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The markdown-native, self-hosted Docmost alternative
Last updated September 9, 2026
Docmost is the closest tool to tela here — both are AGPL, both self-host, both do live collaboration, both ship an MCP server, and both are open core with a paid Enterprise tier. So the question is not which one has a licence wall; it is where each one puts it. Docmost gates the AI and the MCP server behind Enterprise; tela gates SSO and audit logs and leaves the AI, the agents and Atlas in the free core. And Docmost stores ProseMirror JSON where tela stores markdown.
tela vs Docmost, at a glance
| Feature | tela | Docmost |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 — the whole product is the free core; a paid Enterprise add-on covers per-org SSO and audit logs | AGPL core + commercial Enterprise license |
| What sits behind the licence wall | Per-org SSO and audit logs — the company layer | The AI and the MCP server — the product layer |
| Storage | Canonical markdown you own — export is a copy, not a conversion | ProseMirror JSON (markdown = import/export) |
| Ask your docs (AI) | Built in — ranked full-text always, plus semantic Ask that cites its sources (self-host brings its own model) | Built in — Enterprise license only |
| Agents read & write (MCP) | Built in — agents read and write, scoped per token, over a hosted endpoint | First-party MCP — Enterprise license only |
| Generate docs from your code | Yes — Atlas builds a cited, coverage-checked wiki from git repos and Jira | No |
| What a page can be | Docs, presentations and spreadsheets are all page types — plus mermaid, drawings and charts | Documents |
Why teams switch to tela
- Markdown is the source of truth — grep it, diff it, sync it to a folder, own it forever; Docmost stores ProseMirror JSON with markdown only as import/export.
- Both projects are open core; the difference is what each one sells. tela's free core keeps Ask, semantic search, the MCP server and Atlas, and licenses the company layer — per-org SSO and audit logs.
- Atlas closes the loop Docmost does not — a cited wiki generated from your repo and Jira, scored against the code's real surface for what is still undocumented.
When Docmost is the better choice
Docmost is mature and well-rounded with a clear paid-support path — a polished block editor, a Confluence importer, SSO/SCIM, and audit logs. If you want a Notion-style block editor, a turnkey Confluence migration, or a vendor to buy a support contract from today, it is a strong pick.
Frequently asked questions
Is tela a good Docmost alternative?
Yes. Markdown is the source of truth — grep it, diff it, sync it to a folder, own it forever; Docmost stores ProseMirror JSON with markdown only as import/export. tela is open-source (AGPL-3.0), self-hostable, and markdown-native, with a built-in MCP server so AI agents read and write your docs.
Can I self-host tela and connect AI agents to it?
Yes. Self-host tela for free (AGPL-3.0) or start on the free cloud tier. Its built-in MCP server lets agents like Claude search, read and write your wiki directly, on tools scoped by the token you give them.
When is Docmost the better choice?
Docmost is mature and well-rounded with a clear paid-support path — a polished block editor, a Confluence importer, SSO/SCIM, and audit logs. If you want a Notion-style block editor, a turnkey Confluence migration, or a vendor to buy a support contract from today, it is a strong pick.
Try tela
tela is an open-source (AGPL), self-hostable team wiki. Self-host it, or start on the free cloud tier at telawiki.com. See the MCP server docs for connecting your agents, or compare tela with other tools.
Docmost editions, AI and MCP docs (verified 2026). tela facts current as of September 9, 2026.