Redoc vs Scalar
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Turns OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, or GraphQL specs into a readable, browsable API documentation page.
Open source · MIT
Turns OpenAPI/Swagger documents into interactive API docs and includes an API testing client.
The short answer
Choose Redoc if you need…
- Teams that already write OpenAPI or Swagger specs and want public or internal API docs
- Developers who want to embed API docs in a React app or a plain HTML page
- Projects that need a static HTML file of their API docs generated from the command line
- Maintainers who want docs that update automatically when the spec changes
Choose Scalar if you need…
- Developers who already maintain an OpenAPI or Swagger document
- Teams that want readable, interactive API documentation
- Developers who want to test endpoints from the same tool they use for docs
- Backend developers using a supported framework such as FastAPI, Hono, or Express
Side-by-side
| Redoc | Scalar | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 26k | 16.4k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Use it in the browser (or self-host) |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 5 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Redoc
Redoc is an open source tool that reads an API definition file (OpenAPI, formerly Swagger; AsyncAPI; or GraphQL) and generates a documentation website from it. By default it shows a three-panel layout with navigation on the left, documentation in the middle, and request and response examples on the right. It is used to publish API reference docs without writing them by hand.
Scalar
Scalar is an open-source project that takes an OpenAPI (Swagger) description of a web API and turns it into a browsable, interactive reference page. It also includes an API client for sending test requests, and the README says it can generate code examples in many languages. Developers use it to document and try out their APIs without building that interface themselves.
Best for
Redoc
- Teams that already write OpenAPI or Swagger specs and want public or internal API docs
- Developers who want to embed API docs in a React app or a plain HTML page
- Projects that need a static HTML file of their API docs generated from the command line
- Maintainers who want docs that update automatically when the spec changes
Scalar
- Developers who already maintain an OpenAPI or Swagger document
- Teams that want readable, interactive API documentation
- Developers who want to test endpoints from the same tool they use for docs
- Backend developers using a supported framework such as FastAPI, Hono, or Express
Strengths
Redoc
- Produces a clean, responsive three-panel documentation layout with search and dark mode
- Accepts several specification formats, including OpenAPI 3.2, 3.1, 3.0, Swagger 2.0, AsyncAPI 3.x, and GraphQL SDL
- Works as an HTML tag, a React component, or a command-line build, so it fits several setups
Scalar
- Free and open-source under the MIT license
- Renders OpenAPI/Swagger documents with an interactive reference view
- Offers a single-HTML-file setup that needs no build step
Not ideal for
Redoc
- People who need a hosted service with try-it panels, mock servers, or access control; the README points to Redocly's paid hosted product for these, since the community edition does not list them
- Anyone without an API definition file, because Redoc renders existing specs rather than writing them
- Teams needing SOAP support, which the README lists only for the hosted product
Scalar
- People without an OpenAPI document, since the README centers on rendering existing OpenAPI specs rather than writing them
- Users who need an API client only for non-OpenAPI workflows, as the README emphasizes OpenAPI support
- Anyone needing a fully self-hosted setup without reviewing the README, since the quickstart example loads assets and a proxy from scalar.com and jsDelivr CDN
Trade-offs
Redoc
- Community edition features are limited compared with the paid hosted Redoc product, as the README itself notes
- Layout and behavior depend on the quality and completeness of the input spec and its extensions
- The README is truncated here, so details on configuration options and version differences are not fully confirmed
Scalar
- The README is truncated, so full feature and configuration details are not confirmed here
- The quickstart depends on external CDN and proxy URLs rather than local files alone
- The latest release has no binaries, so the desktop download path is only described on the project's website
Getting started
Redoc
Generate static docs from an OpenAPI file
npx @redocly/cli build-docs openapi.yamlScalar
Install the coding agent skill (optional)
npx skills add scalar/scalar --skill scalar-api-referenceClone the repository
git clone https://github.com/scalar/scalarFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Redoc and Scalar?
Redoc: Turns OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, or GraphQL specs into a readable, browsable API documentation page. Scalar: Turns OpenAPI/Swagger documents into interactive API docs and includes an API testing client. Redoc suits teams that already write openapi or swagger specs and want public or internal api docs, while Scalar suits developers who already maintain an openapi or swagger document.
Are Redoc and Scalar free?
Redoc: Free and open source. Scalar: Free and open source.
Is Redoc or Scalar more popular?
Redoc has more GitHub stars (26k) than Scalar (16.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Redoc and Scalar?
Other options people compare them with include FastAPI, Bruno, Hoppscotch.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.