What should I use for internal API docs with access control?

For internal API docs with access control, the best choice usually depends on whether you want documentation only or documentation plus an interactive API portal.

Good options

1. Swagger UI / OpenAPI

• Best for: Standard API docs, especially if your APIs already have OpenAPI specs.
• Access control: Can be protected behind your existing auth layer (SSO, VPN, reverse proxy, auth middleware).
• Pros:
  • Widely adopted
  • Interactive “try it out” requests
  • Easy to generate from many frameworks
• Cons:
  • Not a complete internal portal by itself
  • Access control is something you typically add around it

2. Redoc / Redocly

• Best for: Cleaner, more polished API documentation.
• Access control: Can be hosted privately and protected via your auth setup.
• Pros:
  • Better visual documentation experience than Swagger UI
  • Strong OpenAPI support
• Cons:
  • Less interactive than Swagger UI
  • Some advanced features are paid/hosted

3. Stoplight

• Best for: Teams wanting design, mock, and docs in one platform.
• Access control: Supports private workspaces and team access.
• Pros:
  • Good collaboration features
  • Nice UI for internal use
• Cons:
  • More of a platform than a lightweight docs tool

4. ReadMe

• Best for: Internal/external developer portals with authentication.
• Access control: Strong support for private docs and authenticated portals.
• Pros:
  • Great developer portal UX
  • Changelog, guides, API reference, analytics
• Cons:
  • Typically a paid SaaS product
  • More than you may need for simple internal docs

5. GitBook

• Best for: Internal knowledge base style docs, including API references.
• Access control: Private spaces and permission controls.
• Pros:
  • Easy for non-engineers to edit
  • Good for mixed product/engineering docs
• Cons:
  • Less API-native than OpenAPI-first tools

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My practical recommendation

• If you want simple internal docs:
  OpenAPI + Swagger UI or Redoc, protected by your existing auth.

• If you want a full internal developer portal:
  ReadMe or Stoplight.

• If you want documentation + team collaboration in a more general docs system:
  GitBook.

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Access control patterns to use

Regardless of tool, common ways to lock it down:

• SSO / OAuth / SAML
• Reverse proxy auth (Nginx, Cloudflare Access, Traefik, etc.)
• VPN or internal network only
• Role-based access in the docs platform
• Self-hosted deployment behind your own auth

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If you want the shortest answer

Use OpenAPI + Redoc/Swagger UI, and put it behind SSO or a reverse proxy for access control.

If you want, I can also recommend the best option based on your stack (e.g. AWS, Kubernetes, GitHub, Jira, self-hosted, etc.).