GitBook vs ReadMe
GitBook and ReadMe are both API & developer docs tools. GitBook is aimed at developers and small businesses, while ReadMe is aimed at developers and enterprise. GitBook costs less, from $65/mo versus $250/mo for ReadMe. Both have a free plan.
| Pricing | Freemium · $65 | Freemium · $250 |
| Starting price | $65/mo | $250/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 14 days | — |
| Built for | Developers, Small businesses | Developers, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web | web |
| Country | FR · 2014 | US · 2014 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose GitBook if
Product and developer teams who want Git-backed docs with a friendly editor.
- Good balance of editor UX and Git workflows
- AI answers improve self-service
- Suitable for both technical and product docs
Look elsewhere if: API-first startups wanting maximum polish (Mintlify) or teams needing many separate sites cheaply.
Choose ReadMe if
API-first companies wanting docs plus usage analytics.
- API usage metrics connected to docs
- Personalized developer experience
- Mature platform
Look elsewhere if: Small projects (Docusaurus, Scalar).
GitBook vs ReadMe pricing
GitBook
- Free$0For individuals
- Essential$65/site/moBilled annually; +$12/user/mo; $20 AI credits
- Ultimate$249/site/moBilled annually; +$12/user/mo; $100 AI credits
- EnterpriseCustomCustomized pricing
ReadMe
- Starter$01 project, 1 published version, 1 admin
- Pro$250/moBilled annually; 5 admins, unlimited versions
- EnterpriseCustomAnnual billing only
GitBook · Key features
- Block editor with Markdown shortcuts and Git sync
- OpenAPI blocks and code samples
- Change requests and review workflows
- AI answers and search for readers
- Custom domains, branding and analytics
- Authenticated access and variants (Ultimate)
Cons
- Per-site pricing adds up for multiple products
- Design flexibility is limited
- Some Git sync edge cases
ReadMe · Key features
- Interactive API reference with try-it
- Guides, recipes and changelogs
- API metrics per developer and endpoint
- Personalized docs with user keys
- AI search (Owlbot)
- Versioning and staging
Cons
- Pro plan is expensive
- Design flexibility limited
- Docs-as-code workflow less native than Mintlify
GitBook vs ReadMe: FAQ
Which is cheaper, GitBook or ReadMe?
GitBook starts at $65/mo and ReadMe at $250/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do GitBook and ReadMe have a free plan?
Yes, both GitBook and ReadMe have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.
Which is better for small businesses, GitBook or ReadMe?
GitBook lists small businesses as a core audience, while ReadMe is aimed more at developers and enterprise.