If you’re planning to build a knowledge base for your team, clients, or product—you don’t need to start from scratch.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up 8 standout knowledge base examples—from global SaaS platforms to mission-driven organizations—so you can see what works, why it works, and what to take inspiration from for your own setup.

No matter what you’re building—an internal wiki or a public help site, these examples will give you layout ideas, structure tips, and content patterns that scale.

And if you're looking for a fast way to build your own—we’ll guide you on how to do it with Softr.

What is a knowledge base?

A knowledge base is a centralized place where you store and organize essential company information—so your team, clients, or partners can find answers without needing to ask.

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to knowledge base types. Most businesses build one (or a mix) of the following:

• Internal knowledge base: Used for company policies, SOPs, and team know-how. Helps your team stay aligned and onboard faster and requires a login.
• External knowledge base: Customer-facing hub with FAQs, how-to guides, and troubleshooting content. Reduces support tickets and improves self-service. Often accessible without a login (available publicly).
• Developer-focused: For technical users. Includes API references, code examples, and changelogs.
• External (part of an ecosystem): Built into tools like CRMs, client portals, or help desks, so support and docs live in one place.

8 best knowledge base examples

Looking for inspiration? These real-world knowledge bases show how different teams organize information, support users, and drive self-service.

1. Canva

Help center

→ Type: External knowledge base (customer-facing)

Canva is a graphic design platform used by individuals and teams to create everything from social media posts to marketing decks—no design background needed.

Canva’s Help Center is developed for accessibility. It covers a broad range of topics like using design tools, managing brand kits, collaborating on files, and account management—without overwhelming less tech-savvy users.

Key features:

• Visual-first layout: Clean sections with icons and thumbnails make it easier to scan and understand.
• Beginner-friendly tone: Articles are written in plain language, with clear step-by-step instructions—ideal for non-designers or first-time users.
• Integrated video tutorials: Many help articles are paired with short videos or GIFs to walk users through tasks visually.
• Localized content: Canva’s help center is available in multiple languages to support its global user base.

Why it works:

Canva’s knowledge base feels like an extension of its product: simple, visually inviting, and accessible to all skill levels. It’s especially effective for teams that need quick onboarding or occasional how-tos without calling support every time.

2. HubSpot Knowledge Base

→ Type: Hybrid: External knowledge base + developer-focused + ecosystem-integrated

HubSpot is a CRM platform that offers marketing, sales, service, and content management tools—all in one unified system.

HubSpot’s knowledge base is designed to support a wide range of users—from non-technical marketers to developers integrating with HubSpot’s APIs. The content is deeply structured, highly searchable, and embedded across its ecosystem (CRM, help desk, academy, etc.), ensuring users can find answers right where they’re working.

Key features:

• Role-based organization: Content is segmented for different user types (marketers, admins, developers, etc.) and product areas (CRM, CMS Hub, Service Hub, etc.).
• Developer docs integration: API guides, webhooks, and technical walkthroughs are available within the same help environment, making it easy to switch between use cases.
• Embedded help widgets: HubSpot embeds knowledge base search directly into the app UI, support chatbot, and email workflows—bringing help to the user.
• Tight link with training content: Many help articles link out to HubSpot Academy tutorials for users who want deeper learning.

Why it works:

HubSpot’s knowledge base isn’t just a support resource—it’s an extension of the product experience. The layered structure supports both self-serve and assisted help, making it a model for platforms that serve diverse user types across marketing, sales, and support.

💡 Tip: Using HubSpot? You can connect it to Softr to build a client portal or knowledge base on top of your HubSpot CRM data—no code required. Learn more →

3. Stripe

Docs and support

→ Type: Hybrid: External (customer-facing) and developer-focused knowledge base

Stripe provides payment infrastructure for online businesses, powering transactions for companies from startups to global enterprises.

Stripe offers a comprehensive suite of support resources customized to both general users and developers:

• Help Center: Accessible at support.stripe.com, this resource provides answers on various topics, including account information, charges, refunds, and more.
• Developer Documentation: Available at docs.stripe.com, this section offers extensive technical documentation for developers, including API references, integration guides, and code samples.

