10 Confluence Alternatives for Great Team Collaboration

Confluence has been a popular collaboration tool for product teams and organizations for years. Despite its popularity, Confluence has its own set of drawbacks that make users look for alternatives.

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Many teams which look for team collaboration tools struggle with Confluence. Some common issues include:

  • Complexity: While Confluence is known for its ease of use, some users find the platform overly complex and difficult to navigate, especially when trying to find specific information.
  • Search limitations: Confluence search has some limitations, such as the inability to search for specific types of content, such as comments or tasks, and difficulty finding older or archived content. The performance of Confluence search can vary based on the size of the Confluence instance, the number of users, and the amount of content.
  • Performance Issues: Some users report slow loading times and sluggish performance, especially when working with large amounts of data.
Source: Capterra

These drawbacks have led some users to seek alternative solutions that offer better customization and performance at a more affordable cost.

This article will examine the 10 best Confluence alternatives for great team collaboration. From project management tools to software documentation platforms, we'll explore various options to help you find the best solution for your team's needs. Whether you're looking for a more cost-effective solution or simply a tool offering more customization options, you will find a suitable alternative in this list.

What is Confluence used for?

People use Confluence as a collaboration and documentation platform to create, organize, and share information within teams. It allows teams to capture knowledge and ideas while working in one centralized location, improving teamwork and reducing the risk of information loss.

Confluence also offers features such as team calendars, project management tools, and the ability to integrate with other applications. It can be used for various purposes, such as creating company handbooks, project documentation, team wikis, etc.

Why Do People Use Confluence?

People use Confluence for a variety of reasons, including:

  1. Team Collaboration: Confluence is designed to facilitate collaboration and communication between team members, making it easier to share information, documents, and ideas.
  2. Knowledge Management: Confluence can be used as a centralized repository for storing and organizing information, making it easier to access and maintain important knowledge and resources.
  3. Project Management: Confluence can be used to manage projects, track progress, and share updates with stakeholders. It provides a centralized location for storing project documentation, making it easier to access and manage.
  4. Document Management: Confluence can be used to manage and organize documents, such as user guides, product specifications, and technical documentation. This makes it easier to find the information you need and keep it up-to-date.
  5. Customization: Confluence provides a flexible platform that can be customized to meet the specific needs of your team, project, or organization. This includes customizing the look and feel of your space, creating custom templates, and controlling access to specific areas.

Overall, Confluence provides a collaborative platform that can be used to store, organize, and share information and resources, making it a popular tool for businesses, teams, and organizations.

Why You May Need a Confluence Alternative

There are several reasons why one may consider a Confluence alternative:

  1. Cost: Confluence can be expensive, especially for large teams or organizations. Alternative platforms may offer more affordable pricing options for small and medium-sized businesses.
  2. Features: While Confluence offers a wide range of features, some users may find that they don't need all of them or that they would prefer different capabilities.
  3. Ease of Use: Some users may find Confluence complex or difficult to use and prefer a more intuitive or user-friendly platform.
  4. Integration: Confluence may not integrate well with other tools or applications that a team already uses.
  5. Performance: Confluence may perform poorly for larger teams.
  6. Customization: Confluence may not offer the level of customization you need for your organization.

Alternatives may offer more focused or specialized features that better meet their needs, allowing you to tailor the platform to meet your needs. It's important to carefully evaluate your needs and consider different options before choosing a Confluence alternative.

What Are the Best Confluence Alternatives for 2023?

If you are looking to replace Confluence with an alternative, you might have multiple solutions. Here are some of the best Confluence alternatives:

  1. Archbee: software documentation platform for publishing portals that improve product adoption and retention.
  2. Notion: A versatile all-in-one workspace for teams and individuals that offers robust organization and collaboration features.
  3. MediaWiki
  4. Convergence
  5. Google Workspace (formerly G Suite): A suite of productivity tools, including Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides, can be used for collaboration and documentation.
  6. Microsoft Teams - A collaboration platform that integrates with Microsoft Office and offers team chat, file storage, and project management features.
  7. OneNote
  8. SharePoint
  9. Asana: A project management tool that offers a range of features for team collaboration, task tracking, and project planning.
  10. Coda: A versatile all-in-one workspace that offers a range of features for team collaboration, documentation, and project management.
  11. Monday: A project management tool that offers a range of features for team collaboration, task tracking, and project planning.

These are some of the top Confluence alternatives, but the best option for your organization will depend on your specific needs and requirements. It's important to carefully evaluate each option and consider factors such as cost, features, ease of use, customization, and integration.

