kiwix-serve
Self-HostedSelf-hosted offline access to Wikipedia and ZIM-format e-books
Overview
kiwix-serve is a lightweight self-hosted server for serving ZIM files—compressed offline versions of Wikipedia, Project Gutenberg, TED Talks, and other educational resources. It enables offline access to rich content, ideal for remote areas or no-internet environments. Deploy via Docker, pre-built binaries, or package managers like apt. Features include full-text search, responsive web interface, support for multiple ZIM files, and customizable port settings. Minimal configuration is needed, making it accessible for individuals, schools, or organizations needing offline document/e-book access.
Self-Hosting Resources
Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml.
⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.
version: '3'
services:
kiwix_serve:
image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
container_name: kiwix-serve
ports:
- "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
volumes:
- ./data:/app/data
restart: unless-stopped Key Features
- Host ZIM-format offline content
- Full-text search across resources
- Simple deployment options (Docker, binaries)
Frequently Asked Questions
? Is kiwix-serve hard to install?
No—deploy via Docker (official image), pre-built binaries for your OS, or package managers like apt. Just point it to your ZIM files and start the server with minimal config.
? Is it a good alternative to online e-book platforms?
Yes for offline needs—unlike Kindle/Google Books, it works without internet, hosting your own ZIM files (e.g., Wikipedia dumps, Gutenberg e-books) for local access.
? Is it completely free?
Yes—kiwix-serve is open source (GPLv3 license) and free to use. ZIM files are often free (e.g., Wikipedia dumps), with no hidden costs or subscriptions.
Top Alternatives
People Also Ask about kiwix-serve
Tool Info
Pros
- ⊕ Privacy-focused (no internet required)
- ⊕ Lightweight (low resource usage)
Cons
- ⊖ Requires manual ZIM file downloads
- ⊖ Limited to ZIM format content