Key features:

• Segmented content: The Help Center categorizes customer-focused information by topics such as payments, payouts, disputes, and refunds, making it easier for users to find relevant information.
• Developer resources: The Developer Documentation provides in-depth guides and examples to integrate Stripe's products, catering to developers' needs.

Why it works:

By offering distinct resources for general users and developers, Stripe ensures that each audience can access the information they need efficiently. The clear categorization and detailed documentation provide a seamless user experience.

4. Frontier

Carbon removal knowledge gap database

→ Type: External knowledge base (expert-driven, community-editable)

Frontier is an advanced market commitment (AMC) backed by Stripe, Alphabet, Meta, Shopify, and McKinsey, aimed at accelerating carbon removal technologies through strategic funding and collaboration.

As part of its efforts to support the carbon removal ecosystem, Frontier needed a way to crowdsource and organize a living database of knowledge gaps, including issues or unknowns holding the field back. The tool had to do more than just display data—it needed to invite input, support expert discussion, and help funders spot high-impact opportunities.

Key features:

• Dynamic filtering: Visitors can filter knowledge gaps by topic, industry, required skillset, or stage of development.
• Upvotes and engagement: Users can upvote gaps they see as most urgent—surfacing priorities for the broader community.
• Open contributions: Experts can submit new knowledge gaps and even return later to edit or update their submissions.
• Commenting and dialogue: Each gap includes a discussion thread where users can weigh in, share context, or suggest refinements.

Why it works:

The database combined structured backend data in Airtable with a flexible front end built in Softr, allowing Frontier to launch quickly without custom dev work. It’s open, collaborative, and easy to navigate, making it a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and funders alike.

The impact:

In its first month, the project attracted hundreds of upvotes and over 50 expert submissions. It’s  been used by groups like Google, Grantham Foundation, and Marble to guide new research funding. Learn more→

5. Nike

“Quick Assists” knowledge base

→ Type: External knowledge base

Nike is a global leader in athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment, known for its innovative products and strong brand identity.

Its knowledge base has a public-facing help center style. As a knowledge base, it stands out by aligning closely with its brand identity. Instead of using generic terms like "FAQs," Nike labels its help center as "Quick Assists," incorporating sports terminology that resonates with its audience.

Key features:

• Brand-consistent language: The use of sports-related terms like "Quick Assists" reinforces Nike's brand voice and makes the help center more engaging for users.
• Prominent search functionality: A central search bar allows users to quickly find answers to their questions.
• Categorized topics: Commonly asked questions are grouped at the top, enabling users to navigate to relevant sections with ease.

Why it works:

By integrating brand-specific language and a user-friendly layout, Nike's knowledge base provides a seamless and intuitive experience for customers seeking support.

6. LiveChat

Help center

→ Type: Hybrid: External knowledge base + internal agent support + built into ecosystem

KnowledgeBase is part of the LiveChat product family. It offers a modern knowledge management solution that helps businesses publish self-serve help centers for customers.

LiveChat's KnowledgeBase Help Center is a live example of their own product in action. It features well-organized documentation covering everything from getting started to integrations and billing. It’s clean, intuitive, and built for fast, searchable access to answers.

Key features:

• Real-time search + categories: The homepage includes a prominent search bar and clearly labeled sections (e.g., Basics, Features, Billing), so users can find content without digging.
• Clean, distraction-free design: The interface is minimal but effective—focused on reading, not clicks or noise.
• Article-level feedback: Each article includes a “Was this article helpful?” prompt, letting users submit feedback that teams can use to improve documentation.
• Flexible visibility settings: The knowledge base article examples can be made public, private (for internal teams), or left in the draft—ideal for maintaining both internal and customer-facing content.
• Integrates with LiveChat: While the Help Center works as a standalone site, it also integrates with LiveChat so support agents can pull and share articles directly in conversations.

Why it works:

KnowledgeBase by LiveChat offers a transparent, working model of what businesses can build. It’s a solid choice for teams that want a lightweight, easy-to-maintain external knowledge base—especially if they already use LiveChat.

7. Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Knowledge Base Ecosystem

→ Type: Hybrid: External knowledge base + developer-focused + ecosystem-integrated

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive cloud computing platform offering over 200 fully featured services from data centers globally, catering to a wide range of industries and use cases.

