5 Best GitBook Alternatives in 2026 (Free & Paid Options)

GitBook has been a go-to documentation platform for years. But with recent pricing changes and feature limitations, many teams are exploring alternatives.

Here's an honest comparison of the best GitBook alternatives in 2026.

Why Teams Are Leaving GitBook#

Before diving into alternatives, let's understand why teams switch:

1. Pricing increases — GitBook's premium features now require higher-tier plans
2. Limited free tier — The free plan has significant restrictions
3. No AI features — Unlike competitors, GitBook lacks built-in AI writing assistance
4. No llms.txt support — Your docs aren't optimized for AI agents
5. Git-only workflow — Some teams prefer visual editing

The 5 Best GitBook Alternatives#

1. Dokly — Best for Startups & Indie Developers#

Pricing: Free tier, Pro from $49/month

Dokly is built specifically for teams who want Mintlify-quality docs without the enterprise pricing.

What makes it different:

• Visual MDX editor (no Git required)
• Auto-generated llms.txt for AI agents
• BYOK AI writing (use your own OpenAI/Anthropic key)
• Custom domains on Pro plan
• API playground for interactive docs

Best for: Indie developers, startups, and small teams who want modern features at fair pricing.

Try Dokly free →

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2. Mintlify — Best for Funded Startups#

Pricing: Free tier, Pro from $300/month

Mintlify has become the premium choice for well-funded developer tool companies. Their docs look fantastic and include powerful AI features.

Pros:

• Beautiful, polished design
• AI writing and chat features
• Auto-generated from OpenAPI
• Strong brand recognition

Cons:

• $300/month is steep for small teams
• Per-seat pricing adds up
• AI usage limits with overage charges
• Git-only workflow

Best for: Funded startups with $300+/month documentation budget.

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3. Docusaurus — Best for Open Source Projects#

Pricing: Free (open source, self-hosted)

Docusaurus is Meta's open-source documentation framework. It's powerful but requires technical setup.

Pros:

• Completely free
• Full customization control
• Large plugin ecosystem
• React-based components

Cons:

• Requires developer time to set up
• Self-hosting and maintenance burden
• No built-in AI features
• Need to configure search separately (Algolia)

Best for: Open source projects with engineering resources for setup and maintenance.

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4. ReadMe — Best for API Documentation#

Pricing: Free tier, Startup from $99/month

ReadMe specializes in API documentation with excellent interactive features and developer hubs.

Pros:

• Best-in-class API explorer
• Auto-sync with OpenAPI specs
• Developer metrics and analytics
• Recipe/tutorial system

Cons:

• API-focused (not great for general docs)
• Gets expensive at scale
• Less flexibility in design

Best for: API-first companies needing interactive API documentation.

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5. Notion — Best for Internal Documentation#

Pricing: Free tier, Plus from $10/user/month

Notion isn't a dedicated docs platform, but many teams use it for internal documentation.

Pros:

• Familiar interface
• Great for internal wikis
• Database functionality
• Real-time collaboration

Cons:

• Not designed for public docs
• Poor SEO for public pages
• No code syntax highlighting
• No API playground features

Best for: Internal team documentation and wikis, not public developer docs.

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Feature Comparison Table#

How to Choose#

Choose GitBook if:#

• You're already invested in their ecosystem
• Git-based workflow is essential
• You need a simple, reliable solution

Choose Dokly if:#

• You want modern features at startup-friendly pricing
• AI-ready docs (llms.txt) matter for discoverability
• You prefer visual editing over Git workflows
• Budget is under $100/month

Choose Mintlify if:#

• You have $300+/month budget
• You need advanced AI features
• Brand perception matters for enterprise sales

Choose Docusaurus if:#

• You have engineering resources
• Full customization is required
• You're an open source project

Choose ReadMe if:#

• You're API-first and need interactive API docs
• Developer hub features are important

Migration Tips#

Switching from GitBook? Here's how to migrate:

1. Export your content — GitBook allows Markdown export
2. Review formatting — Some GitBook-specific syntax may need adjustment
3. Set up redirects — Don't lose SEO by breaking old URLs
4. Import to new platform — Most platforms support Markdown import
5. Update llms.txt — Add AI-readability to your new docs

Most migrations take a few hours to a day, depending on documentation size.

The Bottom Line#

GitBook is still a solid platform, but in 2026, the documentation landscape has evolved. AI-readiness, visual editing, and fair pricing matter more than ever.

For most teams leaving GitBook, Dokly offers the best balance of features and price. You get the modern capabilities of Mintlify at a fraction of the cost.

Ready to switch? Try Dokly free — import your existing Markdown docs in minutes.