Confluence vs. Archbee

Confluence and Archbee are collaboration tools designed to help teams and organizations store, organize, and share information. However, there are some key differences between the two platforms.

  1. Purpose: Confluence is designed to be a general-purpose collaboration tool, while Archbee is explicitly focused on software documentation for product and engineering teams. Archbee provides a platform for organizing, managing, and sharing knowledge, making it a good choice for teams that need a centralized repository for product documentation.
  2. User interface: Confluence has a more complex user interface, with various features and options that can overwhelm some users. Archbee, however, has a more streamlined and simple interface, making it easier to use and navigate.
  3. Customization: Confluence provides a high degree of customization, allowing users to control the look and feel of their space, create custom templates, and control access to specific areas. Archbee, on the other hand, offers fewer customization options but focuses more on simplicity and ease of use.
  4. Price: Confluence can be more expensive than Archbee, especially for larger teams or organizations. Archbee offers more affordable pricing options, making it a more cost-effective solution for smaller teams.

Ultimately, the choice between Confluence and Archbee will depend on your team's specific needs and requirements. If you're looking for a general-purpose collaboration tool with a high degree of customization, Confluence may be the better option. However, if you're focused on software documentation, Archbee may be the better choice due to its simplicity and affordability.

Does Google have a Confluence alternative?

Yes, Google has a Confluence alternative called Google Workspace (formerly G Suite). It's a suite of productivity tools including Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides, which can be used for collaboration and documentation.

Google Workspace offers real-time collaboration, document storage and sharing, and a range of tools for creating and editing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. It integrates well with other Google tools, such as Gmail, and offers robust security features to help protect your data.

Google Workspace is a good alternative to Confluence for organizations that are already using other Google tools, or for those looking for a more cost-effective collaboration and documentation platform. It's important to carefully evaluate your specific needs and requirements to determine whether Google Workspace is the best option for your organization.

When it comes to document management, we should compare Google Docs with Confluence.

Confluence and Google Docs are both collaboration and documentation platforms, but they have some key differences:

  1. Purpose: Confluence is primarily designed for team collaboration and knowledge management, while Google Docs is designed for document creation and collaboration.
  2. Features: Confluence offers features such as team wikis and real-time document collaboration, while Google Docs focuses on document creation and collaboration, offering tools for creating and editing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
  3. Customization: Confluence offers limited customization options, while Google Docs provides some customization options, including adding and using add-ons and integrations.
  4. Integration: Confluence integrates well with other Atlassian tools, while Google Docs integrates well with other Google tools, such as Gmail and Google Drive.
  5. User experience: Confluence has a more straightforward user interface, while Google Docs has a more sophisticated interface with more advanced document creation and editing features.

The choice between Confluence and Google Docs will depend on your organization's specific needs and requirements. Google Docs may be a good option if you are looking for a platform that focuses primarily on document creation and collaboration. If you are looking for a platform that offers more extensive team collaboration and knowledge management capabilities, Confluence may be a better choice.

Confluence vs. Microsoft Teams

Confluence and Microsoft Teams are collaboration tools, but they serve different purposes.

Purpose:

  • Confluence: Team collaboration and content management tool.
  • Microsoft Teams: Collaboration platform for teams, offering communication, file sharing, and integration with Microsoft apps and services.

User Interface:

  • Confluence: Sleek and straightforward, with a focus on navigation and organization.
  • Microsoft Teams: Intuitive and visually appealing, focusing on communication and collaboration.

Customization:

  • Confluence: Offers a variety of templates and the ability to embed files and media directly into pages, but customization is limited compared to Microsoft Teams.
  • Microsoft Teams: Offers extensive customization options, including the ability to integrate with various apps and services and customize the layout and appearance of the platform.

Price:

  • Confluence: Offers a free plan for up to 10 users and paid plans starting at $5 per user per month.
  • Microsoft Teams: Offers a free plan with limited features and paid plans starting at $5 per user per month for Microsoft 365 Business Standard.

Confluence vs. OneNote

Confluence and OneNote are both collaboration tools, but they serve different purposes.

Purpose:

  • Confluence: Team collaboration and content management tool.
  • OneNote: Digital note-taking and organization tool.

User Interface:

  • Confluence: Sleek and straightforward, with a focus on navigation and organization.
  • OneNote: Intuitive and visually appealing, focusing on note-taking and organization.

Customization:

  • Confluence: Offers a variety of templates and the ability to embed files and media directly into pages, but customization is limited compared to OneNote.
  • OneNote: Offers extensive customization options, including the ability to create notebooks, sections, and pages and customize the layout and appearance of notes.

