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Documentation · head to head

Slab vs Stoplight

Slab logo

Slab

Documentation

Internal knowledge base for teams, organised by topic rather than folders, with search across connected tools

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stoplight logo

Stoplight

APIs

API design, documentation, and governance platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Slab it is built for internal knowledge, so public product documentation on a custom domain with versioning is outside what the product does.; Stoplight the free plan allows one project and one user
  • They diverge on capability: Slab covers Topics instead of folders, Stoplight covers API Design.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Slab and Stoplight actually diverge.

Attributes where Slab and Stoplight differ
AttributeSlabStoplight
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
PlatformsWebWeb, Cloud
CategoryDocumentationAPIs
FoundedUnknown2014

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 Slab

  • Topics instead of folders
  • Unified search
  • Post verification
  • Quill editor
  • Permissions
  • Free tier for small teams

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.

Slab

  • Building an employee handbook and onboarding path that new starters can actually findnot Stoplight
  • Replacing a folder-based wiki where nobody agrees which folder a document belongs innot Stoplight
  • Companies whose knowledge is already spread across Drive, Slack and GitHub and needs one search boxnot Stoplight
  • Documenting process and decisions for teams that do not want a project management tool attachednot Stoplight

Stoplight

  • API design and documentationnot Slab
  • API governance and standardsnot Slab
  • Team collaboration on API developmentnot Slab
  • API mocking and testingnot Slab

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Slab

  • It is built for internal knowledge, so public product documentation on a custom domain with versioning is outside what the product does.
  • There is no docs-as-code workflow, no git synchronisation and no markdown files on disk, so engineering-owned technical documentation ends up somewhere else anyway.
  • Hierarchy is shallow by design, and organisations that genuinely need deep nested structure find topics an awkward substitute rather than an improvement.
  • There is no offline mode, so a knowledge base that includes incident runbooks is unavailable during exactly the incident where the network is the problem.
  • Pricing is per user per month, so organisations where most staff only read a handbook twice a year still pay a seat for each of them.

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

Slab

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to ten users
    • Unlimited posts
    • Core integrations
  • Slab$undefined/month
    • Priced per user per month with annual billing
    • Unlimited users and history
    • Full integration set and unified search

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 Slab if

  • You need topics instead of folders.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want unified search.
Slab review

Choose Stoplight if

  • You need api design.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want api documentation.
Stoplight review

Questions people ask

Is Slab or Stoplight better?
Neither clearly leads. Slab 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, Slab or Stoplight?
Slab starts at Free and Stoplight at Free.
Does Slab or Stoplight run on more platforms?
Slab runs on Web. Stoplight runs on Web, Cloud.
Can I use Slab for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Slab best used for?
Slab is most often used for building an employee handbook and onboarding path that new starters can actually find, replacing a folder-based wiki where nobody agrees which folder a document belongs in, companies whose knowledge is already spread across drive, slack and github and needs one search box, documenting process and decisions for teams that do not want a project management tool attached. Of those, building an employee handbook and onboarding path that new starters can actually find and replacing a folder-based wiki where nobody agrees which folder a document belongs in are not what Stoplight is typically brought in for.
What can Slab do that Stoplight cannot?
Slab covers Topics instead of folders, Unified search, Post verification, Quill editor. Stoplight covers API Design, API Documentation, Governance, GitHub.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Slab: Can I publish documentation publicly with Slab?

Posts can be shared by link, but it is not a product documentation platform. There is no custom domain publishing, versioning or API reference tooling.

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.

Source
Slab: What does the free plan actually cover?

Up to ten users with unlimited posts and core integrations. It is a real free tier rather than a trial, and it is enough for a small company handbook.

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.

Source
Slab: How does it compare with a general workspace tool?

Slab does less on purpose. There are no databases, boards or task views, which makes it faster to write in and much harder to turn into an unmaintained sprawl.

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.

Source
Slab: Does search really cover other tools?

Yes, connected sources are indexed and appear in results. That integration is the main reason to choose it, so verify your specific tools are supported before committing.

Stoplight: 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.

Source
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