I'm building docs for both internal and external APIs, what platform works?

If you need one platform that can handle both internal and external API docs, the best choice is usually a docs platform that supports:

• OpenAPI/Swagger import
• public + private docs
• authentication / access control
• versioning
• developer portal features
• search and examples
• easy publishing from source control

Good options

1. Redocly

Best if your APIs are already described with OpenAPI and you want polished public docs plus private/internal docs.

Pros

• Great OpenAPI support
• Strong customization
• Can serve public and private docs
• Good for teams that want documentation-as-code
• API linting and governance features

Cons

• More setup than simple doc tools
• Can be overkill if you only need lightweight docs

2. SwaggerHub / Swagger UI + tooling

Good if your team is already using Swagger/OpenAPI and wants a straightforward API documentation workflow.

Pros

• Familiar OpenAPI ecosystem
• Easy for engineers
• Can publish docs quickly
• Good for spec-first development

Cons

• Less polished as a full developer portal
• Internal/external separation may require extra work

3. Stoplight

A strong choice for API design, mock servers, and documentation together.

Pros

• Great for designing APIs
• Supports docs from OpenAPI
• Helpful collaboration features
• Good for internal teams and published docs

Cons

• External portal experience may be less “complete” than dedicated developer portal platforms

4. ReadMe

Best if you want a beautiful developer portal with docs, API reference, tutorials, and interactive examples.

Pros

• Very polished UX
• Good for external developer portals
• Supports API reference and guides
• Can also host internal/private docs depending on plan/setup

Cons

• Usually more portal-oriented than pure documentation-as-code
• Less ideal if your workflow is deeply spec-centric and code-first

5. GitBook / Docusaurus / MkDocs

Good if your internal docs are broader than just APIs, or you want a docs site with API sections.

Pros

• Great for internal docs
• Easy markdown workflows
• Good for mixed content: product, engineering, and API docs
• Can be hosted privately or publicly

Cons

• API reference features are not as strong unless paired with OpenAPI tooling
• Less “developer portal” out of the box

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My recommendation

If you want one platform for both internal and external API docs:

• Redocly if you want strong OpenAPI-based docs and governance
• ReadMe if you want the best external developer portal experience
• Stoplight if your team is actively designing and iterating on APIs

If your docs are more than API docs:

• Docusaurus or GitBook for internal docs
• Pair with Redoc or Swagger UI for API reference

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Quick rule of thumb

• Internal engineering docs + API reference → Docusaurus / GitBook + OpenAPI
• Public developer portal → ReadMe
• OpenAPI-first enterprise documentation → Redocly
• API design + docs workflow → Stoplight

If you want, I can also give you:

1. a comparison table,
2. recommendations by team size/budget, or
3. a best platform based on your stack (OpenAPI, GraphQL, REST, etc.).