Happy Valley

Hoppscotch vs ReadMe

Hoppscotch and ReadMe are both API & developer docs tools. Hoppscotch is aimed at developers and small businesses, while ReadMe is aimed at developers and enterprise. Hoppscotch costs less, from $8/mo versus $250/mo for ReadMe. Both have a free plan.

Hoppscotch

Open-source API client for REST, GraphQL and realtime testing

ReadMe

Interactive API documentation hubs

PricingOpen source · $8Freemium · $250
Starting price$8/mo$250/mo
Free planYesYes
Free trial——
Built forDevelopers, Small businesses, EnterpriseDevelopers, Enterprise
Platformsweb, macos, windows, linuxweb
Country— · 2019US · 2014
Rating——

Choose Hoppscotch if

Developers and teams who want a fast open-source API client, with optional self-hosting and low per-user pricing.

  • Fast, lightweight interface that opens instantly in the browser
  • Generous free plan and fully free self-hosting
  • Supports realtime protocols that many clients skip

Look elsewhere if: Large organizations that need a full API lifecycle platform with extensive integrations (Postman, Apidog).

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).

Hoppscotch vs ReadMe pricing

Hoppscotch

  • Free$0Cloud or self-hosted Community edition, free forever
  • Business$8/user/mo$6/user/mo billed annually; team workspaces, mocking, docs
  • Enterprise Cloud$11/user/moBilled annually; SSO, SCIM, RBAC, audit logs, AI agent features
  • Enterprise Self-Host$19/user/mo$190/user/year billed annually; on-premises with admin controls

ReadMe

  • Starter$01 project, 1 published version, 1 admin
  • Pro$250/moBilled annually; 5 admins, unlimited versions
  • EnterpriseCustomAnnual billing only

Hoppscotch · Key features

  • REST, GraphQL, WebSocket, SSE, Socket.IO and MQTT clients
  • Nested collections with environments and variables
  • Pre-request scripts, tests and a collection runner
  • CLI for running collections in CI pipelines
  • Desktop apps for macOS, Windows and Linux plus a web app
  • Team workspaces with real-time collaboration on Business

Cons

  • Smaller integration and plugin ecosystem than Postman
  • Mocking and published docs require a paid plan
  • Enterprise governance features arrived only recently

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

Hoppscotch vs ReadMe: FAQ

Which is cheaper, Hoppscotch or ReadMe?

Hoppscotch starts at $8/mo and ReadMe at $250/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.

Do Hoppscotch and ReadMe have a free plan?

Yes, both Hoppscotch and ReadMe have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.

Which is better for small businesses, Hoppscotch or ReadMe?

Hoppscotch lists small businesses as a core audience, while ReadMe is aimed more at developers and enterprise.

Not sure yet?