Price:

  • Confluence: Offers a free plan for up to 10 users and paid plans starting at $5 per user per month.
  • OneNote: Offers a free version and is also included in some Microsoft 365 plans starting at $5 per user per month.

Want to learn about software documentation types, best practices and tools?

Read more on our blog.

What is the difference between Confluence and SharePoint?

Confluence and SharePoint are both collaboration and documentation platforms, but they have some key differences:

  1. Purpose: Confluence is primarily designed for team collaboration and knowledge management, while SharePoint is more broadly focused on collaboration, content management, and business process automation.
  2. Features: Confluence offers features such as team wikis, real-time document collaboration, and project management tools, while SharePoint offers more extensive content management and business process automation capabilities, including document libraries, lists, and workflow automation.
  3. Customization: Confluence offers limited customization options, while SharePoint offers a more extensive set of customization and integration options, including the ability to create custom apps and integrate them with other Microsoft tools.
  4. Integration: Confluence integrates well with other Atlassian tools, while SharePoint integrates well with other Microsoft tools, such as Office 365.
  5. User experience: Confluence has a more straightforward user interface, while SharePoint can be more complex and may require more training and technical expertise to utilize fully.

The choice between Confluence and SharePoint will depend on your organization's specific needs and requirements. It's important to carefully evaluate each platform and consider factors such as features, customization, integration, and user experience to determine the best option for your organization.

Confluence vs. Notion

Confluence and Notion are both collaboration and productivity tools. Confluence focuses more on team collaboration and content management, whereas Notion focuses more on individual productivity and task management. Confluence is better suited for large teams working on projects with many stakeholders, as it offers features such as advanced permissions, team calendars, and the ability to embed files and media directly into pages. On the other hand, Notion is better suited for individual or small teams looking for a more flexible and customizable workspace, as it offers a variety of templates, databases, and the ability to create and manage tasks, notes, and wikis in a single workspace.

Purpose:

  • Confluence: Team collaboration and content management.
  • Notion: Individual productivity and task management.

User Interface:

  • Confluence: Sleek and straightforward, with a focus on navigation and organization.
  • Notion: Intuitive and customizable, with a flexible layout that allows users to create their own workflows.

Customization:

  • Confluence: Offers a variety of templates and the ability to embed files and media directly into pages, but customization is limited compared to Notion.
  • Notion: Offers extensive customization options, including a wide range of templates and the ability to create and manage tasks, notes, and wikis in a single workspace.

Price:

  • Confluence: Offers a free plan for up to 10 users and paid plans starting at $5 per user per month.
  • Notion: Offers a free plan with limited features and paid plans starting at $4 per user per month.

MediaWiki vs. Confluence

MediaWiki is a free, open-source software platform used primarily for creating and managing wikis. A wiki is a type of website that allows users to collaboratively create, edit, and share content.

Purpose:

  • MediaWiki: Open-source platform for creating and managing wikis, initially developed for Wikipedia.
  • Confluence: Team collaboration and content management tool.

User Interface:

  • MediaWiki: Simple and functional, focusing on text-based content and wikilinks.
  • Confluence: Sleek and straightforward, with a focus on navigation and organization.

Customization:

  • MediaWiki: Highly customizable, with a large library of extensions and themes that allow users to add new features and change the platform's appearance.
  • Confluence: Offers a variety of templates and the ability to embed files and media directly into pages, but customization is limited compared to MediaWiki.

Price:

  • MediaWiki: Completely free and open-source.
  • Confluence: Offers a free plan for up to 10 users and paid plans starting at $5 per user per month.

Overall, MediaWiki is a versatile platform that provides a flexible and cost-effective solution for creating and managing wikis and collaborative content.

Confluence vs. Convergence

Convergence.io is a real-time collaboration platform that enables users to collaborate in real-time on a variety of digital content, including text, images, and audio/video.

Purpose:

  • Confluence: Team collaboration and content management tool.
  • Converge: Video collaboration platform for remote teams.

User Interface:

  • Confluence: Sleek and straightforward, with a focus on navigation and organization.
  • Converge: Video-focused, with an intuitive interface that makes it easy to join and participate in video meetings and collaborations.

Customization:

  • Confluence: Offers a variety of templates and the ability to embed files and media directly into pages, but customization is limited.
  • Converge: Offers a variety of features to customize and streamline video collaboration, including screen sharing, recording, and virtual backgrounds.

