The ReadMe Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about ReadMe 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.
ReadMe
The Insider’s Guide
Hosted API documentation with an interactive reference
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among docs and wiki tools, read from ReadMe’s own pages.
Made by ReadMe · checked Nov 12, 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 ReadMe’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on ReadMe’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 10 of the 69 other docs and wiki tools we grade
ReadMe hosts developer documentation, with guides written in Markdown and an interactive API reference built from an API definition. Pro adds team editing, branches with reviews and a changelog, and AI features include an LLMs.txt file, an MCP server and an agent that helps write and lint docs.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about ReadMe, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Importing an API spec is quick, but projects, versions and the layout need your setup.
- 1
Best for API documentation with an interactive reference
ReadMe hosts API documentation with an interactive reference, with a free Starter plan and Pro at $250 a month billed annually.
- 2
Paid plans start at $250 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $250 per month, billed annually.
- 3
There is a free plan
Starter plan: 1 project and 1 published version, with custom domain, bi-directional sync, interactive API reference, 7 days of usage analytics, Markdown editor and themes.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Interactive API reference
An API reference is part of every plan, including Starter, next to Markdown guides.
- 6
Branching and reviews
Pro adds branches with reviews, multiplayer editing and notifications for teams that edit docs together.
- 7
Bi-directional sync
Bi-directional sync is listed on every plan, including Starter. The pricing page does not say what it syncs with.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 10 of 69
That is against the other docs and wiki tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of ReadMe you could make: documents and Markdown. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
ReadMe at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $250 per month, billed annually
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial with all Pro features
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- ReadMe
- Category
- Docs & Wikis
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for API documentation with an interactive reference
ReadMe hosts API documentation with an interactive reference, with a free Starter plan and Pro at $250 a month billed annually. Starter is held to 1 project and 1 version, and AI answers and the developer dashboard are priced as add-ons on top.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | Pro is $250 a month billed annually, which is in the category's dearest tenth that starts at $249 and far above its $18 middle. The page shows no monthly-billed price. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Starter is free with 1 project and 1 published version, a custom domain, an interactive reference, bi-directional sync, 7 days of analytics and an MCP server. The 14-day trial gives all Pro features. |
| Features | C | Interactive reference, branches and reviews, bi-directional sync, AI features and analytics. Gaps: Ask AI is a $150 a month add-on, the Developer Dashboard is $100, and roles, audit logs and SAML are Enterprise only. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. Importing an API spec is quick, but projects, versions and the layout need your setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, with Google Analytics, Intercom, Segment, Slack, Zendesk and Statuspage, plus an MCP server. |
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 ReadMe is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Companies that publish a public API and want an interactive reference
- Small teams starting out: the Starter plan is free for everyone
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$250
A month to start. There is a free plan too
ReadMe has a free plan. Paid plans start at $250 per month, billed annually.
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).
Enterprise
Custom
Everything in Pro plus unlimited seats, multiple combined projects, user roles, audit logs, SSO and no ReadMe branding. Annual billing only.
The free plan
Starter plan: 1 project and 1 published version, with custom domain, bi-directional sync, interactive API reference, 7 days of usage analytics, Markdown editor and themes.
Trying it first
14-day free trial with all Pro features
Read from readme.com on Nov 12, 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
Hosted API documentation with an interactive reference. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, AI features, real-time collaboration, Markdown, documents.
Interactive reference, branches and reviews, bi-directional sync, AI features and analytics.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Google Analytics
- Intercom
- Segment
- Slack
- Zendesk
- Statuspage
- Smartling
- Transifex
ReadMe is made by ReadMe.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
10/69
Other docs and wiki tools it is graded above
ReadMe's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 10 of the 69 other docs and wiki tools we grade, and level with 14.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 35 of 69) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $250 a month, against a middle price of $18.50 for the category: 48 of the 51 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 33 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 docs and wiki tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. ReadMe’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 69
- BFree plan and trialAbove 35 of 69
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 69
- CEase of useAbove 15 of 69
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 18 of 69
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 63 docs and wiki tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. ReadMe is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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
The plain part of ReadMe you could make: documents and Markdown. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 45 of the 69 other docs and wiki tools grade higher. It costs $3,000 a year.
What you could make
- Documents and Markdown: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- It plugs into other products, Google Analytics, Intercom and Segment among them, and has an API.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. ReadMe’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, GitBook, Document360, Archbee and Docusaurus
The 5 tools ReadMe 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.
- ReadMe also covers Markdown.
- Mintlify also covers AI search and AI agents.
- 2.4GPA
GitBook
Free plan · from $65/mo
Documentation platform for product and API docs, synced with Git.
- GitBook also covers AI search and AI agents.
- 2.2GPA
Document360
Free trial
Hosted knowledge base software for public and private docs.
- ReadMe has a free plan. Document360 does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Document360 lists a browser extension.
- ReadMe also covers documents.
- 2.2GPA
Archbee
Free trial · from $80/mo
Documentation platform for public and internal knowledge portals.
- ReadMe has a free plan. Archbee does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Archbee lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- 2.8GPA
Docusaurus
Free
Open-source static site generator for documentation.
- Docusaurus is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
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 ReadMe free?
ReadMe has a free plan. Starter plan: 1 project and 1 published version, with custom domain, bi-directional sync, interactive API reference, 7 days of usage analytics, Markdown editor and themes.
How much does ReadMe cost?
ReadMe lists 3 plans. Starter: $0.
What platforms does ReadMe work on?
ReadMe is available on Web.
Does ReadMe have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. ReadMe is listed for Web.
Does ReadMe have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. ReadMe is listed for Web.
Is ReadMe open source?
ReadMe is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Does ReadMe have an API?
Yes. ReadMe offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does ReadMe integrate with?
ReadMe's listing names Google Analytics, Intercom, Segment, Slack, Zendesk, Statuspage, Smartling and Transifex.
Does ReadMe have a free trial?
Yes. 14-day free trial with all Pro features.
Who makes ReadMe?
ReadMe is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to ReadMe?
The closest alternatives to ReadMe in our directory are Mintlify, GitBook, Document360, Archbee and Docusaurus.
How does ReadMe compare with other docs and wiki tools?
ReadMe's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 10 of the 69 other docs and wiki tools we grade, and level with 14.
Is ReadMe good value for money?
ToolGPA grades ReadMe D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $250 a month, against a middle price of $18.50 for the category: 48 of the 51 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of ReadMe?
The plain part of ReadMe you could make: documents and Markdown. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from ReadMe’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from ReadMe's own pages on 12 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 ReadMe. Prices change, so check readme.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- ReadMe, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/readme
- 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, "ReadMe: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/readme
Know someone choosing between docs and wiki tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/readme/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded docs and wiki tools after ReadMe, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Docs & Wikis Insider's GuideEvery one of the 70 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 ReadMe’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. ReadMe is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by ReadMe. Prices and plans change: check readme.com before you buy.