Best Wiki Tools for Writers
Many writers want to organize their fictional world as a wiki, for readers, for a team or for themselves. There are several ways to build a wiki, and each fits a different need. This list compares four common approaches for writers.
How we evaluated
We looked at three criteria: (1) how much effort setup and upkeep take, (2) whether links between pages are created automatically, (3) whether you control who can see it. We don't list prices because they change over time.
1. Hosted wiki sites (like Fandom)
They offer ready wiki infrastructure, communities can edit together and they can reach a wide audience. They're usually used for works with large fan communities. You build the page layout and templates yourself, and you're bound by the platform's rules on things like ads and visibility.
2. Self-hosted wiki software
Running software like MediaWiki on your own server gives you full control. In return, technical work like setup, updates and backups is on you; for a single writer it's often more than needed.
3. Publishing from note apps
Tools like Notion or Obsidian let you publish pages to the web (some through a separate service). Practical if you already use them; but the structure and links are only as good as the setup you build, and there's no view made for fictional worlds.
4. The yazar.io Shareable Wiki
Since you already build your world in yazar.io with characters, locations, organizations and other sections, there's no separate wiki to set up: turn it on in Book Settings and your book is published as a read-only wiki, with links between records carried over automatically. Choose Private, Unlisted or Public visibility and add a password if you like; your notes are never published. The trade-off: only the book's owner edits the wiki; it's not a wiki the community edits together.
What if I want readers to edit the wiki?
If you want collaborative editing, a hosted wiki site may suit you better. yazar.io's wiki is read-only and edited only by its owner.
Will my wiki show up on search engines?
In yazar.io you decide: with Public visibility it can be found on search engines, with Unlisted only people with the link can see it.
Is yazar.io's wiki free?
Yes, the Shareable Wiki can be turned on for free, per book.
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