What should I use for searchable API documentation?

If you want searchable API documentation, the best choice depends on what kind of API you have and how much control you want. Good options include:

Strong general-purpose choices

• OpenAPI + Swagger UI / Redoc
  • Best if your API is RESTful.
  • Lets you generate interactive, searchable docs from an OpenAPI spec.
  • Redoc is especially nice for readable docs.
  • Swagger UI is more common and supports “try it out.”

If you want hosted documentation portals

• ReadMe
  • Very polished, searchable, developer-friendly docs.
  • Great for public APIs.
  • Supports guides, API reference, changelogs, and analytics.
• Stoplight
  • Strong for design-first API workflows.
  • Good docs, mocking, and API governance.
• Postman API Documentation
  • Easy if you already use Postman collections.
  • Less ideal for very large or heavily customized docs portals.

If you want static site docs with search

• Docusaurus
  • Good for combining docs, tutorials, and API reference.
  • Search can be added via Algolia or local plugins.
• MkDocs + Material for MkDocs
  • Excellent for clean, searchable docs.
  • Very popular for technical documentation.
• GitBook
  • Easy to use and searchable.
  • Good for internal or smaller public docs.

Best pick by use case

• REST API, generated docs: OpenAPI + Redoc
• Public developer portal: ReadMe
• Team/internal docs: MkDocs Material or Docusaurus
• Already using Postman: Postman docs
• Design-first API lifecycle: Stoplight

My practical recommendation

If you want the most straightforward, professional setup:

• Write/maintain an OpenAPI spec
• Render it with Redoc
• Add a documentation site around it with MkDocs Material or Docusaurus
• Use Algolia search if you need excellent full-site search

If you tell me:

1. REST vs GraphQL vs RPC
2. public vs internal docs
3. whether you want hosted or self-hosted

…I can recommend the best specific stack.