# Margin or Mintlify?

An open-source Mintlify alternative. Same docs, different deal.

[Deploy free on Manicule](https://app.manicule.com/onboard?product=margin) · [View on GitHub](https://github.com/maniculehq/margin)

## At a glance.

As of November 2026. [Checked against Mintlify’s own pricing page and docs](https://mintlify.com/pricing). Each has things the other lacks.

### In both

| Feature | Margin | Mintlify |
| --- | --- | --- |
| docs.json | Yes: Read as is (unknown fields warn) | Yes: Its own format |
| MDX components | Yes: Cards, Tabs, Steps, Accordions and more | Yes: Built in, plus custom components |
| Search | Yes | Yes |
| Ask AI | Yes: Every site (self-hosted needs an AI Gateway key) | Yes: Pro plan (25 credits an answer) |
| API playground | Yes: From your OpenAPI file | Yes |
| `llms.txt` | Yes: Plus `llms-full.txt` | Yes: Plus `llms-full.txt` |
| MCP server | Yes: On by default | Yes: Every plan |
| WebMCP | Yes: Experimental, off by default | Yes: Pro plan |
| Agent analytics | Yes: Hosted dashboard (PostHog when self-hosted) | Yes: Pro plan |
| Self-hosting | Yes: Vercel or Node (plus Postgres) | Yes: Enterprise plan |

### Margin only

| Feature | Margin | Mintlify |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Open source | Yes: Apache 2.0 | No |
| Free hosting with no limits | Yes: On Manicule, every feature included | No: Free Starter plan (5 editor seats, no Ask AI or analytics. Pro is $450 a month, billed yearly.) |

### Mintlify only

| Feature | Margin | Mintlify |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web editor | No: Edit in your repo | Yes: Every plan |
| Private docs | No: Every page is public | Yes: Team sign-in on every plan (a shared password on Pro) |
| SSO for readers | No | Yes: Enterprise plan (OAuth or JWT) |
| AI translations | No | Yes: Pro plan |

## Which one fits?

Both build good docs. Pick by how your team writes and who reads.

### Choose Margin if…

- You want the source, under Apache 2.0.
- You want free hosting with no seat or feature limits.
- You want the option to run it yourself.

### Choose Mintlify if…

- Your writers edit in a browser, not a repo.
- Some of your docs must sit behind a sign-in.
- You need SSO, audit logs and a custom SLA.

## Switching takes one push.

Connect your repo, keep your docs.json and push. Each push publishes your site.

[Mintlify compatibility](https://margin.manicule.com/compatibility)

## Publish your docs today.

Free on Manicule in a few minutes, or on your own servers whenever you like.

[Deploy free on Manicule](https://app.manicule.com/onboard?product=margin) · [View on GitHub](https://github.com/maniculehq/margin)