What is Knowledge Base Software?
Knowledge base software refers to a specialized application or platform crafted to efficiently arrange, store, oversee, and provide access to information and expertise.
It can be for both internal organizational use or external stakeholders.
This software acts as a centralized hub for documents, articles, FAQs, tutorials, and various content types, simplifying the process of locating and accessing essential information for users.
Typically, knowledge base software finds extensive application in areas such as customer support, employee training, and facilitating seamless information sharing.
Top 17 Knowledge Base Software in 2024
1. LiveChatAI
LiveChatAI empowers businesses to create their own AI bot assistant seamlessly integrated into their website if they want to.
Utilizing the capabilities of ChatGPT, LiveChatAI facilitates interactive conversations that leverage your uploaded documents or linked content.
Although it is not specifically a knowledge base software, it can be trained according to your content to produce accurate and personalized answers, including knowledge base information.
Top Features:
- Multi-channel integration for connection across various communication platforms for a unified experience
- Advanced AI compatibility for enhanced functionality
- Continuous learning to improve accuracy and performance through ongoing data analysis
- Comprehensive API for extensive access to system functionality and data for versatile integration options
- Easy integration with an embedded script for incorporating it into your existing infrastructure
Pricing:
There is a forever-free plan if you want to try it out first.
- Basic Plan: For personal use, you can try the Basic plan for $39/mo, providing one AI bot.
- Pro Plan: For small businesses, the Pro plan offers 25 AI Bots and 10 million character data import.
- Expert Plan: For experts, this plan offers 50 AI bots, 20 million character data import, API access, and branding removal.
2. Zendesk
Zendesk is a well-known player in the customer service software market, and its knowledge base offering is no exception.
With features like AI-driven Content Cues and collaboration tools, it's a strong choice for businesses looking to streamline their knowledge management processes.
Top Features:
- Centralized repository to organize and store knowledge resources in one place
- Self-service support to find answers independently
- Content creation and management to create and maintain up-to-date knowledge base content
- Search functionality to help customers quickly locate information
- Analytics and collaboration tools for tracking usage, improving content, and collaborating within the knowledge base
Pricing:
During your Zendesk Suite trial, you'll have access to all Professional plan features and can switch or pay at any time within your account.
- Suite Team: $55 per agent/month
- Suite Growth: $89 per agent/month
- Suite Professional: $115 per agent/month
You can also go for the Suite Enterprise plan with custom pricing.
3. Helpjuice
Helpjuice is a knowledge base software that helps businesses create and manage knowledge bases.
It offers customizable themes, analytics, expert customization, and a robust search feature.
Helpjuice is highly customizable to match a company's branding and integrates with various tools for team collaboration and information access.
Top Features:
- Various customization options with templates
- Easy authoring and formatting for easy content creation
- Intelligent analytics to get data-driven insights
- Google-like search functionality
- Integrations with third-party tools
Pricing:
All Helpjuice plan includes all features and a 14-day free trial.
- Starter: $120 per month for up to 4 users
- Run-Up: $200 per month for up to 16 users
- Premium Limited: $289 per month for up to 60 users
- Premium Unlimited: $499 per month for unlimited users
4. Wix Answers
Wix Answers is a knowledge base platform that functions as a customer support tool.
It offers a code-free solution that consolidates customer interactions into a single timeline, automates manual tasks, and enables the creation of a self-service knowledge center
This platform incorporates AI-powered information for issue resolution and provides proactive support by anticipating problems in real-time.
It's particularly suitable for businesses already using Wix's web development platform.
Top Features:
- Knowledge base to assist customers in finding answers
- Ticketing system for tracking and managing customer inquiries
- Live chat for real-time customer communication and instant support
- Call center for efficient phone-based customer support
- Analytics and reporting to gain insights into customer interactions, and agent performance
Pricing:
- Self-Service: Costs $24/mo/agent billed annually with features like knowledge management
- Multi-Channel: Costs $60/mo/agent with features like knowledge management and live chat
- Unlimited: Costs $80/mo/agent with features like call center and ticketing system
There is also a Call Center plan that costs $56/mo/agent with features like call center and live chat
5. inSided
InSided offers a range of solutions for customer support and engagement, including community management, in-app support, feedback, and ideation features.
inSided is geared towards building a community around your knowledge base.
It can be used to create and manage customer communities where users can access information, ask questions, and interact.
Its interactive features and content organization tools make it an attractive option for businesses looking to engage their audience.
