Documentation · head to head
Read the Docs vs GitBook
Read the Docs
Documentation
Documentation hosting with versioning built for open source
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
GitBook
Documentation
Hosted documentation platform with Git synchronisation
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Read the Docs build configuration is finicky, and build failures on dependency changes are a common frustration; GitBook hosted, so you do not own the rendering pipeline and are subject to platform changes
- They diverge on capability: Read the Docs covers Build on commit, GitBook covers Two-way Git sync.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Read the Docs and GitBook actually diverge.
| Attribute | Read the Docs | GitBook |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free for open source; paid business plans for private documentation | Free tier with paid team plans; see vendor for current rates |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Cloud), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Documentation).
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 Read the Docs
- Build on commit
- Version by branch and tag
- Pull request previews
- Free for open source
Only in GitBook
- Two-way Git sync
- Visual editor
- Hosted and searchable
- Versioning and spaces
- Access control
- Publishing workflow
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Read the Docs
- Open-source projects needing free hosted versioned documentationnot GitBook
- Teams wanting docs rebuilt automatically on every commitnot GitBook
- Reviewing documentation changes in a pull request before mergenot GitBook
GitBook
- Documentation written by product and support staff as well as engineersnot Read the Docs
- Public product docs that need hosting, search and access control managednot Read the Docs
- Teams wanting Git history without forcing everyone into a repositorynot Read the Docs
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
GitBook
- Hosted, so you do not own the rendering pipeline and are subject to platform changes
- Git sync is powerful but conflicts between browser and repository edits are confusing to resolve
- Pricing scales per user, which gets expensive where many people contribute occasionally
- Less customisable than a static site generator you control end to end
Pricing, plan by plan
Read the Docs
Free- FreeFree
- Core functionality
- Public projects
GitBook
Free- FreeFree
- Public documentation
- Basic editing
- Community support
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose GitBook if
- You need two-way git sync.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Cloud.
- You also want visual editor.
Questions people ask
- Is Read the Docs or GitBook better?
- Neither clearly leads. Read the Docs starts at Free and GitBook at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Read the Docs or GitBook?
- Read the Docs starts at Free and GitBook at Free.
- Does Read the Docs or GitBook run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Cloud, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Read the Docs for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Read the Docs best used for?
- Read the Docs is most often used for open-source projects needing free hosted versioned documentation, teams wanting docs rebuilt automatically on every commit, reviewing documentation changes in a pull request before merge. Of those, open-source projects needing free hosted versioned documentation and teams wanting docs rebuilt automatically on every commit are not what GitBook is typically brought in for.
- What can Read the Docs do that GitBook cannot?
- Read the Docs covers Build on commit, Version by branch and tag, Pull request previews, Free for open source. GitBook covers Two-way Git sync, Visual editor, Hosted and searchable, Versioning and spaces.
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.
GitBook: Is GitBook free?
There is a free tier for public documentation, with paid team plans above it. Check current rates with the vendor.
Read the Docs: What does it build from?
Most commonly Sphinx or MkDocs sources kept in your repository.
GitBook: How does Git sync work?
Changes made in the browser commit to the connected repository, and commits to the repository appear in GitBook, so both editing routes stay in step.
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.
GitBook: GitBook or Docusaurus?
GitBook is hosted and lets non-technical people write directly. Docusaurus is free and fully controllable but assumes contributors work in a repository.