APIs · head to head
GraphQL Apollo vs Read the Docs
Read the Docs
Documentation
Documentation hosting with versioning built for open source
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: GraphQL Apollo standard and Enterprise plans require sales contact for custom pricing; Read the Docs build configuration is finicky, and build failures on dependency changes are a common frustration
- They diverge on capability: GraphQL Apollo covers Apollo Server, Read the Docs covers Build on commit.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GraphQL Apollo and Read the Docs actually diverge.
| Attribute | GraphQL Apollo | Read the Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Free for open source; paid business plans for private documentation |
| Platforms | JavaScript, Node.js, Web, Mobile | Web, Cloud |
| Category | APIs | Documentation |
| Founded | 2016 | Unknown |
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 GraphQL Apollo
- Apollo Server
- Apollo Client
- GraphQL Federation
- REST APIs
- Microservices
- Databases
- JavaScript support
- Node.js support
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.
GraphQL Apollo
- GraphQL API managementnot Read the Docs
- Schema federationnot Read the Docs
- API analytics and monitoringnot Read the Docs
- Developer-focused infrastructurenot Read the Docs
Read the Docs
- Open-source projects needing free hosted versioned documentationnot GraphQL Apollo
- Teams wanting docs rebuilt automatically on every commitnot GraphQL Apollo
- Reviewing documentation changes in a pull request before mergenot GraphQL Apollo
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
GraphQL Apollo
- Standard and Enterprise plans require sales contact for custom pricing
- Free plan limited to 3 developers and 1-day retention
- Self-hosted router on free tier heavily rate-limited to 60 requests/minute
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
GraphQL Apollo
Free- FreeFree
- 3 developers
- 1-day data retention
- Community support only
- Developer$5/per million requests
- $50 usage credit for new signups
- Up to 10 developers
- 7-day data retention
- Standard$null/custom
- Up to 30 developers
- 90-day data retention
- Standard support with SLA (8x5)
- Enterprise$null/custom
- Unlimited developers
- 18-month data retention
- Business support 24x7x365 with SLA
Read the Docs
Free- FreeFree
- Core functionality
- Public projects
Which should you pick?
Choose GraphQL Apollo if
- You need apollo server.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on JavaScript, Node.js, Web, Mobile.
- You also want apollo client.
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 GraphQL Apollo or Read the Docs better?
- Neither clearly leads. GraphQL Apollo 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, GraphQL Apollo or Read the Docs?
- GraphQL Apollo starts at Free and Read the Docs at Free.
- Does GraphQL Apollo or Read the Docs run on more platforms?
- GraphQL Apollo runs on JavaScript, Node.js, Web, Mobile. Read the Docs runs on Web, Cloud.
- Can I use GraphQL Apollo for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is GraphQL Apollo best used for?
- GraphQL Apollo is most often used for graphql api management, schema federation, api analytics and monitoring, developer-focused infrastructure. Of those, graphql api management and schema federation are not what Read the Docs is typically brought in for.
- What can GraphQL Apollo do that Read the Docs cannot?
- GraphQL Apollo covers Apollo Server, Apollo Client, GraphQL Federation, REST APIs. 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
GraphQL Apollo: How much does Apollo GraphQL cost?
Apollo GraphQL is free for up to 3 developers. Paid plans start at $5 per million GraphQL requests on the Developer plan, which includes $50 usage credit for new signups. Standard and Enterprise plans require custom pricing via sales contact.
SourceRead the Docs: Is Read the Docs free?
Free for open-source public projects. Private documentation requires a paid business plan.
GraphQL Apollo: Is there a free version of Apollo GraphQL?
Yes, Apollo GraphQL offers a forever-free plan with no credit card required for up to 3 developers, including 1-day data retention, community support, and self-hosted GraphOS Router rate-limited to 60 requests per minute.
SourceRead the Docs: What does it build from?
Most commonly Sphinx or MkDocs sources kept in your repository.
GraphQL Apollo: What does Apollo's Enterprise plan include that Standard does not?
The Enterprise plan offers unlimited developers versus 30 on Standard, 18-month data retention versus 90 days, and 24x7x365 business support with SLA instead of 8x5 support. It also includes premium and professional services add-ons and custom MSA agreements. Both require custom pricing.
SourceRead 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.
Related pages
More on GraphQL Apollo
More on Read the Docs
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- Read the Docs vs Hasura
- Read the Docs vs Appwrite
- Read the Docs vs PocketBase
- Read the Docs vs Sanity
- Read the Docs vs Strapi
- Read the Docs vs GraphQL Playground
- Read the Docs vs Kong Gateway
- Read the Docs vs Parse Server
- Read the Docs vs WSO2 API Manager
- Read the Docs vs Janus Gateway
- Read the Docs vs Directus
- Read the Docs vs KeystoneJS
- Read the Docs vs Solaris
- Read the Docs vs Stainless
- Read the Docs vs Swagger/OpenAPI
- Read the Docs vs Thredd
- Read the Docs vs Thunder Client
- Read the Docs vs MkDocs
- Read the Docs vs Sphinx
- Read the Docs vs Docsify
- Read the Docs vs GitBook
- Read the Docs vs Doxygen
- Read the Docs vs BookStack
- Read the Docs vs Antora
- Read the Docs vs Outline
- Read the Docs vs Bump.sh
- Read the Docs vs Fumadocs
- Read the Docs vs Scalar
- Read the Docs vs Grammarly
- Read the Docs vs Slab
- Read the Docs vs Starlight
- Read the Docs vs VitePress
- Read the Docs vs Guidde