Documentation · head to head
Read the Docs vs Stoplight
Read the Docs
Documentation
Documentation hosting with versioning built for open source
- 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; Stoplight the free plan allows one project and one user
- They diverge on capability: Read the Docs covers Build on commit, Stoplight covers API Design.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Read the Docs and Stoplight actually diverge.
| Attribute | Read the Docs | Stoplight |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free for open source; paid business plans for private documentation | subscription |
| Category | Documentation | APIs |
| Founded | Unknown | 2014 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Cloud), 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 Read the Docs
- Build on commit
- Version by branch and tag
- Pull request previews
- Free for open source
Only in Stoplight
- API Design
- API Documentation
- Governance
- GitHub
- GitLab
- Jenkins
- Azure DevOps
- Web support
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 Stoplight
- Teams wanting docs rebuilt automatically on every commitnot Stoplight
- Reviewing documentation changes in a pull request before mergenot Stoplight
Stoplight
- API design and documentationnot Read the Docs
- API governance and standardsnot Read the Docs
- Team collaboration on API developmentnot Read the Docs
- API mocking and testingnot 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
Stoplight
- The free plan allows one project and one user
- Private projects, multi branch support and custom domains start at the Startup plan, $113 a month billed annually
- SSO and shared style guides are Pro Team only, at $362 a month billed annually
- Seats beyond each plan's allowance are $11 to $27 each per month depending on tier and billing period
Pricing, plan by plan
Read the Docs
Free- FreeFree
- Core functionality
- Public projects
Stoplight
Free- FreeFree
- 1 project
- 1 user
- Basic API design and documentation features
- Basic$56/month
- Annual: $44/user/year
- 3 included users; $14 per additional user (monthly)
- Unlimited projects
- Startup$147/month
- Annual: $113/user/year
- 8 included users; $14 per additional user (monthly)
- Private projects
- Pro Team$453/month
- Annual: $362/user/year
- 15 included users; $27 per additional user (monthly)
- Up to 20 teams
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 Stoplight if
- You need api design.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Cloud.
- You also want api documentation.
Questions people ask
- Is Read the Docs or Stoplight better?
- Neither clearly leads. Read the Docs starts at Free and Stoplight at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Read the Docs or Stoplight?
- Read the Docs starts at Free and Stoplight at Free.
- Does Read the Docs or Stoplight 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 Stoplight is typically brought in for.
- What can Read the Docs do that Stoplight cannot?
- Read the Docs covers Build on commit, Version by branch and tag, Pull request previews, Free for open source. Stoplight covers API Design, API Documentation, Governance, GitHub.
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.
Stoplight: How much does Stoplight cost?
Stoplight starts with a free plan (1 project, 1 user), then Basic at $56/month per user (or $44/year), Startup at $147/month per user (or $113/year), Pro Team at $453/month per user (or $362/year), and Enterprise at custom pricing.
SourceRead the Docs: What does it build from?
Most commonly Sphinx or MkDocs sources kept in your repository.
Stoplight: How many included users are in each Stoplight plan?
Basic includes 3 users, Startup includes 8 users, and Pro Team includes 15 users. Additional users beyond the included count cost $14/month for Basic and Startup, or $27/month for Pro Team.
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.
Stoplight: Does Stoplight offer a free trial?
Yes, all paid Stoplight plans include a 14-day free trial. The free plan has no trial period as it is always available.
SourceStoplight: Does Stoplight's free plan have limitations?
Yes, the free plan includes only 1 project and 1 user. Users viewing public documentation anonymously are not counted toward the 1-user limit.
SourceRelated pages
More on Read the Docs
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- Stoplight vs MkDocs
- Stoplight vs Sphinx
- Stoplight vs Docsify
- Stoplight vs GitBook
- Stoplight vs Doxygen
- Stoplight vs BookStack
- Stoplight vs Antora
- Stoplight vs Outline
- Stoplight vs Bump.sh
- Stoplight vs Fumadocs
- Stoplight vs Scalar
- Stoplight vs Grammarly
- Stoplight vs Slab
- Stoplight vs Starlight
- Stoplight vs VitePress
- Stoplight vs Guidde
- Stoplight vs Sanity
- Stoplight vs Appwrite
- Stoplight vs Hasura
- Stoplight vs PocketBase
- Stoplight vs Apidog
- Stoplight vs Swagger
- Stoplight vs Akana
- Stoplight vs WSO2 API Manager
- Stoplight vs GraphQL Playground
- Stoplight vs Apigee
- Stoplight vs 10x Banking
- Stoplight vs Treblle
- Stoplight vs Meniga
- Stoplight vs Moov
- Stoplight vs MX Technologies
- Stoplight vs PubNub
- Stoplight vs Skaleet
- Stoplight vs Svix