The Fern Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Fern in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Fern
The Insider’s Guide
API documentation sites and SDKs generated from an API spec
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among docs and wiki tools, read from Fern’s own pages.
Made by Fern · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Fern’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Fern’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 47 of the 86 other docs and wiki tools we grade
Fern builds developer documentation sites from API definitions and Markdown guides, with an API explorer, a web editor and a changelog. It also generates SDKs, and its docs include AI search and an MCP server. The company's footer says Fern is a Postman company.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Fern, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You point it at your API definitions or a repository, which takes some setup.
- 1
Best for API docs and SDKs from one spec
But there's no published mid-tier price, and SSO, custom CSS and JavaScript, and self-hosting all need a sales call for Enterprise.
- 2
There is a free plan
10 team members, 1 site with up to 1,000 pages, 250 AI credits and 2,000 page generations per month, custom domain, API explorer and web editor.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Docs from API specs
Supports OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, gRPC, GraphQL, OpenRPC and Arazzo, plus Markdown guides and changelogs.
- 5
API explorer
A try-it-out explorer with an option to fill in the visitor's API key.
- 6
Web editor and docs-as-code
Pages can be edited in a web editor or kept as files in a repository.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 47 of 86
That is against the other docs and wiki tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace Fern you would be making a search engine with an AI model behind it. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Fern at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Fern
- Category
- Docs & Wikis
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for API docs and SDKs from one spec
Fern builds docs sites from API definitions, with an explorer, a web editor and a free plan for 10 members and 1,000 pages. But there's no published mid-tier price, and SSO, custom CSS and JavaScript, and self-hosting all need a sales call for Enterprise.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | The Free plan costs $0 and the only other plan is a sales quote. Free is in the cheapest group, but there is no published price in between. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free plan with 10 members, 1 site, 1,000 pages and 2,000 page generations a month, which one small team could live on. |
| Features | C | Docs from several API spec types, an explorer, a web editor and SDK generation. The listing shows gaps: SDK pricing was not read, and custom CSS, SSO and branding removal are Enterprise only. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You point it at your API definitions or a repository, which takes some setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web product that reads OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, GraphQL and gRPC, plus Postman. No desktop or phone app is named. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Fern is for
- Fits if you maintain an OpenAPI spec and want a hosted docs site at no cost to start
- Works for small API teams that want an API explorer and a custom domain on the free plan
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need SSO or SCIM, which are Enterprise only
- Tight if you outgrow 1 site, 1,000 pages or 10 members, as the next step is a sales quote
- Not for you if you want to remove Fern branding or add custom CSS and JavaScript without Enterprise
- Watch out: SDK pricing sits on a separate tab that this listing did not read
Good to know
Good for
- API companies that want docs and SDKs from one spec
- Small teams: the free plan has 10 members and a custom domain
- Enterprises that need SSO, self-hosting or custom React components
Worth knowing
- Only two documentation plans are listed, Free and a sales-only Enterprise, so there is no published mid-tier price.
- SSO, SCIM, custom CSS and JavaScript, removing Fern branding and self-hosting are Enterprise only.
- The Free plan is limited to 1 site, 1,000 pages and 10 members.
- SDK pricing was not read for this listing; the pricing page has a separate SDKs tab.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
2
plans to choose from
Fern has a free plan.
Free is in the cheapest group, but there is no published price in between.
Free
$0
10 members, 1,000 pages, 250 AI credits and 2,000 page generations per month, custom domain and subpath, API explorer, Ask Fern and MCP server.
Enterprise
Custom
Adds SSO, SCIM and advanced RBAC, multiple repos and docs sites, custom CSS, JavaScript and React, advanced analytics, self-hosting and an uptime SLA. Sold through sales.
The free plan
10 team members, 1 site with up to 1,000 pages, 250 AI credits and 2,000 page generations per month, custom domain, API explorer and web editor.
