Outline vs Read the Docs
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Outline
Team knowledge base and wiki
VS
Read the Docs
Documentation hosting platform you can self-host
| Feature | Outline | Read the Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Wikis & Documentation |
| License | BSL-1.1 | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 40,034 | ★ 8,373 |
| First released | 2017 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Notion, Confluence | GitBook, Confluence |
Why pick each one
Choose Read the Docs if…
- Great for versioned project docs
- Automated build pipeline
Frequently asked questions
Is Outline or Read the Docs better?
Outline is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Read the Docs if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Outline and Read the Docs free and open-source?
Yes. Outline is licensed under BSL-1.1 and Read the Docs under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Outline and Read the Docs with Docker?
Outline: yes. Read the Docs: yes.