Fern vs ReadMe:Which is searched more?
In September 2026, ReadMe had more branded searches than Fern among developer documentation platforms worldwide. ReadMe had about 630 branded searches, while Fern had 430. ReadMe made up 1.2% of all developer documentation platform searches we track, and Fern accounted for 0.85%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Is Fern or ReadMe more popular in search?
Compare the platforms teams publish developer docs on. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of searches by month for ReadMe, Fern. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Docusaurus | Mintlify | Read the Docs | GitBook | ReadMe | Fern | Slate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 48.9% | 32.7% | 9.8% | 6.5% | 1.3% | 0.59% | 0.17% |
| Nov 2025 | 52.1% | 28.6% | 10.4% | 6.9% | 1.1% | 0.59% | 0.22% |
| Dec 2025 | 49.6% | 33.2% | 9.9% | 5.4% | 1% | 0.69% | 0.13% |
| Jan 2026 | 47.8% | 32% | 11.7% | 6.4% | 1.1% | 0.82% | 0.17% |
| Feb 2026 | 42.6% | 34.9% | 12.7% | 6.9% | 1.6% | 0.94% | 0.17% |
| Mar 2026 | 43.9% | 35.9% | 10.7% | 7.2% | 1.3% | 0.8% | 0.19% |
| Apr 2026 | 42.1% | 42.1% | 8.4% | 5.6% | 1.1% | 0.67% | 0.11% |
| May 2026 | 43.9% | 36% | 10.7% | 7.1% | 1.2% | 0.94% | 0.15% |
| Jun 2026 | 47.8% | 39% | 6.4% | 5.2% | 0.94% | 0.61% | 0.11% |
| Jul 2026 | 41.6% | 41.6% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 1% | 0.64% | 0.14% |
| Aug 2026 | 46.6% | 38.1% | 7.6% | 6.2% | 0.73% | 0.66% | 0.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 44% | 35.9% | 10.7% | 7.1% | 1.2% | 0.85% | 0.14% |
How has the Fern and ReadMe comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- ReadMe was ahead of Fern in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Fern’s share of searches among developer documentation platforms worldwide moved from 0.59% to 0.85%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 490 to 430.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ReadMe’s share of searches among developer documentation platforms worldwide moved from 1.3% to 1.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.1K to 630.
How did search popularity change for developer documentation platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, ReadMe gained share of searches among developer documentation platforms worldwide, from 0.73% to 1.2%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Fern worldwide fell 12.2% over 12 measured months, from 490 to 430 in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
6 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Fern’s and ReadMe’s 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.
Other head-to-heads among developer documentation platforms
Docusaurus vs Mintlify: compare search popularity
Docusaurus vs Read the Docs: compare search popularity
Docusaurus vs GitBook: compare search popularity- Mintlify vs Read the Docs: compare search popularity
- Mintlify vs GitBook: compare search popularity
- Read the Docs vs GitBook: compare search popularity
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