Price:

  • Confluence: Offers a free plan for up to 10 users and paid plans starting at $5 per user per month.
  • Converge: is an open-source engine, so the costs are linked to setting up and maintenance.

Confluence vs. Asana

Confluence and Asana are both collaboration tools, but they serve different purposes.

Purpose:

  • Confluence: Team collaboration and content management tool.
  • Asana: Project management and task management tool for teams.

User Interface:

  • Confluence: Sleek and straightforward, with a focus on navigation and organization.
  • Asana: Intuitive and visually appealing, focusing on project and task management.

Customization:

  • Confluence: Offers a variety of templates and the ability to embed files and media directly into pages, but customization is limited compared to Asana.
  • Asana: Offers extensive customization options, including a wide range of templates and the ability to create and manage tasks, projects, and portfolios in a single workspace.

Price:

  • Confluence: Offers a free plan for up to 10 users and paid plans starting at $5 per user per month.
  • Asana: Offers a free plan with limited features and paid plans starting at $10.99 per user per month.

Confluence vs. Coda

Confluence and Coda.io are both collaboration tools, but they serve different purposes.

Purpose:

  • Confluence: Team collaboration and content management tool.
  • Coda.io: Document collaboration and productivity platform.

User Interface:

  • Confluence: Sleek and straightforward, with a focus on navigation and organization.
  • Coda.io: Intuitive and visually appealing, focusing on document creation and collaboration.

Customization:

  • Confluence: Offers a variety of templates and the ability to embed files and media directly into pages, but customization is limited compared to Coda.io.
  • Coda.io: Offers extensive customization options, including the ability to create and manage documents, spreadsheets, databases, and applications in a single workspace.

Price:

  • Confluence: Offers a free plan for up to 10 users and paid plans starting at $5 per user per month.

Coda.io: Offers a free plan with limited features and paid plans starting at $10 per user per month.

Confluence vs. Monday.com

Confluence and Monday.com are both collaboration tools, but they serve different purposes.

Purpose:

  • Confluence: Team collaboration and content management tool.
  • Monday.com: Project management and team collaboration platform.

User Interface:

  • Confluence: Sleek and straightforward, with a focus on navigation and organization.
  • Monday.com: Intuitive and visually appealing, focusing on project and task management.

Customization:

  • Confluence: Offers a variety of templates and the ability to embed files and media directly into pages, but customization is limited compared to Monday.com.
  • Monday.com: Offers extensive customization options, including a wide range of templates and the ability to create and manage projects, tasks, and workflows in a single workspace.

Price:

  • Confluence: Offers a free plan for up to 10 users and paid plans starting at $5 per user per month.

Monday.com: Offers a free trial and paid plans starting at $8 per user per month.

Comparison Table for Confluence Alternatives

Try out a few platforms with a free trial or a limited-scale pilot to get a feel for how well they meet your needs before making a decision.

Note: The above information is subject to change, and the pricing and features of each platform may be subject to updates and changes.

Here is a comparison table for Confluence alternatives based on purpose, main use case, main features, and main benefit:

Platform Purpose Main Use Case Main Features Main Benefit
Archbee Team collaboration and content management Document collaboration, content creation and management, project management Customizable templates, real-time collaboration, version control Streamlined collaboration and content management
Notion Document collaboration and productivity Note-taking, document creation and management, task management Customizable templates, real-time collaboration, integration with other apps Efficient and effective organization and collaboration
MediaWiki Collaborative authoring and content management Wiki creation and management, document collaboration Customizable templates, real-time collaboration, version control Free and open-source platform for collaborative authoring and content management
Convergence Collaborative authoring and content management Document collaboration, content creation and management, project management Real-time collaboration, version control, customizable templates Streamlined collaboration and content management
Google Workspace Collaboration platform for teams Document collaboration, communication and file sharing, project management Real-time collaboration, integration with Google apps and services, customizable templates Efficient and effective collaboration for teams
Google Docs Document collaboration and productivity Document collaboration and management Real-time collaboration, integration with Google Workspace, customizable templates Efficient document collaboration and management
Microsoft Teams Collaboration platform for teams Communication and collaboration, file sharing, project management Integration with Microsoft apps and services, customizable templates, real-time collaboration Efficient and effective collaboration for teams
OneNote Digital note-taking and organization Note-taking, task management, document management Customizable templates, real-time collaboration, integration with Microsoft Teams Efficient and effective digital organization and collaboration
SharePoint Collaboration platform for teams Document collaboration, communication and file sharing, project management Integration with Microsoft Teams, customizable templates, real-time collaboration Efficient and effective collaboration for teams
Asana Project management and team collaboration Project management, task management, team collaboration Customizable templates, real-time collaboration, integration with other apps Efficient and effective project management and team collaboration
Coda.io Document collaboration and productivity Document creation and management, project management, task management Customizable templates, real-time collaboration, integration with other apps Efficient and effective document collaboration and productivity
Monday.com Project management and team collaboration Project management, task management, team collaboration Customizable templates, real-time collaboration, integration with other apps Efficient and effective project management and team collaboration

