Softwr

APIs · head to head

Gravitee vs MkDocs

Gravitee logo

Gravitee

APIs

Open source API management platform for event-native APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MkDocs logo

MkDocs

Documentation

Static site generator for project documentation in Markdown

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Gravitee the entry paid API management tier is $2,500 a month and includes a single production gateway; MkDocs no built-in versioning, which Docusaurus provides and documentation teams eventually need
  • They diverge on capability: Gravitee covers API Gateway, MkDocs covers Plain Markdown.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Gravitee and MkDocs actually diverge.

Attributes where Gravitee and MkDocs differ
AttributeGraviteeMkDocs
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsCloud, On-premise, KubernetesWeb, Linux, macOS, Windows
CategoryAPIsDocumentation
Founded2015Unknown

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 Gravitee

  • API Gateway
  • Developer Portal
  • Analytics Dashboard
  • Kubernetes
  • Docker
  • Kafka
  • LDAP
  • Cloud support

Only in MkDocs

  • Plain Markdown
  • Single YAML config
  • Material theme
  • Live preview

What people use each for

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

Gravitee

  • API gateway and lifecycle managementnot MkDocs
  • Exposing Kafka event streams as managed APIsnot MkDocs
  • Protocol mediation between event brokers and clientsnot MkDocs
  • Self-hosting an open source API gatewaynot MkDocs
  • Access control and authentication in front of internal APIsnot MkDocs

MkDocs

  • Project documentation for teams that would rather not run a JavaScript toolchainnot Gravitee
  • Python projects keeping docs beside the codenot Gravitee
  • Documentation that must build fast in CI on every commitnot Gravitee

Where each one falls short

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

Gravitee

  • The entry paid API management tier is $2,500 a month and includes a single production gateway
  • Event management is priced separately, starting at $1,250 a month for the Comet tier
  • Tiers are gated on gateway and broker counts, so scaling horizontally means moving tier rather than paying incrementally
  • Data logging masking and other enterprise features are withheld from the lowest paid tier
  • 24/7 support requires the top Universe tier

MkDocs

  • No built-in versioning, which Docusaurus provides and documentation teams eventually need
  • Extending past the theme means writing Python plugins
  • Markdown only, so embedding interactive components is not the model

Pricing, plan by plan

Gravitee

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • API Gateway
    • Basic analytics
    • Community support
  • Enterprise$1500/monthly
    • Advanced features
    • SLA support
    • SSO integration
  • Custom$undefined/monthly
    • Custom deployment
    • Dedicated support
    • Premium SLA

MkDocs

Free
  • MkDocsFree
    • Full functionality
    • Commercial use permitted
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Gravitee if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premise, Kubernetes.
  • You also want developer portal.
Gravitee review

Choose MkDocs if

  • You need plain markdown.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want single yaml config.
MkDocs review

Questions people ask

Is Gravitee or MkDocs better?
Neither clearly leads. Gravitee starts at Free and MkDocs at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Gravitee or MkDocs?
Gravitee starts at Free and MkDocs at Free.
Does Gravitee or MkDocs run on more platforms?
Gravitee runs on Cloud, On-premise, Kubernetes. MkDocs runs on Web, Linux, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Gravitee for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Gravitee best used for?
Gravitee is most often used for api gateway and lifecycle management, exposing kafka event streams as managed apis, protocol mediation between event brokers and clients, self-hosting an open source api gateway. Of those, api gateway and lifecycle management and exposing kafka event streams as managed apis are not what MkDocs is typically brought in for.
What can Gravitee do that MkDocs cannot?
Gravitee covers API Gateway, Developer Portal, Analytics Dashboard, Kubernetes. MkDocs covers Plain Markdown, Single YAML config, Material theme, Live preview.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Gravitee: What is Gravitee's pricing model?

Gravitee uses a tiered subscription model with monthly flat pricing. The Planet tier for API Management starts at $2,500/month with one production gateway, while the Comet tier for Event Management starts at $1,250/month.

Source
MkDocs: Is MkDocs free?

Yes, open source under the BSD licence. The Material theme has a free version and a paid Insiders edition.

Gravitee: Are there hidden fees with Gravitee?

No. Gravitee explicitly states there are no hidden fees, and all tiers include unlimited users and unlimited APIs under management.

Source
MkDocs: MkDocs or Docusaurus?

MkDocs is simpler and faster to adopt, especially for Python teams. Docusaurus offers versioning, internationalisation and React components, which matter once documentation grows.

Gravitee: What does higher tier pricing include in Gravitee?

Higher tiers add more production gateways, enterprise plugins, and enhanced support levels ranging from Gold to Platinum/Diamond support.

Source
MkDocs: Does MkDocs support versioned docs?

Not natively. Plugins such as mike add it, where Docusaurus includes versioning in core.

Share

Related pages

More on Gravitee

More on MkDocs

Keep looking

Other head to heads