Archbee vs ReadMe (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Archbee if

• Fits if you're a software company publishing product and API documentation
• Works for docs with a few writers and many readers, since readers are free

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you want a free plan, because after the 14-day trial it's paid only
• Pricey if you need versioning, reviews or localization, which start on Scaling at $350 a month
• Watch out: Q&A, insights, the widget, public API access and PDF export are add-ons at $80 a month each
• Tight if you have more than 5 writers, as each extra one costs $5 to $12 a month
• Skip it if you need SAML or OIDC sign-on, AI translations or Intercom and Zendesk without an Enterprise plan

Pick ReadMe if

• Fits if you ship an API and want an interactive reference for developers
• Works for a team of one project and one version that can stay on Starter

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you need more than one version, as Pro is $250 a month
• Watch out: Ask AI is $150 a month and the Developer Dashboard $100, both on top of the plan
• Tight if you stay free, with 1 project, 1 version and 7 days of metrics
• Watch out: roles, audit logs, SAML and OAuth 2.0 are Enterprise only, with no published price

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.

ReadMe

• Pro is $250 a month; the page shows annual billing only and no monthly-billed price.
• Ask AI is a $150 per month add-on, and the Developer Dashboard is $100 per month for 5M API logs, then $10 per extra 1M.
• Starter is limited to 1 project, 1 version and 7 days of metrics.
• User roles, audit logs, SAML and OAuth 2.0 are Enterprise only, which has no published price.

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.

ReadMe

Interactive API reference

An API reference is part of every plan, including Starter, next to Markdown guides.

Branching and reviews

Pro adds branches with reviews, multiplayer editing and notifications for teams that edit docs together.

Bi-directional sync

Bi-directional sync is listed on every plan, including Starter. The pricing page does not say what it syncs with.

AI features

Every plan includes an LLMs.txt file and an MCP server. Pro adds ReadMe Agent, an AI linter and an AI writer.

Usage analytics and Developer Dashboard

Doc metrics are included, and the paid Developer Dashboard shows how users call an API, priced by log volume.

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.

ReadMe

• Starter$0

  1 project and 1 published version, custom domain, bi-directional sync, interactive API reference, 7-day analytics, LLMs.txt and MCP server.

• Pro$250

  per month, billed annually; the page shows no monthly-billed price

  Everything in Starter plus unlimited versions, team editing, branches and reviews, private docs, a changelog, custom MDX components, CSS/HTML and 5 admins ($20 per extra admin).

• EnterpriseCustom

  Everything in Pro plus unlimited seats, multiple combined projects, user roles, audit logs, SSO and no ReadMe branding. Annual billing only.

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.

ReadMe

No public discounts listed.