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Documentation · head to head

Antora vs Stoplight

Antora logo

Antora

Documentation

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stoplight logo

Stoplight

APIs

API design, documentation, and governance platform

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.; Stoplight the free plan allows one project and one user
  • They diverge on capability: Antora covers Multi-repository sourcing, Stoplight covers API Design.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Antora and Stoplight actually diverge.

Attributes where Antora and Stoplight differ
AttributeAntoraStoplight
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
PlatformsSelf-hosted, Static hosting, CI pipelinesWeb, Cloud
CategoryDocumentationAPIs
FoundedUnknown2014

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

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 Stoplight

  • API Design
  • API Documentation
  • Governance
  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • Jenkins
  • Azure DevOps
  • Web support

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 Stoplight
  • Maintaining documentation for three or more supported releases without copying directoriesnot Stoplight
  • Enterprise documentation teams that already write in AsciiDoc and need version-aware cross-referencesnot Stoplight
  • Keeping documentation in the same repository and pull request as the code change it describesnot Stoplight

Stoplight

  • API design and documentationnot Antora
  • API governance and standardsnot Antora
  • Team collaboration on API developmentnot Antora
  • API mocking and testingnot 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.

Stoplight

  • The free plan allows one project and one user
  • Private projects, multi branch support and custom domains start at the Startup plan, $113 a month billed annually
  • SSO and shared style guides are Pro Team only, at $362 a month billed annually
  • Seats beyond each plan's allowance are $11 to $27 each per month depending on tier and billing period

Pricing, plan by plan

Antora

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

Stoplight

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 project
    • 1 user
    • Basic API design and documentation features
  • Basic$56/month
    • Annual: $44/user/year
    • 3 included users; $14 per additional user (monthly)
    • Unlimited projects
  • Startup$147/month
    • Annual: $113/user/year
    • 8 included users; $14 per additional user (monthly)
    • Private projects
  • Pro Team$453/month
    • Annual: $362/user/year
    • 15 included users; $27 per additional user (monthly)
    • Up to 20 teams

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 Stoplight if

  • You need api design.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want api documentation.
Stoplight review

Questions people ask

Is Antora or Stoplight better?
Neither clearly leads. Antora starts at Free and Stoplight at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Antora or Stoplight?
Antora starts at Free and Stoplight at Free.
Does Antora or Stoplight run on more platforms?
Antora runs on Self-hosted, Static hosting, CI pipelines. Stoplight runs on Web, Cloud.
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 Stoplight is typically brought in for.
What can Antora do that Stoplight cannot?
Antora covers Multi-repository sourcing, Version handling, AsciiDoc, Cross-component references. Stoplight covers API Design, API Documentation, Governance, GitHub.

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.

Stoplight: How much does Stoplight cost?

Stoplight starts with a free plan (1 project, 1 user), then Basic at $56/month per user (or $44/year), Startup at $147/month per user (or $113/year), Pro Team at $453/month per user (or $362/year), and Enterprise at custom pricing.

Source
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.

Stoplight: How many included users are in each Stoplight plan?

Basic includes 3 users, Startup includes 8 users, and Pro Team includes 15 users. Additional users beyond the included count cost $14/month for Basic and Startup, or $27/month for Pro Team.

Source
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.

Stoplight: Does Stoplight offer a free trial?

Yes, all paid Stoplight plans include a 14-day free trial. The free plan has no trial period as it is always available.

Source
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.

Stoplight: Does Stoplight's free plan have limitations?

Yes, the free plan includes only 1 project and 1 user. Users viewing public documentation anonymously are not counted toward the 1-user limit.

Source
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