Side by side
Author-it vs MadCap Flare
Both stand on help authoring tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Choose Author-it if your organization needs reusable structured content with publishing, localization, and approval workflows across cloud or on-premise deployment. Its strongest fit is teams with complex content accuracy and compliance needs. Buyers should contact Author-it for a quote, since subscription cost depends on their requirements.
Visit Author-it
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.
Visit MadCap FlareThe facts
| Author-it | MadCap Flare | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Not published | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | See the plans |
| Plans published | 1 | 7 |
| Maker | Author-it | Not published |
| Website | author-it.com | madcapsoftware.com |
| On help authoring tools | #9 of 29 | #13 of 29 |
Author-it: what it does well
- Updates to reusable Topics flow to every Book that uses them.
- One source publishes to PDF, HTML5, SCORM eLearning, and AION JSON.
- AION is included with every environment at no extra cost.
- Workflows include role-based permissions, reviews, and approvals.
- Cloud and on-premise deployment options are available.
What to know first
- Subscription pricing is available only on request.
- Cost depends on team size, deployment model, and requirements.
MadCap Flare: 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.
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.
Alternatives to Author-it Alternatives to MadCap Flare The whole list