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APIs · head to head

Gravitee vs Read the Docs

Gravitee logo

Gravitee

APIs

Open source API management platform for event-native APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Read the Docs logo

Read the Docs

Documentation

Documentation hosting with versioning built for open source

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; Read the Docs build configuration is finicky, and build failures on dependency changes are a common frustration
  • They diverge on capability: Gravitee covers API Gateway, 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 Gravitee and Read the Docs actually diverge.

Attributes where Gravitee and Read the Docs differ
AttributeGraviteeRead the Docs
Pricing modelfreemiumFree for open source; paid business plans for private documentation
PlatformsCloud, On-premise, KubernetesWeb, Cloud
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 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.

Gravitee

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

Read the Docs

  • Open-source projects needing free hosted versioned documentationnot Gravitee
  • Teams wanting docs rebuilt automatically on every commitnot Gravitee
  • Reviewing documentation changes in a pull request before mergenot 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

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

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

Read the Docs

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core functionality
    • Public projects

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 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.
Read the Docs review

Questions people ask

Is Gravitee or Read the Docs better?
Neither clearly leads. Gravitee 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, Gravitee or Read the Docs?
Gravitee starts at Free and Read the Docs at Free.
Does Gravitee or Read the Docs run on more platforms?
Gravitee runs on Cloud, On-premise, Kubernetes. Read the Docs runs on Web, Cloud.
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 Read the Docs is typically brought in for.
What can Gravitee do that Read the Docs cannot?
Gravitee covers API Gateway, Developer Portal, Analytics Dashboard, Kubernetes. 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

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
Read the Docs: Is Read the Docs free?

Free for open-source public projects. Private documentation requires a paid business plan.

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
Read the Docs: What does it build from?

Most commonly Sphinx or MkDocs sources kept in your repository.

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
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.

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