Redoc turns an OpenAPI file into a clean three-panel page, but you build, host and update it yourself. ApiNotes hosts the docs, writes the changelog on every push, flags breaking changes and emails your API consumers — from $0.
Redoc (the open-source Redoc Community Edition, MIT-licensed) is the most popular static OpenAPI renderer. It produces a readable three-panel reference you can bundle into a single HTML file, and it is a good fit when you already have somewhere to host static files. On its own it is a renderer: no hosting, no version history, no changelog, and no try-it console. Those live in Redocly's paid products.
ApiNotes reads the same OpenAPI file and gives you the three-panel reference plus the platform around it: hosting on your own domain, a Try-it panel, full-text search, an automatic changelog with breaking-change flags, subscriber emails and a GitHub Action. Starter is free and Team is $19/month flat.
| Feature | Redoc | ApiNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Basics | ||
| What it is | Open-source renderer (MIT) | Hosted docs + changelog platform |
| Hosting included | ❌ Self-host the built HTML | ✅ your-api.apinotes.io, CDN-cached |
| Custom domain | ⚠️ Whatever you host it on | ✅ CNAME, TLS handled (Team) |
| Documentation | ||
| Layout | ✅ Three-panel | ✅ Three-column reference |
| Code samples | ⚠️ Only the x-codeSamples you write by hand | ✅ 10+ languages per endpoint |
| Try-it console | ❌ Not in the open-source edition | ✅ Try-it panel with auth |
| Search | ✅ Built-in search | ✅ Full-text across endpoints and guides |
| Guides and prose pages | ⚠️ Markdown in the spec description only | ✅ Documentation editor |
| Server-side rendering / SEO | ⚠️ Possible with a static build | ✅ SSR, indexable, per-project meta |
| Change management | ||
| Version history | ❌ Current file only | ✅ Every push kept, switch versions in docs |
| Automatic changelog | ❌ | ✅ Written from the spec diff on every push |
| Breaking-change detection | ❌ | ✅ Flagged per release |
| Email subscribers + RSS/JSON feed | ❌ | ✅ 25 on Starter, unlimited on Team |
| CI/CD and access | ||
| Publish from CI | ⚠️ Rebuild and redeploy the static page | ✅ GitHub Action or one API call |
| PR comment with breaking changes | ❌ | ✅ GitHub Action (Team) |
| Spec validation | ⚠️ Separate Redocly CLI lint | ✅ Validator with line numbers and hints |
| Private docs | ❌ Add your own proxy or auth | ✅ Password or magic link (Team) |
| Price | Free (plus your hosting time) | Free Starter / $19 per month Team, flat |
Redoc column describes the open-source Redoc Community Edition, not Redocly's hosted products — see the Redocly comparison for those. Verified October 2026.
Redoc is a library. You run redoc-cli or the Redocly CLI to bundle a static page, then you deploy it, attach a domain, handle TLS and rebuild it whenever the spec changes. That is easy for one API and tedious across several.
ApiNotes hosts the docs for you at your-api.apinotes.io or on a custom domain. Push a new spec and the page updates; nothing to build or deploy.
Redoc shows the file it was built from and nothing else. Spotting a removed endpoint or a renamed field means running a diff tool yourself and writing the release notes by hand.
Every push is diffed against the previous version. ApiNotes writes the changelog entry, marks breaking changes, keeps every version switchable, publishes an RSS / JSON feed and emails subscribers. On Team the GitHub Action comments breaking changes on the pull request.
The open-source edition has no "try it" console. Teams that want one move to a paid Redocly product or add another tool alongside it.
Every endpoint has a Try-it panel that sends real requests with the headers and auth you provide, on the free plan.
Static files are public to anyone with the URL. Protecting them means your own reverse proxy, basic auth or VPN.
On Team, protect the docs with a password or invite up to 25 guest readers by magic link.
Redoc Community Edition is free and MIT-licensed. The cost is the hosting and the tooling you add for search indexing, access control and changelogs. Hosted features come from Redocly's paid plans.
Starter, $0: 1 public API, hosted docs, changelog for the last 10 releases, breaking-change detection, 25 subscribers, GitHub Action, Try-it panel. Team, $19/month flat: 5 APIs, full changelog history, unlimited subscribers, PR comments, private docs, 25 guest readers, custom domain, your own branding, 5 team members. 14-day trial, no card needed.
Paste the same OpenAPI file you use today. Hosted docs, a changelog and breaking-change alerts are live in under a minute.