Archbee vs GitBook

Archbee

• Software companies publishing product and API documentation
• Teams that keep docs in Git but want a hosted portal
• Docs with many readers and few writers, since readers are free

GitBook

• Public product and API documentation for software companies
• Teams that want docs reviewed and merged in a Git workflow
• Open source projects, which can apply for the free Community plan

Archbee

• There is no free plan: once the 14-day trial ends, a paid plan is required.
• Plans include 5 team members; each extra contributor costs $5 to $12 a month depending on the plan and billing period.
• Q&A, insights, the app widget, public API access and PDF export are add-ons on Growing and Scaling, each $80 a month on annual billing.
• SAML and OIDC SSO, AI-assisted translations and the Intercom and Zendesk integrations are Enterprise only.

GitBook

• Paid plans combine a per-site fee with $12 per user / month, and guests and read-only members cost the same as other members.
• The pricing page shows annual-billing prices and advertises 2 months free; month-to-month rates are not shown in its default view.
• The Free plan covers a single user and leaves out custom domains, AI search and AI writing.
• SAML SSO is limited to Enterprise; the AI Assistant, adaptive content and authenticated access need Ultimate at $249 per site / month.

Archbee

Editor with branches and drafts

A multiplayer editor with drafts and native branches lets writers change content in isolation, have it reviewed and merge it when ready, with or without a Git workflow.

Docs-as-code sync

Markdown or MDX kept in GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket can be built into a docs site, and OpenAPI or Swagger files generate API documentation, on every plan.

Published portals

Spaces can be public or private and published to a custom domain hosted by Archbee. Password protection is on every plan; guest accounts, magic links and JWT start on Scaling.

Reusable content

Variables and reusable snippets update everywhere when changed, and version and space links connect multi-version and multi-product docs. These start on the Scaling plan.

AI add-on

Ask AI answers reader questions from the documentation and Write Assist helps draft content. It is a paid add-on on Growing and Scaling with a monthly token allowance.

Desktop apps and export

Archbee runs in any modern browser and offers macOS, Windows and Linux apps. Content can be exported as Markdown or as rendered PDF files.

GitBook

Block-based editor

A visual editor built from blocks, including custom ones. Added users collaborate through change requests and content reviews before edits are published.

Git Sync

Two-way sync with GitHub or GitLab lets a team branch, review and merge documentation like a pull request. It is included on every plan, the Free one too.

Published docs sites

Sites get unlimited traffic and preview deployments on every plan. Custom domains, branding and redirects start on Premium; sections and site groups need Ultimate.

AI search and Assistant

On Premium, readers get short answers straight from the search box. Ultimate adds the Assistant, a chat sidebar that can also draw on connected sources such as GitHub and Slack.

GitBook Agent

Writes, edits and updates documentation and flags content that no longer matches the product. Free accounts are limited to 10 messages a week.

API docs and LLM-ready output

OpenAPI specifications become interactive API playgrounds. Every site also gets llms.txt files, Markdown versions of pages and its own MCP server.

Archbee

• Growing$80

  per month, billed annually ($100 billed monthly)

  5 team members included, then $5 each a month ($6 on monthly billing): unlimited readers and spaces, a custom domain, GitHub sync and API documentation.

• Scaling$350

  per month, billed annually ($400 billed monthly)

  5 members included, then $10 each ($12 on monthly billing): adds a review system, reusable variables, versioning, localization, custom CSS and guest accounts.

• EnterpriseCustom

  All add-ons included, plus multiple organizations, AI-assisted translations, SAML and OIDC SSO, invoicing and a customer success manager.

GitBook

• Free$0

  For individuals: 1 user, block-based editor, GitHub or GitLab sync, interactive API playgrounds, preview deployments and LLM optimizations.

• Premium$65

  per site / month, billed annually, plus $12 per user / month

  Team collaboration, AI search, AI writing, a custom domain, advanced branding, analytics and user feedback, and site redirects.

• Ultimate$249

  per site / month, billed annually, plus $12 per user / month

  AI Assistant with 500 successful answers included, AI insights, adaptive content, authenticated access, site sections and channels for Slack, Linear and GitHub.

• EnterpriseCustom

  SAML SSO, migration service, custom integrations, dedicated support, custom contracts and invoicing, and Git Sync IP allowlisting.

Archbee

• Annual discount

  Lower prices with annual billing

  Growing is $80 a month billed annually against $100 billed monthly, and Scaling is $350 against $400. Extra members and add-ons also cost less on annual billing.

• Startups

  50% off for 2 years for startups

  The Startup Program gives early-stage companies a 50% discount on any plan for 2 years, on application.

• Nonprofit

  50% off for non-profits

  The pricing FAQ lists a 50% discount for non-profit organizations.

• Education

  50% off for educational use

  The same FAQ lists a 50% discount for educational purposes.

• Other savings

  Free Growing plan for open source

  Open source software projects are offered the Growing plan free of charge.

GitBook

• Annual discount

  2 months free with annual billing

  GitBook's pricing page advertises 2 months free on annual plans, which are paid for 12 months up front and are not refunded if canceled mid-term.

• Nonprofit

  Free Community plan for non-profits

  Eligible non-profit organizations can apply for the free Community plan, which includes all Ultimate plan features except SAML SSO.

• Education

  Free Community plan for education groups

  Education-related groups such as student, lab or course groups can apply for the Community plan. Schools, colleges and universities themselves are excluded.

• Other savings

  Free Community plan for open source

  Open source organizations that need to collaborate beyond the Free plan can apply for the Community plan at no cost, with all Ultimate features except SAML SSO.