The Best Open Source Wikipedia AlternativesTop Encyclopedias and other similar apps like Wikipedia

The best open source alternative to Wikipedia is Kiwix. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Wikipedia and many of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Wikipedia are WikiReader, Wikiless, Citizendium and WikiSpooks.com.

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Wikipedia alternatives are mainly Encyclopedias, but if you're looking for Web Servers or Dictionaries you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Wikipedia.
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Alternatives list

  1. Kiwix icon

    Kiwix

     112 likes

    Kiwix enables you to have the whole Wikipedia at hand wherever you go! You don't need Internet, everything is stored on your computer, USB flash drive or DVD!.

    23 Kiwix alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Wine
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Google Chrome
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Kiwix viewing a page on Paris
     
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    2
    9
    Comments about Kiwix as an Alternative to Wikipedia
    intp
    Negative
    2

    It's a great tool for accessing such content offline, but not a true alternative. More of a compliment

    PERCE_NEIGE
    Positive
    4

    It's a good alternative (but it's an app, not a site), as it's offline Wikipedia. But they made weird choices because they chose the .zim extension for their archive. That's weird and everything but handy. And they should add a way to download only some articles, and turning them into .pdf or .epub, it would make the application really modern and handy!

    Kiwix icon
    Kiwix icon

    • Most users think Kiwix is a great Wikipedia alternative.

    • Kiwix is Free and Open SourceWikipedia is also Free and Open Source
  4. Wikiless icon

    Wikiless

     15 likes

    Wikiless is a free open source alternative Wikipedia front-end focused on privacy.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    Wikiless screenshot 1
     
  5. Citizendium icon

    Citizendium

     10 likes

    Citizendium, powered by MediaWiki, is "an open wiki project dedicated to creating a free, comprehensive, and reliable repository of structured knowledge". Unlike with Wikipedia, a contributor must register using their real name and verify their identity.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • MediaWiki
    Citizendium screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Comments about Citizendium as an Alternative to Wikipedia
    the_real_dvs1
    Positive
    4

    By requiring users to register with their real names and verify their identity, Citizendium avoids sockpuppetry and holds people accountable for their writing.

    DLwebmaster
    Positive
    2

    There is a level of accountability that is not provided by free sites - you have to register properly otherwise you cannot contribute.

    Citizendium icon
    Citizendium icon

    • Most users think Citizendium is a great Wikipedia alternative.

    • Citizendium is Free and Open SourceWikipedia is also Free and Open Source
  6. WikiSpooks.com icon

    WikiSpooks.com

     28 likes

    WikiSpooks is a global alternative encyclopedia on politics, spy craft, deep state intelligence, and conspiracies, free of corporate influence, partisan politics, or government propaganda for historians and truth-seekers to read, edit, and share.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
     
  7. XOWA icon

    XOWA

     13 likes

    XOWA is the free, open-source application that lets you download Wikipedia to your computer. Access all of Wikipedia offline -- without an internet connection!

    14 XOWA alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Raspberry Pi
    XOWA screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about XOWA as an Alternative to Wikipedia
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Best offline Wikipedia-reader software

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    XOWA icon
    XOWA icon
    • XOWA is Free and Open SourceWikipedia is also Free and Open Source
  9. Oppia icon

    Oppia

     26 likes

    Oppia is a free, open-source learning platform. Full of interactive activities called 'explorations', Oppia helps curious minds learn and teach.

    77 Oppia alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    Oppia screenshot 1
     
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    1
    6
    Comments about Oppia as an Alternative to Wikipedia
    Nikolas Paiva
    Positive
    0

    It's like code academy and Khan academy

    Oppia icon
    Oppia icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Oppia is a great Wikipedia alternative.

    • Oppia is Free and Open SourceWikipedia is also Free and Open Source
  10. WikiIndex icon

    WikiIndex

     14 likes

    Welcome to WikiIndex, a wiki of all wiki, wiki people, wiki software, wiki farms, and wiki ideas, a 'work in progress' founded in 2006.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    WikiIndex screenshot 1
     
  11. Metacademy icon

    Metacademy

     19 likes

    Metacademy - a free open source platform for efficient, personalized learning.

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Online
    Metacademy screenshot 1
     
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    10
  12. Libregamewiki icon

    Libregamewiki

     11 likes

    LibreGameWiki the free gaming encyclopedia for games developed as open source and using open media.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • MediaWiki
     
  13. Wike icon

    Wike

     1 like

    Wike is a Wikipedia reader for the GNOME Desktop. Provides access to all the content of this online encyclopedia in a native application, with a simpler and distraction-free view of articles.

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • GNOME
    Wike screenshot 1
     
  14. Encyclopaedia of Mathematics icon

    Encyclopaedia of Mathematics

     5 likes

    The Encyclopedia of Mathematics wiki is an open access resource designed specifically for the mathematics community. The original articles are from the online Encyclopaedia of Mathematics, published by Kluwer Academic Publishers in 2002.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    Encyclopaedia of Mathematics screenshot 1
     
12 of 26 Wikipedia alternatives