# Outline

> Outline is a team wiki and knowledge base (v1.11.0, Oct 2026). It is source-available under the Business Source License 1.1, not open source: you may use it in production except to run a commercial "Document Service" for third parties, and each version converts to Apache-2.0 after four years (2030-10-12 for 1.11.0). Self-hosting needs Docker, PostgreSQL 14+, Redis 4+, an auth provider, a domain and 512 MB RAM (1 GB+ recommended); Windows is not supported.

- Repository: https://github.com/outline/outline
- Official docs: https://docs.getoutline.com/s/hosting/
- Checked: 2026-10-15

## What it replaces
- Notion: Wikis and docs (partial). Team wiki with real-time collaboration; BSL forbids offering it as a commercial document service.

## Facts, with sources

| Question | Status | Answer | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runs on my machine? | Confirmed | Self-hosted server (Docker) or hosted; no desktop app documented | https://docs.getoutline.com/s/hosting/doc/installation-methods-pSvgz9j0QC | 2026-10-15 |
| Code licence | No | BSL 1.1 (source-available, not OSI); each version Apache-2.0 after 4 years | https://github.com/outline/outline/blob/main/LICENSE | 2026-10-15 |
| Model weights licence | Confirmed | No model weights | https://github.com/outline/outline#readme | 2026-10-15 |
| Commercial use | Partial | Production use allowed, except offering a commercial Document Service | https://github.com/outline/outline/blob/main/LICENSE | 2026-10-15 |
| Paid services needed? | Partial | None required to self-host; hosted getoutline.com is optional | https://github.com/outline/outline#readme | 2026-10-15 |
| Hardware | Confirmed | 512 MB RAM minimum, 1 GB+ recommended; low-powered CPU fine | https://docs.getoutline.com/s/hosting/doc/requirements-ULdYnwi4wG | 2026-10-15 |
| Operating systems | Partial | Unix-like servers (Ubuntu, Debian reported); not Windows | https://docs.getoutline.com/s/hosting/doc/requirements-ULdYnwi4wG | 2026-10-15 |
| Setup effort | Confirmed | Medium; Docker plus PostgreSQL, Redis, auth provider and a domain | https://docs.getoutline.com/s/hosting/ | 2026-10-15 |

GitHub: 40915 stars, 3618 forks, last push 2026-10-16, archived: no.
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Source: RepoQuarry (https://repoquarry.dev/projects/outline). Data licence: CC BY 4.0. Quotes are from project documentation and belong to their authors.