Documentation · head to head
GitBook vs Read the Docs
GitBook
Documentation
Hosted documentation platform with Git synchronisation
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Read the Docs
Documentation
Documentation hosting with versioning built for open source
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: GitBook hosted, so you do not own the rendering pipeline and are subject to platform changes; Read the Docs build configuration is finicky, and build failures on dependency changes are a common frustration
- They diverge on capability: GitBook covers Two-way Git sync, Read the Docs covers Build on commit.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GitBook and Read the Docs actually diverge.
| Attribute | GitBook | Read the Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free tier with paid team plans; see vendor for current rates | Free for open source; paid business plans for private documentation |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Cloud), 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 GitBook
- Two-way Git sync
- Visual editor
- Hosted and searchable
- Versioning and spaces
- Access control
- Publishing workflow
Only in Read the Docs
- Build on commit
- Version by branch and tag
- Pull request previews
- Free for open source
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
GitBook
- Documentation written by product and support staff as well as engineersnot Read the Docs
- Public product docs that need hosting, search and access control managednot Read the Docs
- Teams wanting Git history without forcing everyone into a repositorynot Read the Docs
Read the Docs
- Open-source projects needing free hosted versioned documentationnot GitBook
- Teams wanting docs rebuilt automatically on every commitnot GitBook
- Reviewing documentation changes in a pull request before mergenot GitBook
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
GitBook
- Hosted, so you do not own the rendering pipeline and are subject to platform changes
- Git sync is powerful but conflicts between browser and repository edits are confusing to resolve
- Pricing scales per user, which gets expensive where many people contribute occasionally
- Less customisable than a static site generator you control end to end
Read the Docs
- Build configuration is finicky, and build failures on dependency changes are a common frustration
- Default themes are recognisable and dated, so sites look alike unless customised
- Private documentation requires a paid business plan
- Build times on large projects are slow enough to interrupt a review cycle
Pricing, plan by plan
GitBook
Free- FreeFree
- Public documentation
- Basic editing
- Community support
Read the Docs
Free- FreeFree
- Core functionality
- Public projects
Which should you pick?
Choose GitBook if
- You need two-way git sync.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Cloud.
- You also want visual editor.
Choose Read the Docs if
- You need build on commit.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Cloud.
- You also want version by branch and tag.
Questions people ask
- Is GitBook or Read the Docs better?
- Neither clearly leads. GitBook starts at Free and Read the Docs at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, GitBook or Read the Docs?
- GitBook starts at Free and Read the Docs at Free.
- Does GitBook or Read the Docs run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Cloud, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use GitBook for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is GitBook best used for?
- GitBook is most often used for documentation written by product and support staff as well as engineers, public product docs that need hosting, search and access control managed, teams wanting git history without forcing everyone into a repository. Of those, documentation written by product and support staff as well as engineers and public product docs that need hosting, search and access control managed are not what Read the Docs is typically brought in for.
- What can GitBook do that Read the Docs cannot?
- GitBook covers Two-way Git sync, Visual editor, Hosted and searchable, Versioning and spaces. Read the Docs covers Build on commit, Version by branch and tag, Pull request previews, Free for open source.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
GitBook: Is GitBook free?
There is a free tier for public documentation, with paid team plans above it. Check current rates with the vendor.
Read the Docs: Is Read the Docs free?
Free for open-source public projects. Private documentation requires a paid business plan.
GitBook: How does Git sync work?
Changes made in the browser commit to the connected repository, and commits to the repository appear in GitBook, so both editing routes stay in step.
Read the Docs: What does it build from?
Most commonly Sphinx or MkDocs sources kept in your repository.
GitBook: GitBook or Docusaurus?
GitBook is hosted and lets non-technical people write directly. Docusaurus is free and fully controllable but assumes contributors work in a repository.
Read the Docs: How does versioning work?
It maps branches and tags to documentation versions, so several releases are served side by side without manual work.