Comparison

MkDocs vs Read the Docs

On the evidence we track, Read the Docs leads this comparison with a composite score of 65/100. Scores are only directly comparable because these tools share a category; the full breakdown and every source is below.

Machine formatsJSONMarkdownGraphQLor send Accept: application/json
MkDocs55
Read the Docs65
Score
Vioscale score
MkDocs55 / 100medium · 68%
Read the Docs65 / 100medium · 51%
Pricing
Free tier
MkDocs
Read the Docs
Model
Read the Docscommercial
Price level
MkDocsfree
Read the Docsmid
Transparent
MkDocs
Read the Docs
Integrations
Count
MkDocs
Read the Docs7
Security
Disclosure policy
MkDocs
Read the Docs
Scorecard
MkDocs4.1
Read the Docs7.5
Reliability
Status page
MkDocs
Read the Docs
Adoption
Github stars
MkDocs22,380
Read the Docs8,377
Package downloads weekly
MkDocs3,992,344
Read the Docs
Activity
Commits last 30d
MkDocs0
Read the Docs44
Release
Cadence days
MkDocs77
Read the Docs6
History
MkDocs15 items
Read the Docs20 items
License
Spdx
Read the DocsMIT
Language
Primary
MkDocsPython
Read the DocsPython
Market
Availability
MkDocs
Read the DocsAvailable worldwide

Capabilities

Feature-by-feature on the axes that matter for documentation tools. “-” means undocumented, not absent.

Core
Tool kind
MkDocsStatic-site generator
Read the DocsHosted build service
Engine / language
MkDocsPython
Read the DocsSphinx, MkDocs, Docusaurus, and others
Authoring
Authoring format
MkDocsMarkdown
Read the Docs-
API docs
API reference from OpenAPI / code
MkDocs
Read the Docs-
Content
Multi-version docs
MkDocs-
Read the Docs
Internationalisation
MkDocs
Read the Docs-
Discovery
Search
MkDocs-
Read the DocsBuilt-in
Design
Theming / custom design
MkDocs
Read the Docs-
Workflow
Edit-in-Git / WYSIWYG round-trip
MkDocs-
Read the Docs
Deployment
Self-hostable
MkDocs
Read the Docs-
Official managed host
MkDocs
Read the Docs
Insight
Built-in usage analytics
MkDocs-
Read the Docs

What each one is

The product in its own terms, so the numbers below have context.

MkDocs

A documentation platform that converts Markdown files into static HTML websites. It offers built-in themes, plugin support for extensions, and YAML-based configuration for easy customization.

Independently observed

Read the Docs

Leader

A managed documentation platform that connects to Git repositories to automatically build, preview, and host documentation. Handles infrastructure for builds, search, versioning, and authentication so teams can focus on writing documentation.

Independently observed

Pricing

List pricing as published by each vendor, with the date we read it. Always verify at the source before you buy.

MkDocs

Open source
as of verify ↗

Read the Docs

Leader
from $50/moSubscriptionFree tier30-day trial

From $50/month. Free tier for open source. 30-day trial available. Annual billing and purchase orders supported.

  • CommunityFree
    • Clone public repositories
    • Public documentation
    • Ads-supported hosting
    • Automatic builds
    • Versioning
    • +3 more
  • Basic$50/month
    • 2 concurrent builds
    • Shared domain
    • SSO with GitHub and GitLab
    • 50 redirects
    • Pageview analytics (30 days)
    • +10 more
  • Advanced$150/month
    • 4 concurrent builds
    • 5 custom domains
    • SSO with GitHub and GitLab
    • 250 redirects
    • Pageview analytics (90 days)
    • +10 more
  • Pro$250/month
    • 6 concurrent builds
    • 15 custom domains
    • SSO with Google
    • 500 redirects
    • Pageview analytics (90 days)
    • +10 more
  • EnterpriseContact sales
    • SAML SSO
    • Dedicated builders
    • Advanced audit tracking
    • Support SLA
as of verify ↗

Platform & deployment

Where each product runs and how it can be hosted. A dash means undocumented, not unsupported.

Platforms
Web
MkDocs
Read the Docs
CLI
MkDocs
Read the Docs
Deployment
Cloud / SaaS
MkDocs
Read the Docs
Self-hosted
MkDocs
Read the Docs

Integrations

What each product connects to. Counts come from the vendor's own integration directory where one exists.

MkDocs

Not documented yet.

Read the Docs

Leader
7 total
  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • Bitbucket
  • Google
  • Sphinx
  • MkDocs
  • Docusaurus
Independently observed

Comparison generated from independently-sourced facts. Every value links to its source and retrieval date. See the method.