Top Features:
- Interactive content embedding capabilities to empower users
- Intuitive drag-and-drop functionality to streamline the content organization
- Integration with a wide range of popular tech tools for enhanced versatility
- Robust support for guiding and optimizing community setups
- A collaborative environment by gathering valuable product feedback and ideation from customers
Pricing:
inSided offers flexible pricing. So, for the plans below, you can contact the team and get your custom pricing.
- Professional: Designed for starting and growing your first branded community with essential features and 3 admin seats.
- Business: Ideal for larger teams, it includes everything in the Professional tier, 5 admin seats, and advanced engagement features like user groups, ideation, and CRM integration.
You can also go for its Enterprise plan which is tailored for organizations with extensive customization needs with 10 admin seats, a dedicated Customer Success Manager, and more.
6. Bloomfire
Bloomfire is a knowledge base software designed to streamline organizational knowledge management by consolidating information into a unified platform.
It empowers organizations to efficiently locate, distribute, and optimize the utilization of critical knowledge assets.
The platform boasts various resources, including articles, case studies, industry reports, interactive content, and more.
Top Features:
- Knowledge sharing for centralized access and contribution to a knowledge base
- Search and discovery feature offering intelligent recommendations and suggestions based on user behavior and content relevance
- Collaboration and crowdsourcing for continuous learning and cooperation
- Insights and analytics to assess knowledge usage and effectiveness
- Customer support to pertinent knowledge resources for quicker and more accurate assistance
Pricing:
Bloomfire has one pricing option, which costs $25 per user per month, and your plan is scaled by volume and model.
7. USU Knowledge Management-no follow
USU Knowledge Management offers similar features to others on this list, with a focus on intelligent knowledge management and permissions.
It is a knowledge base software that helps organizations manage and share knowledge effectively.
It provides a centralized platform where users can create, organize, and access knowledge articles, documents, and other resources.
It is designed to improve knowledge sharing, enhance customer support, and streamline internal processes.
Top Features:
- Search functionality simplifies finding knowledge articles and documents with keywords or filters
- Content categorization lets users organize knowledge into topics
- With version control, Usu manages different article versions, ensuring the latest and most accurate information is available.
- Collaboration tools enable teamwork in creating, editing, and reviewing knowledge articles
- Streamlines internal processes by centralizing knowledge management
Pricing:
You need to contact USU for the pricing.
8. Guru
Guru is a comprehensive knowledge base software solution designed to facilitate knowledge organization and sharing within organizations.
It empowers users to establish and manage a centralized knowledge repository, streamlining the accessibility and maintenance of information.
Additionally, it incorporates advanced features, such as AI-driven recommendations, analytics, and integration with various tools.
Top Features:
- A centralized knowledge repository for easy access
- Teams collaborate on knowledge articles within Guru
- AI-powered suggestions enhance search efficiency
- Analytics provide insights into knowledge usage
- Integration with popular organizational tools
Pricing:
- Starter: Ideal for teams of up to 3 users looking to store and share information within their workflows for free, with a charge of $5/user/month after 3 users.
- Builder: Priced at $10/user/month, this plan is designed for teams seeking customization and automation of knowledge.
For larger organizations, Guru offers a fully customizable Enterprise plan with pricing that scales according to your company's specific needs.
9. Stack Overflow for Teams
Stack Overflow for Teams is a collaboration platform designed for teams to ask questions, share knowledge, and collaborate on projects within a private and secure environment.
It allows organizations to create a private space where team members can ask questions, get answers, and share information related to their work.
Top Features:
- Organizing and grouping items systematically
- Overseeing and maintaining your knowledge repository
- Handling and controlling documents
- Remote support
- Offering a platform for users to access information or perform tasks independently
Pricing:
There is a free plan available with your own private space hosted on stackoverflowteams.com
- Basic: $6.50 USD per teammate/month with structured and searchable knowledge base.
- Business: $13.50 USD per teammate/month with long-form knowledge with Articles.
You can also contact the team for enterprise pricing plans.
10. Zoho Desk
Zoho Desk's knowledge base software complements its ticketing and help desk solutions.
It provides a user-friendly platform for creating and managing content, as well as customizable structures for organizing information.
These features aim to reduce support ticket volumes and enhance customer self-service, ultimately improving the overall customer service experience.
Top Features:
- Portal customization to tailor your portal to match your needs
- Secure access that ensures protected and authorized entry to your system
- Content management for overseeing and controlling your content
- Text search to conduct searches using textual queries
- Advanced reporting and chatbots
Pricing:
Zoho Desk offers a 15-day free trial for whichever plan you choose. Paid plans include:
- Standard: €12/user/month billed annually with basic features.
