Documentation · head to head
Read the Docs vs Sphinx
Read the Docs
Documentation
Documentation hosting with versioning built for open source
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Sphinx
Documentation
Documentation generator built for large technical projects
- 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; Sphinx reStructuredText is harder to write than Markdown and puts off contributors, though MyST now allows Markdown
- They diverge on capability: Read the Docs covers Build on commit, Sphinx covers Cross-references.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Read the Docs and Sphinx actually diverge.
| Attribute | Read the Docs | Sphinx |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free for open source; paid business plans for private documentation | Open source, no licence fee |
| Platforms | Web, Cloud | Linux, macOS, Windows |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Sphinx
- Cross-references
- API autodoc
- Multi-format output
- Extension ecosystem
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 Sphinx
- Teams wanting docs rebuilt automatically on every commitnot Sphinx
- Reviewing documentation changes in a pull request before mergenot Sphinx
Sphinx
- Large technical documentation needing reliable cross-referencesnot Read the Docs
- Python projects generating API docs from docstringsnot Read the Docs
- Documentation that must ship as PDF as well as HTMLnot 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
Sphinx
- reStructuredText is harder to write than Markdown and puts off contributors, though MyST now allows Markdown
- Configuration is complex and the default output is dated-looking without theme work
- Build times on large documentation sets are slow
- Heavier than the problem for a small project that only needs a few pages
Pricing, plan by plan
Read the Docs
Free- FreeFree
- Core functionality
- Public projects
Sphinx
Free- SphinxFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- 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 Sphinx if
- You need cross-references.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
- You also want api autodoc.
Questions people ask
- Is Read the Docs or Sphinx better?
- Neither clearly leads. Read the Docs starts at Free and Sphinx at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Read the Docs or Sphinx?
- Read the Docs starts at Free and Sphinx at Free.
- Does Read the Docs or Sphinx run on more platforms?
- Read the Docs runs on Web, Cloud. Sphinx runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
- 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 Sphinx is typically brought in for.
- What can Read the Docs do that Sphinx cannot?
- Read the Docs covers Build on commit, Version by branch and tag, Pull request previews, Free for open source. Sphinx covers Cross-references, API autodoc, Multi-format output, Extension ecosystem.
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.
Sphinx: Is Sphinx free?
Yes, open source under the BSD licence.
Read the Docs: What does it build from?
Most commonly Sphinx or MkDocs sources kept in your repository.
Sphinx: Do I have to write reStructuredText?
Not any more. The MyST extension allows Markdown, though reStructuredText remains the native format and most examples use it.
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.
Sphinx: Why do large projects choose Sphinx?
Automatic cross-referencing and API extraction from docstrings, which lighter generators do not provide.