Side by side
phpDocumentor vs Theneo
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.
phpDocumentor offers a free, self-hosted route to PHP API documentation, with diagrams, markup support, and CI options. Choose an installation method with its runtime requirements in mind, especially since direct Composer installation is not actively supported.
Visit phpDocumentor
Choose Theneo if you need API documentation with collaboration, supported API formats, and options for private customer portals. Its free Starter plan offers a way to begin, while larger endpoint or team limits and self-hosting call for higher-tier plans. Look elsewhere if your budget requires a published Enterprise price or your team needs more than the Starter limits without a paid plan.
Visit TheneoThe facts
| phpDocumentor | Theneo | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | No |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted | API, Extension, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Business: $120 per workspace a month |
| Plans published | 1 | 8 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | phpdoc.org | theneo.io |
| On api documentation tools | #9 of 27 | #13 of 27 |
phpDocumentor: what it does well
- Generates API documentation from PHP code and DocBlocks.
- Can create UML diagrams of code structure.
- Supports Markdown and reStructuredText.
- Offers CI integration through a GitHub Action or Docker image.
- Free and open source.
What to know first
- Standalone installation requires PHP 8.1.2 or higher.
- Standalone installation requires the mbstring extension.
- Direct Composer installation is not actively supported.
Theneo: what it does well
- Generates interactive API documentation from OpenAPI, Postman, or Git connections.
- Supports REST, AsyncAPI, SOAP, GraphQL, and gRPC.
- Includes co-editing, comments, review workflows, version history, and rollback.
- Customer portals support per-customer API visibility, SSO options, and custom branding.
- Lists encryption, security certifications, GDPR compliance, and point-in-time backups.
What to know first
- Starter limits teams to 20 members and 2,000 API endpoints.
- Business starts at $120 a year, billed $120/month/workspace.
- Self-hosting is included with Enterprise, whose price is custom.
Alternatives to phpDocumentor Alternatives to Theneo The whole list