Template:Free MediaWiki wiki farms: Difference between revisions

::''Table last updated: 27 November 2025''<!--amend this date only after ALL updatable fields have been updated, thanks-->

*'''[[:Category:Miraheze|Miraheze]]:''' — originally seeded from the now defunct [[:Category:Orain|Orain]] wiki farm, this service offers some of the most flexibility of any of the free hosting providers, although they do have a fairly rigorous and strict content policy. An [[mw:Extension:ManageWiki|extension]] was written specifically for Miraheze by its developers that allows on-wiki changes of most configuration, but several settings are still restricted or hidden from said interface completely. As Miraheze was for several years based in the United Kingdom, it was subject to [[wikipedia:GDPR|GDPR regulations]] which forced the platform to delete content or outright ban users, sometimes for little or no apparent reason. Following several internal disputes in 2023, which resulted in a large portion of the staff forking the project, and threats of outright closure, the Miraheze project was taken over by a United States-based nonprofit from its previous British management. As of 2025 the project has continued to expand once again, and several new spin-off services have also been created.

*'''[[:Category:ShoutWiki|ShoutWiki]]:''' — {{Mw|social tools}} are one of ShoutWiki's fields of expertise, though before one is allowed to create a wiki site on ShoutWiki, you need to be [[:Category:LoginToEdit|logged in]] ''and'' be [[:Category:ConfirmEmail|e-mail confirmed]]. Wikis are by default supported by ads, though a paid removal option is supposedly available (not publicly advertised, must get in touch with staff members). [[ShoutWiki:ShoutWiki Staff|ShoutWiki staff]] consists of highly experienced [[:Category:MediaWiki developer|MediaWiki developers]] and [[editor]]s, however some staff members have the reputation of being rude to users when approached for assistance or requests. Additionally, ShoutWiki restricts access to even some of the standard set of core administrator permissions such as the [[mw:Extension:AbuseFilter|abuse filter]] and revision deletion, despite not being privacy-sensitive tools. An [[mw:Extension:StaffPowers|extension]] is used to prevent ShoutWiki staff accounts from being blocked by local admins, even if they break policies, and staff have sometimes interfered in local operations. ShoutWiki offers 15 [[:Category:MediaWiki skin|skins]], including some [[:Category:ShoutWiki skin|ShoutWiki-developed skins]].

*'''[[:Category:Wikia|Wikia]]:''' — now known as Fandom, this highly commercial behemoth of a host is prolifically [[:Category:Advertising|advert]]-spammed, with no paid removal option available, and the [[:Category:Wikia staff|staff]] are not very open to [[founder]] configuration control.  Relying on a unique and heavily [[:Category:Custom skin|customised]] (and for a long time, long-outdated version of MediaWiki), there are many features that are available to staff-only, including traditional administrative features such as mass deletion and revision deletion. The same extension that prevents staff accounts from being blocked at ShoutWiki is also used by Wikia. The service operates as a commercial business, not as an organization, with many staff members being paid employees, and many global decisions are made based on the interests of the company rather than the interests of the communities which it hosts, which has led to several wikis moving elsewhere over time. The company was originally founded by Wikipedia co-founder [[Jimbo Wales]].