Read the Docs vs ZenTao
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?
Read the Docs
Documentation hosting platform you can self-host
VS
ZenTao
Open-source project and team collaboration platform
| Feature | Read the Docs | ZenTao |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Wikis & Documentation | Groupware |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,373 | ★ 1,665 |
| First released | 2010 | 2009 |
| Replaces | GitBook, Confluence | Jira, Confluence |
Why pick each one
Choose Read the Docs if…
- Great for versioned project docs
- Automated build pipeline
Frequently asked questions
Is Read the Docs or ZenTao better?
Neither is universally better. Read the Docs has the larger community, while ZenTao is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Read the Docs and ZenTao free and open-source?
Yes. Read the Docs is licensed under MIT and ZenTao under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Read the Docs and ZenTao with Docker?
Read the Docs: yes. ZenTao: yes.