Side by side
Sphinx vs Typemill
Both stand on developer documentation software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APILinuxMac+3
Sphinx offers a broad documentation toolset, from multiple output formats and cross-project links to themes and extensions. It is free, but Markdown authors must install MyST-Parser separately.
Visit Sphinx Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1
Choose Typemill if you want to create Markdown-based documentation, websites, or eBooks on a self-hosted CMS, with role-based access and file-based storage. The free Community plan includes the core; teams needing Maker or Business features should account for the yearly license and its one-instance limit.
Visit TypemillThe facts
| Sphinx | Typemill | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Maker: €22 a year |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Maker | Sphinx | Not published |
| Website | sphinx-doc.org | typemill.net |
| On developer documentation software | #10 of 27 | #14 of 27 |
Sphinx: what it does well
- Builds HTML, LaTeX for PDF, ePub and other formats
- Links references across projects
- Autodoc includes module docstrings
- Supports themes and extensions
- Full-text search is available
What to know first
- MyST Markdown requires a separate parser
- Web Support has limited adoption and development
Typemill: what it does well
- Edits content in a block-based visual editor or raw Markdown.
- Publishes site content as a website, PDF, or EPUB.
- Supports hierarchical navigation, separate projects, and multilingual websites.
- Stores content in Markdown and configuration in YAML without a database.
- Offers four access roles and site or page protection.
What to know first
- Requires an Apache or Nginx server and PHP 8.1 or higher.
- Maker and Business licenses cover one Typemill instance and one production domain.
- Premium features, plugins, or themes deactivate when a paid license expires.
Alternatives to Sphinx Alternatives to Typemill The whole list