- Professional: €20/user/month billed annually with simplified collaboration and process automation functionalities.
- Enterprise: €35/user/month billed annually with advanced AI and customization capabilities.
11. Document360
Document360 is a versatile knowledge base software that provides organizations with the tools and features necessary to create, organize, and share information effectively.
It caters to both customer-facing and internal knowledge needs while offering essential functionalities like search, version control, categorization, and content creation.
Additionally, it emphasizes data security through article view permissions, making it a comprehensive solution for knowledge management within an organization.
Top Features:
- Content management to organize and maintain digital content
- Knowledge base search
- Self-service portal tools for users to find answers or solutions independently
- Community forums for users to interact and share information
- Secure file management for storing and managing digital files
Pricing:
There is a free plan available with limited features. Paid plan pricing when billed annually is as follows:
- Standard: $149/month per project for public-facing knowledge bases with 1-3 team accounts.
- Professional: $299/month per project for public-facing knowledge bases with 3+ team accounts and advanced tools.
- Business: $399/month per project for private knowledge bases suited for employees and partners.
- Enterprise: $599/month per project for large teams with robust security, auditing, and advanced tools.
12. Help Scout
Help Scout is a customer support platform that provides various features to help businesses manage their customer support operations.
It includes a help desk for organizing and responding to customer inquiries, as well as a knowledge base feature for creating and maintaining a self-service portal.
The knowledge base feature allows businesses to publish articles, FAQs, and other resources to provide helpful information to their customers.
Top Features:
- Knowledge base capabilities with articles, FAQs, and resources to assist your customers
- Self-service portal for customers to independently locate answers to their queries
- Article management for creating, editing, and organizing knowledge base articles
- Search functionality for customers to quickly find relevant articles
- Analytics and reporting for monitoring knowledge base performance
Pricing:
There is a free plan available with a flexible duration.
- Standard:Costs $20 per user per month and is designed for growing teams with a user limit of 25, offering intuitive support tools.
- Plus: The Plus plan is priced at $40 per user per month, has no user limits, and provides advanced collaboration and organization features for growing teams.
- Pro: For large teams with 10 or more users, the Pro plan is available at $65 per user per month and offers enhanced security, scalability, and hands-on service.
13. Obsidian
Obsidian is a knowledge base software that allows users to create and organize their notes, ideas, and information in a digital format.
It provides a platform for users to connect their thoughts and create a network of interlinked notes.
Obsidian offers features such as bidirectional linking, backlinking, and a graph view to help users navigate and explore their knowledge base.
Top Features:
- Offline capabilities for users on the go
- Stores data locally
- Offers Sync and Publish add-ons
- Markdown support for formatting and organizing notes
- Graph view to visualize the structure of their knowledge base
Pricing:
For personal use, Obsidian is completely free and offers all app features with no account or sign-up required, along with themes, plugins, and API access, plus community support.
If you plan to use Obsidian for commercial purposes, it costs $50 USD per user per year, includes a 14-day free trial, and provides priority support.
14. Notion
Notion is a versatile knowledge base software that allows users to create and organize various types of content.
It provides a set of building blocks that can be customized to suit individual needs.
Notion stands out from other software by offering flexibility and the ability to add multiple layers of information.
It also features a search function, making navigating and finding information within the platform easy.
Top Features:
- Versatility to create and organize various types of content
- Customization for building blocks to suit individual needs
- Multiple layers of information to add complex and interconnected knowledge bases
- Powerful search function to quickly find information within the platform
- Collaboration to work together, share, and collaborate in real-time
Pricing:
A free trial is available with unlimited blocks for individuals and a limited block trial for teams.
- Plus: For small groups at $8 per user/month (annually).
- Business: For connecting multiple teams and tools for $15 per user/month (annually).
You can also get an Enterprise plan for advanced controls and support with custom pricing.
15. Confluence
Confluence is a knowledge base software that helps teams organize, manage, and access content easily.
It allows for the collaborative creation and publishing of knowledge base articles and documentation using pre-made templates.
Confluence also enables proactive communication with internal and external users through features like RSS feeds, page watching, and blog updates.
Top Features:
- Search engine to provide suggested results for quick information retrieval and reducing search time for users
- Flexible permissions to allow administrators to manage content creation, editing, and visibility
- Document management that simplifies file management by supporting various file types with drag-and-drop functionality
- Customizable templates that streamline content creation
- Has an API available for use
Pricing:
Confluence offers a Free plan suitable for up to 10 users with up to 2 GB file storage and unlimited spaces and pages, including apps and integrations.
