Compare MkDocs vs. Read the Docs

MkDocs is an elegant and efficient static site generator designed specifically for creating project documentation. You can write your documentation in Markdown format and manage it using a straightforward YAML configuration file. There are numerous visually appealing themes to choose from in MkDocs, including the default themes like mkdocs and readthedocs, as well as various third-party options found on the MkDocs Themes wiki page, or you can even craft your own unique theme. By personalizing your theme or adding plugins, you can ensure your project documentation has the appearance you desire. Additionally, you have the ability to enhance Markdown's functionality through various extensions. A wealth of configuration options is at your disposal, and the built-in development server enables you to see your documentation in real-time as you create it, complete with automatic reloading and browser refreshing upon saving changes. Ultimately, MkDocs produces entirely static HTML sites that are ready to be hosted on platforms such as GitHub Pages, Amazon S3, or any other hosting service you prefer, giving you flexibility in how you distribute your documentation. This makes it an excellent choice for developers seeking a streamlined way to present their project information.

Focus your efforts on creating exceptional documentation instead of getting bogged down with the tools needed to manage it. Read the Docs streamlines the documentation process by taking care of building, versioning, and hosting your documentation automatically. We offer free and permanent hosting for your documentation with no hidden fees. Our platform supports over 100,000 open source projects in sharing their documentation, complete with options for custom domains and themes. Each time you update your code in popular version control systems like GitHub, BitBucket, or GitLab, we automatically build your documentation, ensuring that it remains synchronized with your code. While we prepare your documentation for the web, you can also access it as PDFs, single-page HTML, and formats suitable for eReaders. There’s no need for complex configurations, making the process seamless. Additionally, we can manage and host various versions of your documentation effortlessly, allowing you to maintain both 1.0 and 2.0 versions simply by using separate branches or tags in your version control setup. With Read the Docs, you can concentrate on content while we handle the technical aspects of documentation management.