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are several alternatives to Confluence that are available out there. Each one has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the best choice will depend on your specific needs and project requirements. Consider giving Archbee, Notion, Bookstack, and Docusaurus a try to see which works best for you. Remember, you can choose the right tool to get your job done; it depends on your requirements and how you want to set up a team collaboration in writing documentation.

Frequently
asked
questions

Is there anything better than Confluence?

Different organizations have different needs, and what works well for one organization may not work well for another. Evaluating your specific requirements and determining which platform best meets your needs is essential.Some organizations may consider some collaboration and documentation platforms to be better than Confluence, depending on their specific needs. These platforms include Archbee, Notion, Convergence.io, and Google Workspace.

What can replace Confluence?

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Several collaboration and documentation platforms can replace Confluence, depending on your specific needs and requirements. Some popular alternatives include:Airtable: A collaboration platform that combines the features of a database and a spreadsheet.Huddle: A cloud-based collaboration platform for secure document management and collaboration.Monday.com: A project management tool that allows for collaboration and document management.Google Workspace (formerly G Suite): A suite of productivity tools, including Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides, which can be used for collaboration and documentation.Microsoft Teams: A collaboration platform that integrates with Microsoft's suite of productivity tools, including Office 365.

Is there a free alternative to Confluence?

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Yes, there are several free alternatives to Confluence:MediaWiki: An open-source wiki platform that is free to use and customize.Google Workspace (formerly G Suite): Google Workspace offers a free version with limited features, including Google Docs and Google Sheets, which can be used for collaboration and documentation.Notion: A collaboration platform that offers a free version with limited features, including wikis and document management.Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware: An open-source collaboration platform that is free to use and customize, offering features such as wikis, blogs, and document management.

What is the difference between the Confluence knowledge base and the documentation space?

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The key difference between a knowledge base and a documentation space is the scope and purpose of the content that is stored in each. A knowledge base is typically a broader collection of information that is meant to serve as a resource for a wider range of topics, while a documentation space is focused on a specific set of topics and is intended to serve as a resource for a specific project, product, or team.In Confluence, a knowledge base is a collection of information and resources that are designed to be used as a reference by a team or organization. A knowledge base can include articles, how-to guides, policies, and other content types organized into categories or spaces.On the other hand, a documentation space is a specific type of Confluence space dedicated to storing and organizing documentation for a particular project, product, or team. A documentation space can include articles, diagrams, and other types of content that are organized into sections or pages and can be used to store information such as user guides, product specifications, and documentation.

What is a Confluence document?

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A Confluence document is a type of document created in the Confluence collaboration and documentation platform. Confluence documents can contain text, images, tables, and multimedia, as well as various types of formatting and collaboration tools. They can be used to capture information, ideas, and work in a centralized location, making it easy for teams to access and share information. Confluence documents can be organized into spaces, pages, and child pages to create a hierarchical structure, making it easy to find and manage information. They can also be collaborated on in real-time by multiple users, and version history is maintained to track changes.

What is the difference between space types in Confluence?

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In Confluence, you can create and manage several different types of spaces. The main types of spaces include:Team spaces: Team spaces are designed for collaboration within a specific team or group of users. These spaces can be used to store and share information related to projects, initiatives, or processes.Personal spaces: Personal spaces are private spaces that are created for individual users. These spaces can be used to store personal notes, thoughts, or documents.Knowledge base spaces: Knowledge base spaces are dedicated areas for storing information that is intended to be used as a reference by a team or organization. These spaces can include articles, how-to guides, policies, and other types of content that are organized into categories.Documentation spaces: Documentation spaces are specific types of spaces that are dedicated to storing and organizing documentation for a specific project, product, or team. These spaces can include articles, diagrams, and other types of content that are organized into sections or pages.Blog spaces: Blog spaces are areas for publishing blog posts or articles, and are designed for sharing information with a wider audience.In Confluence, you can customize each space to meet the specific needs of your team, project, or organization. You can control access to each space, set up custom templates, and customize the look and feel of each space to ensure that it meets your specific requirements.