Wikibase Hosting Options Compared

About The Authors

We are Wikibase experts with unmatched professional Wikibase hosting and Wikibase software development expertise. We provide two 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.

You can find more of our Wikibase writings on our Wikibase blog.

Option 1: ProWiki

Highlights:

• Instant setup
• SLA
• Optimized MediaWiki experience
• No Query service or QuickStatements

ProWiki is the most modern MediaWiki hosting service on the market. Create your wiki instantly. No waiting, no talking to someone first. Activate any of dozens of MediaWiki extensions with a click or configure your Wikibase via the admin panel.

Because ProWiki is first and foremost a MediaWiki hosting platform, it does not provide the most comprehensive Wikibase experience. Most notably, it does not currently come with the Wikibase Query Service. It also does not come with popular Wikibase tools like QuickStatements and OpenRefine. For some use cases this will be a deal-breaker. For other use cases the best-in-class MediaWiki tooling makes ProWiki the perfect fit.

Our Wikibase extensions such as Automated Values and Wikibase Local Media are all included with ProWiki. You get quick access to new functionality via frequent software updates and additions of new extensions.

ProWiki comes with a support and uptime SLA and is a paid service. Pricing starts at 119 EUR a month for organizations and 33 EUR a month for individuals. You can try out ProWiki wikibase hosting via the free trial.

Conclusion

ProWiki gives you a well-rounded wiki with Wikibase but is not for those that need the Query Service.

Option 2: Wikibase.Cloud

Highlights:

• Free
• Query service and QuickStatements
• Limited customizability
• No SLA
• Unstable
• Advertising by Wikimedia Deutschland

Wikibase.Cloud is a project run by the non-profit Wikimedia Deutschland. Its biggest selling point is that it is free. The hosting and people costs are paid for with money of people who donate to Wikipedia.

Wikibase Cloud comes with both the Query Service and QuickStatements. It also comes with a number of extensions and a configuration UI for a handful of Wikibase settings.

As a free service, Wikibase Cloud comes with some notable downsides. Queries and search are unreliable and sometimes down completely. The wiki isn't really yours: Wikimedia has used Wikibase Cloud wikis to advertise their own programmes. Do you want a big banner to show up on every page of your wiki shown to all your users with a message you do not control, all without warning?

Another downside of Wikibase Cloud is that it does not come with an SLA. It is also not clear what will happen if internal Wikimedia politics changes, or if there is some outrage about donor money being spent on a hosting service. Wikimedia has a track record of discontinuing projects and classifying "third-party concerns" as not important. These risks and the lack of an SLA are not a big deal for disposable wikis, such as when trying out Wikibase.

Wikibase Cloud is also not very customizable. It comes without many of the most popular MediaWiki extensions, and you cannot use any Wikibase tools beyond those that are already included. This makes it unsuitable for your typical serious Wikibase instance, a sentiment we have heard voiced by Wikimedia Deutschland itself several times. Luckily there are good Wikibase Cloud alternatives.

Conclusion

Wikibase.Cloud is great for those without a budget and those who wish to try out the Query Service.

Option 3: Wikibase Hosting by Professional Wiki

Highlights

• Query service, QuickStatements and more
• Most customizable and can be on-prem
• SLA
• Most expensive

We provide dedicated and tailored Wikibase hosting on request.

This includes the core Wikibase software, the Wikibase Query Service, ElasticSearch, tools such as QuickStatements and OpenRefine, Wikibase extensions, MediaWiki extensions and more. You want it, we include it. Don't know what tools you need? Not to worry, we will analyze your use case and make a recommendation, including a short summary of how we got there.

Out of all Wikibase hosting options, this one is the most customizable. It is the only option for organizations that need an on-premises Wikibase, custom integrations with other systems, or wish to use specialized Wikibase tools.

Our tailored Wikibase hosting comes with uptime and support guarantees in the form of an SLA. We can bundle your Wikibase hosting together with other Wikibase services. For instance, we can help you import data into your Wikibase, or develop new Wikibase features for you.

Naturally, all of this comes with a price tag attached. If your budget is very constrained, then this option might not be suitable for you, as it is the most expensive.

Learn more about our dedicated Wikibase Hosting

Conclusion

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

Comparison Table

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

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