XOWA

XOWA is an open source Wikipedia app for offline reading. It allows users to download and store Wikipedia content on their devices to access when no internet connection is available. XOWA offers advanced features like text zooming, night mode, and article editing.

Education & Reference Wikipedia Readers

offline wikipedia open-source

XOWA alternatives ➤

XOWA: Open Source Offline Wikipedia App

What is XOWA?

XOWA is an open source program that enables users to view Wikipedia articles offline on their desktop or laptop computers. It is maintained by volunteers and allows users to download copies of Wikipedia content in various languages to store and browse without requiring an internet connection. This provides users with free access to one of the world's largest repositories of human knowledge in places with limited connectivity.

The software is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. Users can choose to download language-specific versions of Wikipedia, including popular options such as English, Spanish, French, and others. XOWA allows users to search for articles, view images, follow references between entries, and more - much like browsing the online site, but stored locally after the initial download. There are also adjustable features to improve the reading experience such as font sizes, color themes, and text-to-speech narration.

An advantage of XOWA over the official Wikipedia app is its editing functionality. Users can make tweaks to articles, fix typos or add info just like on wiki sites. This is useful for personalizing content. XOWA stores downloads efficiently, compressing data to save drive space. It also keeps local copies updated by connecting to modified dumps. With robust support for nearly 300 languages, XOWA brings knowledge to people lacking connectivity when they need it most.

XOWA Features

Features

Offline reading of Wikipedia articles
Download and store Wikipedia content locally
Advanced features like text zooming, night mode, article editing

Pricing

Open Source

Pros

Works offline

Saves bandwidth by not needing to load pages over the internet

Can access Wikipedia anywhere anytime

Customizable reading experience

Open source

Cons

Requires storage space on device to store Wikipedia articles

Initial download of content can take time

Limited to Wikipedia content

Fewer features than online Wikipedia

Official Links

Official Website
https://sourceforge.net/projects/xowa/

The Best XOWA Alternatives

Top Education & Reference and Wikipedia Readers and other similar apps like XOWA

Here are some alternatives to XOWA:

Wikipedia

Kiwix

V for Wikipedia

WikiTaxi

Okawix

Aard Dictionary

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Wikipedia

Wikipedia is a free, multilingual online encyclopedia written and maintained by a community of volunteers around the world. It is the largest and most popular general reference work on the Internet.Wikipedia was launched in 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. It is owned and supported by the Wikimedia Foundation,...

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Kiwix

Kiwix is an open-source offline content reader developed by the Kiwix project. It allows users to download entire websites or digital libraries for offline browsing and reading without requiring an internet connection.Some of the key features of Kiwix include:Downloads and indexes web content like Wikipedia, Wiktionary, Project Gutenberg libraries, educational...

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V for Wikipedia

V for Wikipedia is an open source Wikipedia reader application for Android. It provides a clean and easy way to access Wikipedia on your phone or tablet.Some key features of V for Wikipedia include:Fast and responsive interface for browsing articlesOffline mode - download articles for reading without an internet connection...

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WikiTaxi

WikiTaxi is an open-source, web-based application designed for teams to organize information and collaborate on projects effectively.It provides a variety of tools including:Wikis - for creating and structuring documentation, guides, notes, etc.To-Do Lists - to define, assign, and track tasks and action itemsForums - for team discussions and updatesCalendars -...

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Okawix

Okawix is an open-source wiki software application written in PHP. It allows users to freely create and edit web page content using any web browser. Okawix focuses on ease of use, standards compliance, and extensibility.Some key features of Okawix include:WYSIWYG editing using CKEditorPage history showing differences between revisionsAccess control and...

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Aard Dictionary

Aard Dictionary is a free, open-source dictionary program for Windows. Developed by Marc Prior, Aard Dictionary allows users to look up definitions for words from multiple dictionary sources and in a variety of languages.Some key features of Aard Dictionary include:Look up definitions from several integrated online dictionaries like Wiktionary, WikiQuote,...

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WikiSpooks.com

WikiSpooks.com is an alternative wiki site with a specific focus on intelligence agencies, covert operations, deep politics, and issues often overlooked or under-reported in the mainstream media. The site provides in-depth information, analysis, and commentary on topics such as:Intelligence agencies like the CIA, MI6, MossadCovert operations, black ops, psyopsDeep state...

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WikiIndex

WikiIndex is an open source knowledge base and document management software built on wiki technology. It provides an easy way for teams to collaboratively create, edit, link and organize content. Key features of WikiIndex include:Intuitive wiki markup for formatting and linking pagesPowerful search and navigation toolsVersion control and page historyUser...

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Boopsie

Boopsie is a cloud-based mobile app builder designed specifically to help libraries engage with their patrons in the mobile space. It allows libraries to easily build, customize, and publish native mobile apps for iOS and Android that promote library programs, events, services, and resources to users on their mobile devices.The...

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Evopedia

Evopedia is an online encyclopedia that utilizes artificial intelligence to automatically generate and expand on article content. It has a collaborative, community-driven model that allows anyone to contribute articles, similar to Wikipedia.However, unlike Wikipedia, Evopedia uses natural language processing algorithms to analyze contributed articles and generate additional related content. This...

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Wiki2touch

Wiki2touch is an open source mobile application that provides access to Wikipedia in a touch-friendly user interface. It is designed specifically for touchscreen devices like smartphones and tablets.The key features of Wiki2touch include:Intuitive touch interface for browsing Wikipedia articlesSearch Wikipedia articles by title, content, categories, etc.View images and media inline...

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WikiDroyd

WikiDroyd is an Android application designed specifically for accessing and editing Wikipedia. It allows users to seamlessly access Wikipedia whether they are online or offline. The app syncs with Wikipedia servers regularly to pull down updated articles, images, and other content for offline viewing at any time.Some key features of...

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Fastwiki

Fastwiki is an open-source wiki software application designed with speed and simplicity in mind. Unlike traditional heavyweight wiki platforms, Fastwiki focuses on being fast, lightweight, and easy to use.Here are some key features of Fastwiki:Very fast and lightweight - Fastwiki uses a simple architecture and design to enable quick page...

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Wikiless

Wikiless is an open-source, decentralized wiki software project that serves as an alternative to centralized platforms like Wikipedia. Instead of storing wiki data on centralized servers controlled by a single entity, Wikiless uses peer-to-peer technology to distribute wikis across nodes in a decentralized network.This means no single person, company, or...

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