Let’s see the paid plans:
- Standard plan: $5.75 per user, $57.50 monthly total, includes everything from the Free plan, supports up to 50,000 users with 250 GB file storage.
- Premium plan: $11 per user, $110 monthly total, includes everything from the Standard plan, offering unlimited storage, analytics, 24/7 premium support and more.
You can also go for the Enterprise plan providing unlimited sites, Atlassian Access, 24/7 enterprise support, and a 99.95% uptime SLA.
16. BookStack
BookStack is an open-source knowledge base software that gives you complete control over your data.
It's a great choice for those who prefer self-hosting, although it might be challenging for non-technical users.
BookStack offers features such as hierarchical organization of pages, rich text editing, version control, and search functionality.
Top Features:
- Open-source, self-hosted platform
- User-friendly interface
- Supports multi-lingual content
- Supports collaborative content creation and editing
- Simplifies content organization with features like content overviews, organization tools, and platform navigation
Pricing:
BookStack is completely free and open-source with an MIT license.
You can access the source code on GitHub, and there are no charges for downloading and setting up your own BookStack instance.
17. MediaWiki
MediaWiki is an open-source platform known for its clean interface and similarities to Wikipedia.
It's a good choice for those with high-traffic websites and a need for open content. It serves as a tool for collecting and organizing knowledge, making it accessible to users.
Top Features:
- Self-hosted and supports open content
- Clean interface and multilingual support
- Similar to Wikipedia
- Supports concurrent editing, revision history, and user permissions for collaboration
- Offers a wide range of extensions and plugins that add functionality
Pricing:
MediaWiki is free and open-source software, which means it is available at no cost.
You can download and use MediaWiki for your website or organization without any licensing fees.
However, please note that there may be costs associated with hosting and maintaining the software, depending on your specific requirements.
How does Knowledge Base Software Work?
Knowledge base software is used by lots of different kinds of businesses.
It helps them work better, answer questions faster, and keep everything organized.
So, whether you're a student, a customer, or an employee, you've probably used something like this without even realizing it!
Now let’s see how it works.
➢ Content Creation and Editing: Users can create, edit, and format articles, documents, or content entries within the knowledge base. This often includes support for rich text formatting, images, and multimedia.
➢ Search Functionality: Search engines allow users to quickly find relevant information by entering keywords or phrases. Advanced search features may include filters, tags, and categories.
➢ Sorting and Organizing: Categorization, tagging, and the use of taxonomies are your secret weapons to wrangle your content in a neat and orderly fashion.
➢ Access Control: You can decide who gets to see what. Some stuff might be only for certain people, and this software ensures they're the only ones who see it.
➢ Version Control: It also helps you see what's changed in your documents over time.
➢ Teamwork: Knowledge base platforms foster teamwork. They're your virtual meeting rooms, where team members can join forces to create and maintain content.
➢ Multilingual Support: To cater to a global audience, knowledge base software may support multiple languages, ensuring that information is accessible to users worldwide.
➢ Analytics and Reporting: Advanced knowledge base systems come equipped with analytics tools, giving you the lowdown on user engagement, article performance, and search queries.
➢ Integration: Knowledge base effortlessly links with other software solutions like customer support systems, chatbots, or CRM tools.
Before You Leave…
Picking the perfect knowledge base software is a big deal when it comes to keeping your knowledge organized and helping your customers.
Each of the options we talked about has its own strengths, so it's important to choose the one that matches what you really need and what you can afford.
Since the world of knowledge base software is always changing, it's a good idea to keep an eye on the new stuff coming out in 2024 to make sure you're making the smartest choice for your organization.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the Types of Knowledge Base Tools?
Top knowledge base tool types include:
- Help Widgets: Providing instant customer self-service solutions.
- Community Forums: Fostering active communities where customers assist each other.
- AI-Enhanced Chatbots: Engaging customers in real-time and suggesting the most relevant knowledge base articles.
2. What are the Benefits of a Knowledge Base Solution?
Improving customer support through self-service options, efficient employee training, and achieving cost savings are three key advantages of a knowledge base solution.
By offering customers quick access to information, it reduces support inquiries, leading to faster issue resolution and cost-effective customer service.
For employees, it streamlines onboarding and training, enhancing productivity while minimizing training expenses.
Additionally, cost savings extend to reduced support and operational costs, making a significant positive impact on an organization's overall financial performance.
3. Is Google a knowledge base software?
No, Google is not a knowledge base software in the traditional sense.
It's a technology company and search engine that indexes and provides access to information on the internet.
Knowledge base software is used by organizations to manage structured information, while Google focuses on internet search and other services.