AWS provides a multifaceted knowledge base ecosystem designed to support both general users and developers. This includes the AWS re:Post Knowledge Center, extensive product documentation, and the innovative Amazon Bedrock Knowledge Bases for AI-driven applications.

Key features:

• AWS re:Post Knowledge Center: A community-driven platform where users can find answers to common questions, best practices, and troubleshooting tips. It includes official AWS Knowledge Center articles and videos covering frequent customer inquiries.
• Comprehensive product documentation: AWS offers detailed documentation for each of its services, providing users with in-depth guides, API references, and tutorials to facilitate the effective use of AWS offerings.
• Amazon Bedrock Knowledge Bases: A fully managed feature that enables users to connect foundation models to their proprietary data sources, improving the relevance and accuracy of AI-generated responses through Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG).

Why it works:

AWS's knowledge base ecosystem is designed to cater to a diverse user base, from beginners seeking basic guidance to developers requiring detailed technical documentation. The integration of AI-driven tools like Amazon Bedrock Knowledge Bases demonstrates AWS's commitment to evolving its support infrastructure to meet modern demands.

8. Whatfix

In-app knowledge base & self-help

→ Type: Hybrid: Internal and external knowledge base with in-app guidance

Whatfix is a digital adoption platform that provides in-app guidance, training, and performance support for web applications and software products.

It offers a comprehensive self-service knowledge base integrated directly within applications, enabling users to access contextual help without leaving their workflow. This approach improves user engagement and reduces reliance on traditional support channels.

Key features:

• In-app self-help widget: Provides users with contextual assistance, including articles, videos, and walkthroughs, directly within the application interface.
• Interactive walkthroughs: Guides users through complex processes step-by-step, improving onboarding and feature adoption.
• Feedback and analytics: Captures user feedback on help content and tracks engagement metrics to always improve support resources.
• Multilingual support: Offers content in multiple languages, catering to a global user base.

Softr: The most customizable knowledge base that scales with you

If you’re looking a knowledge base for your team or clients — that requires user management and a login — Softr is a great solution.

Softr is perfect for SMBs and service-based teams that want a clean, secure place to store SOPs, onboarding materials, HR policies, tool guides, or any other internal or client documentation—without needing IT help or migrating to a whole new system.

Why it is ideal as an internal knowledge base:

• Connects to your existing data and tools: You can keep articles, documents, videos, and other training resources up-to-date in your knowledge base by connecting to your data in Airtable, HubSpot, Google Sheets, Notion, or 12+ other databases with real-time, 2-way sync. This keeps information organized, secure, and up-to-date.

• Fast setup, no code required: Use pre-built templates and a drag-and-drop editor to launch in minutes. Softr’s knowledge base template comes with a sample database so you can see how data is structured for this use case.
• Secure, role-based access: Control who can view, edit, or manage knowledge base content. Each user group (e.g. admins, managers, clients) sees only the content that's relevant to them—no clutter, no confusion.

• ‍Built-in search and filtering: Team members can easily find what they need using categories, tags, or custom fields.

• Improved collaboration: Allow users to comment on articles to improve collaboration and keep content relevant. Add request or feedback forms in your platform to stay informed on content gaps (and address them).

• Accessible on any device: Allow users to access the platform from any device with a fully responsive design. You can even turn your app into a downloadable mobile app with Softr's PWA feature.

Build your custom knowledge management system for your team using our free knowledge base template. See how it works:

Organize knowledge your way — no code required

As you’ve seen in these examples, a great knowledge base isn’t just a library of docs—it’s a tool that helps people find answers quickly, stay aligned, and move faster as a team.

Whether you're supporting customers, onboarding new hires, or keeping SOPs and policies accessible, the way you structure and present information matters. And it doesn’t need to take weeks of setup or developer time to get right.

With Softr, you can build a secure, fully searchable knowledge base that connects to the tools you already use.

Customize access for different roles, update content in real time, and scale your setup or add complementary tools (CRM, client portal) as your needs grow.

Try Softr for free and create a custom self-serve knowledge base!**