Read from buildwithfern.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
API documentation sites and SDKs generated from an API spec. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, AI features, AI search, Markdown, documents.
Docs from several API spec types, an explorer, a web editor and SDK generation.
- Docs from API specs
- Supports OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, gRPC, GraphQL, OpenRPC and Arazzo, plus Markdown guides and changelogs.
- API explorer
- A try-it-out explorer with an option to fill in the visitor's API key.
- Web editor and docs-as-code
- Pages can be edited in a web editor or kept as files in a repository.
- AI features
- Ask Fern search, an AI writing agent, AI translations, an llms.txt file and an MCP server are on the pricing page.
- SDK generation
- Client libraries are generated from the same API definition; the SDK pricing is a separate tab.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- OpenAPI
- AsyncAPI
- GraphQL
- gRPC
- Postman
Fern is made by Fern.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
47/86
Other docs and wiki tools it is graded above
Fern's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 47 of the 86 other docs and wiki tools we grade, and level with 17.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 50 of 86) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 87 docs and wiki tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Fern’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 50 of 86
- BFree plan and trialAbove 41 of 86
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 86
- CEase of useAbove 25 of 86
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 28 of 86
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Fern you would be making a search engine with an AI model behind it. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
What you could make
- Documents and Markdown: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A search engine with an AI model behind it.
- It plugs into other products, OpenAPI, AsyncAPI and GraphQL among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. Fern’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Mintlify, ReadMe, Redocly, GitBook and Stoplight
The 5 tools Fern is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Mintlify
Free plan · from $450/mo
Documentation platform with built-in AI agents.
- Fern also covers Markdown.
- Mintlify also covers AI agents.
- 2.2GPA
ReadMe
Free plan · from $250/mo
Hosted API documentation with an interactive reference.
- Fern also covers AI search.
- 1.8GPA
Redocly
Free trial · from $249/mo
API reference and docs-as-code publishing platform.
- Fern has a free plan. Redocly does not, though it has a free trial.
- Fern also covers AI search.
- Redocly also covers templates.
- 2.4GPA
GitBook
Free plan · from $65/mo
Documentation platform for product and API docs, synced with Git.
- GitBook also covers AI agents.
- 2.2GPA
Stoplight
Free plan · from $44/mo
OpenAPI design and documentation platform for API teams.
- Fern also covers AI search and Markdown.
- Stoplight also covers templates.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Fern free?
Fern has a free plan. 10 team members, 1 site with up to 1,000 pages, 250 AI credits and 2,000 page generations per month, custom domain, API explorer and web editor.
How much does Fern cost?
Fern lists 2 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Fern work on?
Fern is available on Web.
Does Fern have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Fern is listed for Web.
Does Fern have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Fern is listed for Web.
Is Fern open source?
Fern is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Fern have an API?
Yes. Fern offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Fern integrate with?
Fern's listing names OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, GraphQL, gRPC and Postman. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Fern?
Fern is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Fern?
The closest alternatives to Fern in our directory are Mintlify, ReadMe, Redocly, GitBook and Stoplight.
How does Fern compare with other docs and wiki tools?
Fern's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 47 of the 86 other docs and wiki tools we grade, and level with 17.
Could I make my own version of Fern?
To replace Fern you would be making a search engine with an AI model behind it.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Fern’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Fern's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Fern. Prices change, so check buildwithfern.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Fern, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/fern
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Fern: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/fern
Know someone choosing between docs and wiki tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/fern/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded docs and wiki tools after Fern, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Docs & Wikis Insider's GuideEvery one of the 87 docs and wiki tools we grade, compared
- Zoho Writer Insider's GuideFree online word processor with AI and document automation3.6 GPA
- Google Docs Insider's GuideBrowser-based word processor, free with a Google Account3.4 GPA
- ONLYOFFICE Insider's GuideOpen-source office suite for documents, sheets, slides and PDFs3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Fern’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Fern is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Fern. Prices and plans change: check buildwithfern.com before you buy.