Is Read the Docs truly free for open source projects?

Yes, Read the Docs provides free documentation hosting, building, and versioning services for public open source projects. Private projects or commercial use generally require a paid plan.

What documentation tools does Read the Docs support?

Read the Docs primarily supports Sphinx and MkDocs, allowing users to write documentation in reStructuredText and Markdown formats, respectively. It handles the build process for these tools automatically.

Can I use a custom domain for my documentation hosted on Read the Docs?

Yes, Read the Docs allows you to configure a custom domain for your project documentation on both its free and paid plans, providing a professional appearance for your docs.

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Read the Docs

Freemium

docsoss

Read the Docs provides free, automatic documentation hosting for open source projects, integrating directly with version control systems.

Try it out

Read the Docs simplifies and automates the process of building, hosting, and versioning documentation for software projects. It integrates directly with popular version control systems like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket, automatically building documentation whenever code changes are pushed. This service primarily uses Sphinx and MkDocs as underlying documentation generators, allowing developers to write documentation in reStructuredText or Markdown and have it rendered beautifully online. Its core value lies in its seamless workflow, making it easy for open source projects to maintain up-to-date and accessible documentation for their users.

Pros

Free hosting and build automation for public open-source projects.
Seamless integration with major version control systems (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket).
Supports multiple documentation formats (reStructuredText, Markdown) via Sphinx and MkDocs.

Cons

Paid plans can be expensive for teams needing private documentation or advanced features.
Customization options for themes and build processes for advanced use cases can be limited or require significant effort.
Performance issues can occasionally arise during documentation builds for very large or complex projects.

Key features

Automated documentation builds from Git repositories.
Integrated search functionality for hosted documentation.
Version control for documentation (multiple versions, translations).
Custom domain support for hosted documentation.
PDF and ePub exports of documentation.

Integrations

GitHubGitLabBitbucketSphinx (documentation generator)MkDocs (documentation generator)Webhooks for build notifications

Target audience

Open source project maintainers, developers, and technical writers who need automated, versioned, and accessible documentation hosting.

Ratings & Reviews

0.0

Based on 0 reviews

Key Metrics

Active Users

1M+

Founded

2010

Headquarters

Portland, Oregon/USA

Pricing Tiers

Community

Free hosting and building for public open source projects.

Free

Teams

Private documentation, advanced features, and priority support for businesses and larger projects.

Custom

Frequently Asked Questions

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