Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Asciidoctor VS ReadMe

Compare Asciidoctor VS ReadMe and see what are their differences

Asciidoctor logo Asciidoctor

In the spirit of free software, everyone is encouraged to help improve this project.

ReadMe logo ReadMe

A collaborative developer hub for your API or code.
  • Asciidoctor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20
  • ReadMe Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-03-04

Asciidoctor features and specs

  • Human-Readable Syntax
    Asciidoctor uses the AsciiDoc syntax, which is designed to be easy to read and write by humans. This makes it accessible for both technical and non-technical users, easing the learning curve.
  • Output Formats
    It supports a wide range of output formats including HTML, PDF, DocBook, EPUB, and more, providing flexibility in how documents are presented and shared.
  • Customizable and Extensible
    Asciidoctor is highly customizable and can be extended with custom extensions and plugins. This allows users to tailor the tool to their specific documentation needs and workflows.
  • Open Source
    Asciidoctor is an open-source project, fostering a community-driven development environment. This ensures transparency and continuous improvements driven by a diverse set of contributors.
  • Integration with Tooling
    It integrates well with various build tools and editors such as Maven, Gradle, and AsciiDoc plugins for IDEs, aiding in seamless documentation processes and version control.

Possible disadvantages of Asciidoctor

  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic documentation is easy to produce, mastering advanced features and custom extensions may require a deeper understanding of the system, which can be challenging for new users.
  • Limited Native PDF Support
    Asciidoctor's native support for generating PDFs is less robust compared to its HTML output, often requiring additional tools like Asciidoctor PDF or DocBook for high-quality results.
  • Dependency Management
    External dependencies are sometimes needed for specific outputs or extensions (like PDF generation), which might complicate project setups and increase build times.
  • Less Widespread Adoption
    Compared to markdown, Asciidoctor has less widespread adoption, which might result in fewer community resources, tutorials, and third-party integrations available for support.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Integration with certain tools and workflows can present compatibility issues, especially when dealing with continuously updated software ecosystems.

ReadMe features and specs

  • User-friendly Interface
    ReadMe offers a clean, intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to create and manage documentation without requiring extensive technical skills.
  • Interactive API Documentation
    The platform provides interactive API documentation, allowing users to try out API calls directly within the documentation, which enhances user understanding and engagement.
  • Customizability
    ReadMe allows a high level of customization, enabling users to tailor the look and feel of their documentation to match their brand identity.
  • Analytics
    The service offers built-in analytics, providing insights into how users interact with the documentation, which can help in improving user experience and understanding common issues.
  • Version Control
    ReadMe supports version control, making it easy to manage and maintain documentation for different versions of an API or product.
  • Collaboration Tools
    It includes collaboration tools that facilitate teamwork by allowing multiple users to work on documentation simultaneously.
  • Markdown Support
    The platform supports Markdown, making it easy for users to format their documentation efficiently.

Possible disadvantages of ReadMe

  • Cost
    Compared to some other documentation platforms, ReadMe can be more expensive, especially for small startups or individual developers.
  • Learning Curve
    While user-friendly, some advanced features may have a learning curve, especially for those who are not familiar with documentation tools.
  • Limited Offline Access
    ReadMe primarily operates as an online service, which can be limiting for users who need offline access to their documentation.
  • Performance on Large Projects
    There may be performance issues or slowdowns when dealing with very large projects or extensive documentation, requiring optimization.
  • Feature Limitations in Lower Tiers
    Some advanced features and customizability options are restricted to higher pricing tiers, which may not be accessible to all users.

Asciidoctor videos

Code your documentation with AsciiDoctor - open source is for everyone

More videos:

  • Review - [VDM19] Asciidoctor: because writing docs does not have to suck by Adres Almiray
  • Review - 10 Useful Asciidoctor Tips

ReadMe videos

No ReadMe videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Asciidoctor and ReadMe)
Documentation
38 38%
62% 62
Documentation As A Service & Tools
Knowledge Base
33 33%
67% 67
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Asciidoctor and ReadMe

Asciidoctor Reviews

  1. Elisa
    · Technical Writer at Self ·
    Professional output from open source

    If you are looking for an open documentation solution ny which you can implement single sourcing while integrating with a complex build process then this is a great solution.

    👍 Pros:    Easy integration|Easy to use

ReadMe Reviews

Best Gitbook Alternatives You Need to Try in 2023
Readme.com is a developer hub that allows users to publish API documentation. It focuses on making API references interactive by allowing to Try out API calls, log metrics about the API call usage, and more. This means it lacks some capabilities, like a review system and several blocks, which the Gitbook editor supports.
Source: www.archbee.com
12 Most Useful Knowledge Management Tools for Your Business
ReadMe offers integration with apps like Slack, Google Analytics, and Zendesk. One of its most significant advantages is the metrics option which lets you see how customers are using your API.
Source: www.archbee.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Asciidoctor might be a bit more popular than ReadMe. We know about 24 links to it since March 2021 and only 23 links to ReadMe. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Asciidoctor mentions (24)

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ReadMe mentions (23)

  • 7 Top API Documentation Software Tools 2025 (With Reviews and Pricing)✨
    For more information and to subscribe, visit ReadMe. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Leveraging API Documentation for Faster Developer Onboarding
    Documentation portals like ReadMe provide complete Developer experience platforms with customization, analytics, and feedback mechanisms. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Integrating OpenAPI With Mintlify
    According to the OpenAPI specification initiative, OpenAPI is the standard for defining your API. This means that with the help of this file, you can migrate your API documentation from one platform to another. For example, you can migrate your API docs from Postman to ReadMe or Mintlify or vice versa. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • How to view API request examples in a ReadMe documentation.
    My recent experience with The Movie Database (TMDB) API documentation underscores the importance of request examples in API documentation. It took me a couple of hours to figure out how to make a successful request to an endpoint because I couldn't access a request sample. However, I eventually found it in an unexpected place. ReadMe on the other hand didn't make it easy. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Do you Know Only Fools Use APIs Doc Platform?
    I came across readme.io some days back, and It's like that fresh outfit you wear to high-end parties—the one with crisp lines, dark colors, and intricate designs that make you stand out. Their documentation platform is sleek, modern, and highly customizable to fit your brand's drip. It's like having a tailor sew a 007 suit (James Bond) to your specs. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Asciidoctor and ReadMe, you can also consider the following products

Markdown by DaringFireball - Text-to-HTML conversion tool/syntax for web writers, by John Gruber

GitBook - Modern Publishing, Simply taking your books from ideas to finished, polished books.

pandoc - Pandoc is a Haskell library for converting from one markup format to another, and a command-line...

Docusaurus - Easy to maintain open source documentation websites

reStructuredText - Invented for Python documentation.

Archbee.io - Archbee is a developer-focused product docs tool for your team. Build beautiful product documentation sites or internal wikis/knowledge bases to get your team and product knowledge in one place.