Documentation · head to head
Sphinx vs MkDocs
Sphinx
Documentation
Documentation generator built for large technical projects
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
MkDocs
Documentation
Static site generator for project documentation in Markdown
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Sphinx reStructuredText is harder to write than Markdown and puts off contributors, though MyST now allows Markdown; MkDocs no built-in versioning, which Docusaurus provides and documentation teams eventually need
- They diverge on capability: Sphinx covers Cross-references, MkDocs covers Plain Markdown.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Sphinx and MkDocs actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), 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 Sphinx
- Cross-references
- API autodoc
- Multi-format output
- Extension ecosystem
Only in MkDocs
- Plain Markdown
- Single YAML config
- Material theme
- Live preview
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Sphinx
- Large technical documentation needing reliable cross-referencesnot MkDocs
- Python projects generating API docs from docstringsnot MkDocs
- Documentation that must ship as PDF as well as HTMLnot MkDocs
MkDocs
- Project documentation for teams that would rather not run a JavaScript toolchainnot Sphinx
- Python projects keeping docs beside the codenot Sphinx
- Documentation that must build fast in CI on every commitnot Sphinx
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
MkDocs
- No built-in versioning, which Docusaurus provides and documentation teams eventually need
- Extending past the theme means writing Python plugins
- Markdown only, so embedding interactive components is not the model
Pricing, plan by plan
Sphinx
Free- SphinxFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
MkDocs
Free- MkDocsFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose Sphinx if
- You need cross-references.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
- You also want api autodoc.
Choose MkDocs if
- You need plain markdown.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Linux, macOS, Windows.
- You also want single yaml config.
Questions people ask
- Is Sphinx or MkDocs better?
- Neither clearly leads. Sphinx starts at Free and MkDocs at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Sphinx or MkDocs?
- Sphinx starts at Free and MkDocs at Free.
- Does Sphinx or MkDocs run on more platforms?
- Sphinx runs on Linux, macOS, Windows. MkDocs runs on Web, Linux, macOS, Windows.
- Can I use Sphinx for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Sphinx best used for?
- Sphinx is most often used for large technical documentation needing reliable cross-references, python projects generating api docs from docstrings, documentation that must ship as pdf as well as html. Of those, large technical documentation needing reliable cross-references and python projects generating api docs from docstrings are not what MkDocs is typically brought in for.
- What can Sphinx do that MkDocs cannot?
- Sphinx covers Cross-references, API autodoc, Multi-format output, Extension ecosystem. MkDocs covers Plain Markdown, Single YAML config, Material theme, Live preview.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Sphinx: Is Sphinx free?
Yes, open source under the BSD licence.
MkDocs: Is MkDocs free?
Yes, open source under the BSD licence. The Material theme has a free version and a paid Insiders edition.
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.
MkDocs: MkDocs or Docusaurus?
MkDocs is simpler and faster to adopt, especially for Python teams. Docusaurus offers versioning, internationalisation and React components, which matter once documentation grows.
Sphinx: Why do large projects choose Sphinx?
Automatic cross-referencing and API extraction from docstrings, which lighter generators do not provide.
MkDocs: Does MkDocs support versioned docs?
Not natively. Plugins such as mike add it, where Docusaurus includes versioning in core.