Web Development · head to head
npm 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: npm private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only; Read the Docs build configuration is finicky, and build failures on dependency changes are a common frustration
- They diverge on capability: npm covers Package installation, Read the Docs covers Build on commit.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which npm and Read the Docs actually diverge.
| Attribute | npm | Read the Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Free for open source; paid business plans for private documentation |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux | Web, Cloud |
| Category | Web Development | Documentation |
| Founded | 2014 | 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 npm
- Package installation
- Dependency management
- Version management
- Script running
- Package publishing
- Security auditing
- Package discovery
- CLI interface
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.
npm
- Package managementnot Read the Docs
- Dependency installationnot Read the Docs
- Project scaffoldingnot Read the Docs
- Build automationnot Read the Docs
- Package publishingnot Read the Docs
- Version controlnot Read the Docs
Read the Docs
- Open-source projects needing free hosted versioned documentationnot npm
- Teams wanting docs rebuilt automatically on every commitnot npm
- Reviewing documentation changes in a pull request before mergenot npm
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
npm
- Private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only
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
npm
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited public packages
- Package discovery
- npm CLI
- Pro$7/month
- Unlimited private packages
- Package analytics
- Support
- Teams$7/month
- Team management
- Organization packages
- Audit logs
Read the Docs
Free- FreeFree
- Core functionality
- Public projects
Which should you pick?
Choose npm if
- You need package installation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
- You also want dependency management.
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 npm or Read the Docs better?
- Neither clearly leads. npm 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, npm or Read the Docs?
- npm starts at Free and Read the Docs at Free.
- Does npm or Read the Docs run on more platforms?
- npm runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. Read the Docs runs on Web, Cloud.
- Can I use npm for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is npm best used for?
- npm is most often used for package management, dependency installation, project scaffolding, build automation. Of those, package management and dependency installation are not what Read the Docs is typically brought in for.
- What can npm do that Read the Docs cannot?
- npm covers Package installation, Dependency management, Version management, Script running. 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
Read the Docs: Is Read the Docs free?
Free for open-source public projects. Private documentation requires a paid business plan.
Read the Docs: What does it build from?
Most commonly Sphinx or MkDocs sources kept in your 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.
Related pages
More on Read the Docs
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