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Documentation · head to head

Antora vs ReadMe

Antora logo

Antora

Documentation

Static site generator that assembles versioned AsciiDoc documentation from many git repositories

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ReadMe logo

ReadMe

Documentation

Hosted developer hub priced per API project, with docs personalised from live request logs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Antora content must be AsciiDoc, so an existing markdown documentation set has to be converted before you can evaluate the tool properly.; ReadMe pricing is per project, so an organisation with several distinct APIs multiplies the monthly bill rather than adding seats, and the sensible workaround, merging unrelated APIs into one documentation project, distorts the information architecture to fit the invoice.
  • They diverge on capability: Antora covers Multi-repository sourcing, ReadMe covers OpenAPI reference.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Antora and ReadMe actually diverge.

Attributes where Antora and ReadMe differ
AttributeAntoraReadMe
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feePer project per month
PlatformsSelf-hosted, Static hosting, CI pipelinesWeb

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Documentation).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Antora

  • Multi-repository sourcing
  • Version handling
  • AsciiDoc
  • Cross-component references
  • Separate UI bundle
  • Content reuse

Only in ReadMe

  • OpenAPI reference
  • Try It playground
  • API metrics
  • Personalised docs
  • Versioning
  • Guides and recipes
  • Git sync via rdme
  • Changelog and support widget

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Antora

  • Publishing one documentation site from several product repositories owned by different teamsnot ReadMe
  • Maintaining documentation for three or more supported releases without copying directoriesnot ReadMe
  • Enterprise documentation teams that already write in AsciiDoc and need version-aware cross-referencesnot ReadMe
  • Keeping documentation in the same repository and pull request as the code change it describesnot ReadMe

ReadMe

  • Publishing a public API reference where a developer can send a live request with their own key from the documentation pagenot Antora
  • Cutting support load by showing an integrating developer their own recent failing requests next to the endpoint descriptionnot Antora
  • Keeping documentation versions aligned with API versions so customers on an older release read the matching referencenot Antora
  • Shipping documentation from the same pull request as the code change using the rdme command line tool in CInot Antora

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Antora

  • Content must be AsciiDoc, so an existing markdown documentation set has to be converted before you can evaluate the tool properly.
  • The component, version and module model must be understood before anything builds, and the first working site typically takes days rather than the afternoon a markdown generator needs.
  • Theming means building a separate UI bundle with Handlebars templates and its own pipeline, which is a front-end project most documentation teams are not staffed for.
  • There is no search included, so every deployment adds either a Lunr extension with its own index size limits or a paid hosted search service.
  • Builds fetch from every configured repository, so large multi-component sites become slow and depend on git availability during every documentation build.

ReadMe

  • Pricing is per project, so an organisation with several distinct APIs multiplies the monthly bill rather than adding seats, and the sensible workaround, merging unrelated APIs into one documentation project, distorts the information architecture to fit the invoice.
  • The metrics and personalisation features require your API to stream request logs to ReadMe, which means production request metadata leaves your infrastructure and needs a scrubbing layer plus a security review before anything is switched on.
  • Single sign-on and private documentation sit on the higher tier, so a company that only needs to gate partner documentation behind SAML pays a large step up for one control.
  • The platform is built for describing REST APIs, and long-form product manuals, internal knowledge bases or non-OpenAPI protocols fit it badly, so most customers end up running a second documentation tool alongside it.
  • Theming is bounded by ReadMe templates and limited custom CSS, so a documentation site that must match a strongly designed marketing site will not get there without compromise.
  • Content uses ReadMe-specific Markdown extensions and platform features, so migrating away is an export plus a rewrite rather than moving a folder of Markdown files.

Pricing, plan by plan

Antora

Free
  • AntoraFree
    • Mozilla Public Licence 2.0
    • Unlimited components and versions
    • No hosting or seat costs

ReadMe

Free
  • FreeFree
    • One project on a ReadMe subdomain
    • OpenAPI reference and guides
    • Basic editing and publishing
  • Startup$99/month
    • One project
    • Custom domain
    • API metrics from request logs
  • Business$399/month
    • One project
    • SAML single sign-on
    • Private and partner-only documentation
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Multiple projects under one contract
    • Negotiated support and uptime terms
    • Security review and custom deployment questions

Which should you pick?

Choose Antora if

  • You need multi-repository sourcing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Static hosting, CI pipelines.
  • You also want version handling.
Antora review

Choose ReadMe if

  • You need openapi reference.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want try it playground.
ReadMe review

Questions people ask

Is Antora or ReadMe better?
Neither clearly leads. Antora starts at Free and ReadMe at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Antora or ReadMe?
Antora starts at Free and ReadMe at Free.
Does Antora or ReadMe run on more platforms?
Antora runs on Self-hosted, Static hosting, CI pipelines. ReadMe runs on Web.
Can I use Antora for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Antora best used for?
Antora is most often used for publishing one documentation site from several product repositories owned by different teams, maintaining documentation for three or more supported releases without copying directories, enterprise documentation teams that already write in asciidoc and need version-aware cross-references, keeping documentation in the same repository and pull request as the code change it describes. Of those, publishing one documentation site from several product repositories owned by different teams and maintaining documentation for three or more supported releases without copying directories are not what ReadMe is typically brought in for.
What can Antora do that ReadMe cannot?
Antora covers Multi-repository sourcing, Version handling, AsciiDoc, Cross-component references. ReadMe covers OpenAPI reference, Try It playground, API metrics, Personalised docs.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Antora: Can I use markdown with Antora?

Not as the primary format. Antora is an AsciiDoc pipeline, and treating markdown as a first-class input means a different tool.

ReadMe: Is ReadMe priced per user?

No. It is priced per project, meaning per documented API. Team size does not change the bill, and a second API generally does.

Antora: Is it worth it for a single product with one version?

Usually not. The model pays off when you have several repositories or several supported versions; below that a simpler generator will do the same job with far less setup.

ReadMe: Do I have to send my API logs to ReadMe?

Only for metrics and personalised documentation. The reference, guides and playground work without it, but the features that most distinguish the product are the ones that need the log stream.

Antora: How does versioning actually work?

Each branch or tag of a source repository becomes a version of that component. You publish a new version by branching, not by copying a directory.

ReadMe: Can I keep documentation in Git?

Yes. The rdme command line tool synchronises Markdown and OpenAPI files from a repository, so documentation can ship in the same pull request as the code.

Antora: Who maintains it?

OpenDevise, the group behind Asciidoctor, under the Mozilla Public Licence. Paid consulting and custom UI work are available from them separately.

ReadMe: Can I self-host it?

No. ReadMe is a hosted product only, so buyers with a hard on-premises requirement need a different platform.

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