Wikibase Hosting Options Compared

About The Authors

We are Wikibase experts and provide one of the hosting options, so we have a stake in how these are presented. That said, we attempted to create a fair and useful comparison, similar to what we did in our comparison between Wikibase and Semantic MediaWiki.

In a hurry? Skip to the comparison tables.

Option 1: Wikibase Hosting by Professional Wiki

Highlights:

• Fully managed: upgrades, backups and monitoring
• Team includes original Wikibase developers
• Customizable and can be on-prem
• SLA
• Subscription fee

Get managed Wikibase hosting from the team with unparalleled commercial Wikibase experience. We take care of everything technical so you can focus on your data. Need customizations? No problem, we have the expertise!

Our tech lead is one of the original Wikibase developers, having contributed more code to Wikibase than anyone else. We've helped many organizations adopt Wikibase and have a highly visible track record of successful projects. Those include the most popular community extensions, such as Wikibase EDTF, Wikibase Local Media and Wikibase Faceted Search.

You receive a well-configured Wikibase with all the tools you need to get started quickly. The Wikibase Query Service, various Wikibase extensions, and an in-wiki admin UI are all at your fingertips. Tools such as QuickStatements, OpenRefine, and hosted MCP are available as add-ons. You want it, we add it. Don't know what tools you need? Not to worry, we will analyze your use case and make a recommendation. We can also help you import data into your Wikibase, develop new Wikibase features for you, and help you with data modelling choices.

Sleep soundly via uptime agreements in the SLA and extensive security measures such as encrypted offsite backups, documented in the Data Processing Agreement. We keep your wiki updated and respond quickly to incidents.

Managed Wikibase hosting by Professional Wiki is often your most cost-efficient option. It starts at 399 EUR per month, with setup or migration often included for free. This is a bargain compared to dedicating an in-house engineer who spends much of their time on Wikibase. Avoid spending about ten times as much, without an SLA or quality guarantees, and with all the knowledge in one person's head.

Learn more about our dedicated Wikibase Hosting

Conclusion

Our Wikibase hosting is for organizations that need a reliable or customizable Wikibase.

Option 2: Wikibase Cloud

Highlights:

• Free
• Query service and QuickStatements
• Limited customizability
• No SLA
• Only for projects that fit its hosting policy

Wikibase Cloud is run by Wikimedia Deutschland, the non-profit that created and maintains Wikibase.

It is a fantastic option for trying out Wikibase, as it is entirely free, and comes with the Wikibase Query Service. Wikibase Cloud also gives you QuickStatements, some Wikibase extensions and a configuration UI for a handful of Wikibase settings.

As of August 2026, Wikibase Cloud comes with a hosting policy that limits which wikis can use it.

New wikis are temporary by default, and their managers must apply for long-term hosting. To be eligible, your data must be released under CC0 or into the public domain, and wikis with a primarily commercial purpose do not qualify. A wiki without an external audience, such as internal documentation, is also less likely to be approved.

If you are affected by the policy changes, we can migrate your Wikibase off Wikibase Cloud with your data, history and user accounts intact.

Wikibase Cloud does not come with an SLA and has limited customizability, missing out on many of the most popular MediaWiki extensions.

Conclusion

Wikibase Cloud is great for those without a budget and those who wish to try out the Query Service, as long as their project fits the hosting policy.

Option 3: Self-hosting with Wikibase Suite

Highlights:

• Free software
• Query service and QuickStatements
• Full control, including on-prem
• You handle setup, upgrades and backups
• No SLA

Wikibase Suite is the Docker-based bundle Wikimedia Deutschland provides for running Wikibase on your own server. It comes with the Query Service, search, QuickStatements and a browser-based installer. You need a Linux server with at least 8 GB of memory and a domain name.

You get full control: you pick the extensions and the configuration, and your data stays on your servers. You also get all the work: upgrades, security updates, backups, monitoring, and fixing things when they break. The Query Service in particular needs memory and attention as your data grows.

Without MediaWiki experience, properly configuring and hosting this stack is not easy. And even with the skills, it costs time. We often see self-hosted Wikibases stuck on older versions that no longer get security updates, because nobody has the time or expertise to upgrade them.

Conclusion

Self-hosting is great for organizations that want full control and have the technical expertise and time to run it.

Comparison Tables

Quickly see the differences between the Wikibase hosting options. Common features are omitted for brevity.

Features

Running your Wikibase

Cost, data and compliance

Wikibase Cloud's policy and Wikibase Suite keep evolving. If something here is out of date, let us know.