Side by side
Fern vs Javadoc
Both stand on api documentation tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3
Fern combines API documentation publishing with client library generation and offers a defined Free plan. Teams considering it should check the free-tier limits and note that self-hosting is reserved for Enterprise.
Visit Fern
Free plan LinuxMacWeb+1
Javadoc provides standard HTML documentation generation alongside options for custom output. Review output safety and the terms that apply to later JDK updates.
Visit JavadocThe facts
| Fern | Javadoc | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | buildwithfern.com | oracle.com |
| On api documentation tools | #1 of 27 | #3 of 27 |
Fern: what it does well
- Generates API references from several specification formats.
- Includes interactive API Explorer.
- Free plan includes one site.
- Supports SSO, JWT, and OAuth access controls.
- Supports custom domains and version history.
What to know first
- Free plan is limited to one site.
- Free plan has 10 team members.
- Free plan includes 250 AI credits monthly.
- Self-hosting is an Enterprise capability.
Javadoc: what it does well
- Included with the Java Development Kit
- Documents packages or individual source files
- Alternate doclets can define generated output
- Taglets support custom documentation tags
What to know first
- DocLint does not verify conformance or correct errors
- Executable content in output can pose risks
- Later JDK updates may require production-use fees