for example. In addition, BlueSpice’s modular architecture allows easy integration of tools like Draw.io for diagrams and ISO-compliant templates. Unlike BookStack, these functions are already included or can be seamlessly integrated.

Hosting & Pricing
Both platforms are open source, but BlueSpice emphasizes scalability and freedom in hosting. Your wiki can be operated in the cloud or on your own company server without any price difference. BookStack is free of charge – apart from the server costs – and also allows both hosting options. However, due to the limited range of features, the system can quickly no longer be adapted to requirements. With its license model and comprehensive expansion options, BlueSpice ensures that your knowledge base can grow just like your company.