APIs · head to head
Hasura vs Read the Docs
Hasura
APIs
GraphQL engine that instantly creates production-ready GraphQL API from databases
- 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: Hasura active model definition: model/command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly; Read the Docs build configuration is finicky, and build failures on dependency changes are a common frustration
- They diverge on capability: Hasura covers GraphQL API, 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 Hasura and Read the Docs actually diverge.
| Attribute | Hasura | Read the Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Free for open source; paid business plans for private documentation |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Cloud |
| Category | APIs | Documentation |
| Founded | 2017 | 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 Hasura
- GraphQL API
- Real-time subscriptions
- Access control
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- Webhooks
- REST APIs
- 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.
Hasura
- Automatic GraphQL API generation from existing databasesnot Read the Docs
- Real-time data subscriptions for modern applicationsnot Read the Docs
- Backend infrastructure for web and mobile applicationsnot Read the Docs
- Event-triggered webhooks for database changesnot Read the Docs
Read the Docs
- Open-source projects needing free hosted versioned documentationnot Hasura
- Teams wanting docs rebuilt automatically on every commitnot Hasura
- Reviewing documentation changes in a pull request before mergenot Hasura
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Hasura
- Active model definition: model/command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly
- Private DDN requires Base or Advanced plan
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
Hasura
Free- DDN FreeFree
- Unlimited models
- 1 supergraph developer
- 15-minute observability retention
- DDN Base$5/month
- Per active model billing
- Unlimited developers
- 30-day observability retention
- DDN Advanced$30/month
- Per active model billing
- Federated collaboration
- Multi-repo CI/CD
Read the Docs
Free- FreeFree
- Core functionality
- Public projects
Which should you pick?
Choose Hasura if
- You need graphql api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want real-time subscriptions.
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 Hasura or Read the Docs better?
- Neither clearly leads. Hasura 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, Hasura or Read the Docs?
- Hasura starts at Free and Read the Docs at Free.
- Does Hasura or Read the Docs run on more platforms?
- Hasura runs on Web. Read the Docs runs on Web, Cloud.
- Can I use Hasura for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Hasura best used for?
- Hasura is most often used for automatic graphql api generation from existing databases, real-time data subscriptions for modern applications, backend infrastructure for web and mobile applications, event-triggered webhooks for database changes. Of those, automatic graphql api generation from existing databases and real-time data subscriptions for modern applications are not what Read the Docs is typically brought in for.
- What can Hasura do that Read the Docs cannot?
- Hasura covers GraphQL API, Real-time subscriptions, Access control, PostgreSQL. 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
Hasura: How much does Hasura cost?
Hasura DDN Free is free. DDN Base starts at $5/active model/month, and DDN Advanced starts at $30/active model/month.
SourceRead the Docs: Is Read the Docs free?
Free for open-source public projects. Private documentation requires a paid business plan.
Hasura: What is an active model in Hasura pricing?
An active model is defined as any model or command accessed more than 1,000 times monthly.
SourceRead the Docs: What does it build from?
Most commonly Sphinx or MkDocs sources kept in your repository.
Hasura: Is there a free version of Hasura?
Yes, Hasura DDN Free is always free and includes unlimited models, 1 supergraph developer, and 15-minute observability retention.
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 Read the Docs
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- Read the Docs vs Asyncapi
- Read the Docs vs Janus Gateway
- Read the Docs vs Strapi
- Read the Docs vs Gravitee
- Read the Docs vs Bruno
- Read the Docs vs KeystoneJS
- Read the Docs vs Lithic
- Read the Docs vs Stoplight
- Read the Docs vs Swan
- Read the Docs vs Temenos Transact
- Read the Docs vs Token.io
- Read the Docs vs Treasury Prime
- 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