Brandwave

Mintlify vs Read the Docs:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Mintlify had more branded searches than Read the Docs among developer documentation platforms worldwide. Mintlify had about 18,100 branded searches, while Read the Docs had 5,400. Mintlify made up 35.9% of all developer documentation platform searches we track, and Read the Docs accounted for 10.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about developer documentation platforms, Mintlify appeared in all five answers and Read the Docs in none.

Among developer documentation platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Mintlify, about 3 searches for every 1 for Read the Docs

Mintlify 18.1K searchesRead the Docs 5.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Mintlify, mentioned in every answer we collected

Mintlify in 5 of 5Read the Docs in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Mintlify, the only one of the two named

Mintlify first in 5Read the Docs never named

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Top developer documentation platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Mintlify appeared in all five answers. Read the Docs did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Mintlify1st
  2. ReadMe2nd
  3. GitBook3rd
  4. Docusaurus4th
  5. Fern5th
  6. Read the Docs–
  7. Slate–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Mintlify5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • GitBook5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ReadMe5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Docusaurus4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Fern2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Read the Docs0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Slate0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about developer documentation platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Mintlify or Read the Docs more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Mintlify and Read the Docs by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven developer documentation platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Mintlify and Read the Docs among developer documentation platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Mintlify, Read the Docs. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthDocusaurusMintlifyRead the DocsGitBookReadMeFernSlate
Oct 202548.9%32.7%9.8%6.5%1.3%0.59%0.17%
Nov 202552.1%28.6%10.4%6.9%1.1%0.59%0.22%
Dec 202549.6%33.2%9.9%5.4%1%0.69%0.13%
Jan 202647.8%32%11.7%6.4%1.1%0.82%0.17%
Feb 202642.6%34.9%12.7%6.9%1.6%0.94%0.17%
Mar 202643.9%35.9%10.7%7.2%1.3%0.8%0.19%
Apr 202642.1%42.1%8.4%5.6%1.1%0.67%0.11%
May 202643.9%36%10.7%7.1%1.2%0.94%0.15%
Jun 202647.8%39%6.4%5.2%0.94%0.61%0.11%
Jul 202641.6%41.6%8.3%6.8%1%0.64%0.14%
Aug 202646.6%38.1%7.6%6.2%0.73%0.66%0.1%
Sep 202644%35.9%10.7%7.1%1.2%0.85%0.14%

How has the Mintlify and Read the Docs comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for developer documentation platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Read the Docs gained share of searches among developer documentation platforms worldwide, from 7.6% to 10.7%.

  2. In September 2026, Mintlify lost share of searches among developer documentation platforms worldwide, from 38.1% to 35.9%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Mintlify’s and Read the Docs’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Mintlify

1 branded search term

  • mintlify

Read the Docs

1 branded search term

  • readthedocs

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among developer documentation platforms

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