Docny

Docny is an AI-native documentation CMS for developer teams, combining authoring, publishing, collaboration and analytics. It is best suited to API companies, developer-tool teams and technical writers who need documentation tied to code and API specifications. Its free Hobby plan makes a one-project site accessible; teams that need Pro features pay £45/mo.

Overview

Docny brings documentation work and delivery into one hosted service: teams can write in a block editor or MDX, connect GitHub repositories and OpenAPI specifications, then publish managed documentation sites. The combination is useful when docs need to stay close to changing code or API definitions, while built-in analytics can show what readers search for and where they stop. It is a more focused choice for developer documentation than for teams seeking a general-purpose content system.

Key features

Authoring, sync and AI

The WYSIWYG block editor gives writers a visual authoring option, while MDX supports code-first workflows. GitHub sync and Guardian AI extend that workflow: Guardian scans repositories, URLs, code comments and READMEs to generate structured documentation and detect drift. That can help teams keep docs aligned with development, though the Pro plan’s Guardian AI is the version explicitly offered without a credit gate.

API references and publishing

Docny supports OpenAPI 3.1 and Swagger 2.0 in JSON or YAML, with interactive API explorers and automatic re-rendering when a linked specification changes. Managed hosting includes automatic SSL, a global CDN, custom domains, versioning and one-click publishing. Those features make it a practical fit for teams publishing API references alongside broader technical documentation.

Team and reader tools

Real-time editing includes live cursors, inline comments and suggestion resolution. Published docs can also embed an AI assistant for reader questions. Analytics report top pages, search queries, traffic trends and reader drop-off points; SEO support includes structured metadata, Open Graph tags, JSON-LD and a dynamic sitemap. Integrations include GitHub, Discord, Jira, Algolia, Slack, Notion, Intercom and Linear, plus a public API.

Pricing

Hobby — £0/mo

Hobby includes one documentation project, a custom domain, block editor and MDX, GitHub sync, all integrations, analytics, version history, four templates and community support. It is a substantial starting point for an individual or small project, but the one-project cap makes it a poor fit for teams maintaining multiple doc sites. The plan does not include the Pro features such as unlimited projects, team collaboration, Guardian AI without a credit gate, AI chat, doc audits, translation or priority support.

Pro — £45/mo

Pro adds unlimited projects, team members and collaboration, removes Built with Docny branding, and includes Guardian AI without a credit gate, AI chat, doc audits, a translation/language switcher and priority support. This is the relevant tier for teams that need shared editing or those AI and audit features. The price is a clear step up from Hobby, so a one-project site that does not need those additions has reason to stay free.

Platforms

Docny is available on web and through an API. Its hosted output includes documentation sites and interactive API reference pages; it also supports MDX documentation as an input and output format.

Who it's for

Docny is aimed at API companies, developer tools, open-source projects, technical writers, developer advocates and engineering teams. It is especially well matched to organizations that want GitHub-connected documentation, automatically refreshed API references and a hosted publishing destination. Readers looking primarily for a self-hosted setup should consider alternatives that explicitly support self-hosting.

Pros and cons

• Pro: OpenAPI and Swagger support with automatic re-rendering reduces the burden of keeping API references synchronized with linked specifications.
• Pro: Hobby includes a custom domain, GitHub sync, analytics and version history at £0/mo, making it viable for a single project without an immediate paid commitment.
• Pro: The Pro tier combines unlimited projects and collaboration with Guardian AI, audits and translation for teams consolidating documentation work.
• Con: Hobby is capped at one project, which can force growing teams to move to Pro even if they need few of its other features.
• Con: Pro costs £45/mo, a meaningful recurring commitment for teams that only need a small hosted documentation site.

Alternatives

AI Documentation Generators is a useful category starting point for comparing tools in this space.

• Documentation.AI is another freemium web and API option; its free Starter plan gives five editor seats, one project and 10,000 one-time AI credits.
• AutomaDocs suits readers who want a self-hosted option: its free plan supports one repository, core doc generation, GitHub integration and auto-sync on push.
• InkLoom is worth considering for self-hosting and a free plan with unlimited pages, though it allows one free user per project.
• DocuWriter is a paid alternative with a free trial and a Starter plan at $20 a month for 50 credits/mo.
• ShipDocs is a web, Linux and macOS option with a free plan and trial; its Advanced plan emphasizes repository capacity and chat-token allowance.
• Hyperdocs is another freemium web option.
• GitBook offers a free tier for individuals, including one free user, unlimited page views and 10 GitBook Agent messages per week.
• Komment is another freemium web alternative.

Verdict

Choose Docny if your team wants hosted developer documentation that connects to GitHub and API specifications, with a genuinely useful single-project free tier and a clear path to shared, AI-assisted work. Look elsewhere if you need multiple projects without paying £45/mo, or if self-hosting is a requirement.