Source-backed analysis9
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
9 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
wikiHow Review
A step-by-step how-to library, now written mostly by professional writers
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- Web
- iOS
- Android
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
wikiHow suits people who want illustrated step-by-step guides for everyday tasks such as cooking, repairs or using devices. The trade-offs are ads on the site, an iOS app not updated since 2021, and content that is no longer the open wiki it started as.
Best for: Readers who want illustrated, step-by-step guidance for everyday tasks
Skip it if: Anyone needing deep professional references verified source by source; wikiHow is a general how-to library
Pros
- Free to read, in 19 language editions per the About page
- The About page describes an editorial process with fact-checking and 2,800+ expert reviewers
- The Android app has 5M+ downloads and a 4.4/5 rating from 51.7K reviews
Cons
- The site carries ads, and its privacy policy says it shares data with ad networks
- The iOS app has not been updated since September 28, 2021, and its 4.1/5 rating rests on only 415 ratings
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- The app supports offline bookmarks, with photos, illustrations or video for each step
Cons
- No public page lists the Pro price; it appears only inside the sign-up prompt
Best for
- People who want to bookmark articles and read offline in a phone app
Skip it if
- Contributors looking for an open wiki: since March 24, 2025 new user content is no longer under a Creative Commons licence
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
wikiHow is a how-to website Jack Herrick launched on January 15, 2005. Its official About page says it began as a community wiki but that the vast majority of new content is now written by professional writers, alongside thousands of volunteers, illustrators, hundreds of photographers and 2,800+ credentialed experts.
Articles are split into steps with photos, illustrations or video. The site also hosts personality quizzes, forums and courses. The Android listing describes searching 180,000+ articles, offline bookmarks and featured articles each day. wikiHow also partners with Amazon and Samsung to bring its guides to Alexa and Bixby devices.
Reading is free and revenue comes mainly from advertising. Wikipedia notes the company long declined donations, began soliciting contributions in mid-2020 and launched the wikiHow Pro subscription later that year. The Terms of Use describe monthly, annual and lifetime Pro plans, and the sign-up prompt on the site offers ad-free reading, PDF downloads and a 7-day free trial, but no public page lists the price.
Compared with Wikipedia, wikiHow leans toward practical instructions rather than reference knowledge. Compared with Quora or Reddit it offers less open discussion: questions go in the Community Q&A section at the bottom of each article. Points to weigh are the ads, data sharing with ad networks and the content licence change on March 24, 2025.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Free
PersonalFree
Reading on the website and in the Android and iOS apps is free. The site shows ads from Google and other ad providers.
wikiHow Pro
PersonalContact sales
The Terms of Use say Pro may be offered as monthly, annual or lifetime plans, billed automatically. The sign-up prompt on wikihow.com lists ad-free reading, downloadable PDFs of articles and a 7-day free trial. The price appears only inside that prompt, not on any public page, so it is not listed here.
- Free plan limits
- Articles are free to read with ads. Some visitors see a Pro sign-up prompt advertising unlimited how-tos, ad-free reading and PDF downloads.
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial · no credit card
Cancellation & refunds
Per the Terms of Use, you cancel by emailing [email protected], and cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing cycle. Lifetime plans can be refunded in full if cancelled within 7 days of starting. Digital Download purchases are final unless the law requires otherwise.
Privacy
Per the privacy policy (last modified April 24, 2024), wikiHow collects account details such as username, real name, birthdate, address, phone number and email at registration, plus analytics data, cookies, server logs, device identifiers and possibly device location. Usernames and posted content are public and may not be fully removable. wikiHow says it shares data with ad networks to serve targeted ads, with a "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" opt-out link. Network-activity and geolocation data are usually deleted within 2 months, and account identifiers are kept until you delete the account. The service is not directed at children under 13 (under 16 in the EU and California). Account deletion is requested by email. Note: the App Store listing shows a "Data Not Collected" label for the iOS app, which differs from the policy covering web and mobile services; the iOS app was last updated in 2021.
wikiHow alternatives
8.1/10Wikipedia
The free, ad-free encyclopedia written and maintained by volunteers
6.8/10A vast forum of 100,000+ topic communities, from news to niche hobbies
Frequently asked questions
Is wikiHow free?
Yes. Reading on the web and in the apps is free, with ads on the site. wikiHow Pro is a paid tier for ad-free reading and PDF downloads, with a 7-day trial; its price is not published.
Does wikiHow have a Vietnamese edition?
Yes. The homepage links to a Vietnamese edition at wikihow.vn alongside other editions such as English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, French and German.
How do I delete a wikiHow account?
Per the Terms of Use, email [email protected] with the subject "Account deletion request" and your username.
Can I reuse wikiHow content?
User content published before March 24, 2025 was under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0; from that date new user content is no longer under the licence, and wikiHow staff content never was. Read the licence page before reusing anything.
Review evidence & sources9
Scores
- Ease of use
- 8.0
- Features
- 6.5
- Value for money
- 7.5
- Performance
- 6.5
- Support
- 5.5
- Privacy & security
- 5.5
Why this score
Articles are split into clear steps with photos and video, and the app offers search and bookmarks. Web ads clutter the page.
Why this score
Focused on reading guides, with quizzes and courses added; Q&A is limited to a section at the bottom of each article rather than a full Q&A platform.
Why this score
Reading is free in exchange for ads. Pro has a 7-day trial but no published price, which makes it hard to compare.
Why this score
The Android app scores 4.4/5 from 51.7K ratings, but the iOS app has been stuck on version 3.7.2 since 2021, which pulls the score down.
Why this score
A community email, a separate Pro and billing email, and per-article discussion pages; no chat or phone found.
Why this score
The policy covers cookies, device identifiers, possible location and sharing with ad networks; it also offers an opt-out link, stated deletion periods and account deletion on request.
What users say
- Google Play4.4/5 · 51,700
- App Store (US)4.1/5 · 415
Sources
- Vendor-providedOfficial About wikiHow pageNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial Privacy PolicyNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial Terms of UseNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial Contact pageNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial Creative Commons noticeNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedOfficial homepage (language editions)Nov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listingNov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listingNov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia: wikiHowNov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- wikiHow, Inc.
- Headquarters
- United States
- Launched
- 2005
Capabilities
- Mobile app
- Works offline
Platforms
- Web
- iOS
- Android
Interface languages
- English
- Vietnamese
- German
- Spanish
- French
- Indonesian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Thai
- Chinese
Integrations
- Amazon Alexa
- Samsung Bixby
Support
- Help center
- Community forum
Change history
- Update.User content published from this date is no longer under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 licence.
- Feature.Version 3.7.2 ships; it is still the iOS app's latest version on the App Store.
- Price.wikiHow began soliciting contributions in mid-2020 and launched the wikiHow Pro subscription later that year (per Wikipedia, no exact date given).
Full change history (6)
- Company.wikiHow acquires Guidecentral, a hands-on project instructions site; terms undisclosed.
- Feature.The wikiHow iOS app's first listed version, 1.0, appears in its App Store version history.
- Launch.Jack Herrick launches wikiHow, aiming to be the how-to guide for everything.
About the author
Reviews & comments
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