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MadCap Flare
What MadCap Flare is
MadCap Flare is an authoring and publishing platform for technical documentation, online help, knowledge bases, policies, training materials, and API documentation. Its topic-based authoring and single-sourcing tools let documentation teams reuse material across versions and output formats. Publishing options include responsive HTML5, print, PowerPoint, PDF, Word, SCORM, and other formats; content can also be published directly to Salesforce, Zendesk, and ServiceNow. Flare can import material from Word, Excel, Confluence, FrameMaker, RoboHelp, and DITA, with Easy Sync available to keep imported files linked to their sources. Flare Online adds browser-based review for subject matter experts and people who do not use Flare, along with concurrent authoring and real-time collaboration. Its analytics can track topic views, unsuccessful searches, and user behavior. The platform supports Unicode, double-byte, Cyrillic, and right-to-left languages, including Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian. Flare Desktop requires Microsoft Windows; Flare Online supports browser-based authoring and review. The Starter desktop plan is $3,150 a year, and MadCap offers a free 30-day trial without requiring a credit card.
Who it suits
Flare suits technical communicators, knowledge managers, documentation teams, and content developers who need to maintain reusable content and publish across formats. Teams needing browser-based review, collaboration, or localization support can consider Flare Online.
What it does well
- Reuse topics across versions and output formats.
- Publish to HTML5, PDF, Word, SCORM, and more.
- Import content from Word, Excel, Confluence, and DITA.
- Flare Online supports browser-based review and collaboration.
- Supports right-to-left and multiple character systems.
- Includes analytics for views, searches, and user behavior.
What to know first
- Flare Desktop requires Microsoft Windows.
- Starter is $3,150 a year.
- No free plan is offered.
- Flare Online subscriptions carry a 12-month commitment.
Limits
The Starter plan costs $3,150 a year. Flare Online plan details set author, reviewer-seat, and storage allowances by tier; subscriptions have a 12-month commitment.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Flare Online — Individual | 1-2 authors · 20 GB cloud storage · 1 review seat per author | On request |
| Flare Online — Team | 3-5 authors · 250 GB cloud storage · 2 reviewer seats per author | On request |
| Flare Online — Business | 6+ authors · 500 GB cloud storage · 5 reviewer seats per author | On request |
| Starter — Flare Desktop Only | per author, per year · Desktop only · topic-based and micro content authoring · multi-channel publishing · introductory training · unlimited tech support | $3,150 a year |
| Flare Online - Individual | Per user; billed annually; 12-month commitment · 1–2 authors · 1 review seat per author · 20 GB cloud storage · includes Flare Desktop for each author | On request |
| Flare Online - Business | Per user; billed annually; 12-month commitment · 6+ authors · 5 reviewer seats per author · 500 GB cloud storage · onboarding for an additional fee | On request |
| Flare Online - Team | Per user; billed annually; 12-month commitment · 3–5 authors · 2 reviewer seats per author · 250 GB cloud storage · onboarding | On request |
As madcapsoftware.com lists them, read 20 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the MadCap Flare product website.
- Choose the Flare Desktop Starter plan or a Flare Online plan.
- Start the free 30-day trial without a credit card, if preferred.
- Use Flare Desktop on Microsoft Windows, or use Flare Online in a browser.
- Import existing content or begin authoring topics.
Verdict
Choose MadCap Flare if your team needs reusable technical content, multiple publishing outputs, and workflows for review or localization. Look elsewhere if you need a free plan or require Flare Desktop on a platform other than Windows.
Questions
Does MadCap Flare have a free plan?
No. A free 30-day trial is available without requiring a credit card.
How much does the Starter plan cost?
Starter — Flare Desktop Only costs $3,150 a year, billed at $3,150 per author per year.
Which platforms does Flare support?
Flare Desktop requires Microsoft Windows. Flare Online provides browser-based authoring and review.
What can Flare publish?
Listed outputs include responsive HTML5, print, PowerPoint, PDF, Word, SCORM, WebHelp, portals, and third-party platforms.
What are the Flare Online plan allowances?
Individual includes 1–2 authors, 20 GB storage, and one review seat per author. Team includes 3–5 authors, 250 GB, and two reviewer seats per author; Business includes 6+ authors, 500 GB, and five reviewer seats per author.
What integrations are listed?
Flare can publish directly to Salesforce, Zendesk, and ServiceNow. The pricing page also lists ChatGPT integration for Flare Online authoring.
Facts from MadCap Flare's own pages
- Analytics
- Flare Online analytics can track topic views, searches with no results, and user behavior. · madcapsoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Collaboration
- Flare Online supports browser-based content review by subject matter experts and non-Flare users, including concurrent authoring and real-time collaboration. · madcapsoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Custom domain
- Yes · madcapsoftware.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Founded
- 2005 · madcapsoftware.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- No · madcapsoftware.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Denver, Colorado, USA · madcapsoftware.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Import
- Flare supports importing Word, Excel, Confluence, FrameMaker, RoboHelp, and DITA content, and Easy Sync can keep imported files linked to their sources. · madcapsoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The product page says Flare can publish directly to Salesforce, Zendesk, and ServiceNow, and the pricing page lists ChatGPT integration for Flare Online authoring. · madcapsoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Intended audience
- MadCap describes its audience as technical communicators, knowledge managers, documentation teams, and content developers. · madcapsoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Localization
- Flare supports Unicode, double-byte, Cyrillic, and right-to-left languages, including Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian. · madcapsoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Platform requirement
- MadCap documentation states that Flare Desktop requires Microsoft Windows; Flare Online provides browser-based authoring and review. · kb.madcapsoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Publishing
- Flare publishes to multiple formats, including responsive HTML5, high-end print, Microsoft PowerPoint, PDF, Word, SCORM, and more. · madcapsoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- MadCap Flare is an authoring and publishing platform for technical documentation, online help, knowledge bases, policies, training materials, and API documentation. · madcapsoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Reusable content
- Topic-based authoring and single-sourcing let teams reuse topics across different versions and output formats. · madcapsoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Security certification
- MadCap’s About page displays a SOC 2 Type II Certified designation. · madcapsoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Support and training
- The Desktop Starter plan lists free introductory training and unlimited technical support; Flare Online subscriptions include unlimited support and upgrades. · madcapsoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
- Trial
- MadCap offers a free 30-day Flare trial without requiring a credit card. · madcapsoftware.com, 29 Sept 2026
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