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Dr.Explain

drexplain.com

From $24.17/mo Free plan Windows
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Spec score 8.5 #4 of 29 in Help Authoring Tools

What it is

Dr.Explain is a Windows help authoring tool for creating user guides, operating instructions, help files, and manuals. It captures application windows or web pages and adds numbered callouts to interface elements. Documentation can be exported as HTML, CHM, PDF, or DOCX; imports include CHM, HLP, HTML, XML, DOC/DOCX, and TXT, with project structure and formatting preserved. For software integration, it supports Help Context IDs and creates map files in.h,.vb, and.inc formats. Multiple authors can work on a project through the free Tiwri.com service or a corporate server on the company's internal network. An in-program AI Assistant offers generation, translation, and proofreading. The desktop application requires 64-bit Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7. The free license has no time limit but restricts project size and watermarks exported images; it includes 20 topics. Business Temporary costs $290 a year for five users, and Business Perpetual v.7 costs $690, paid once for five users. Home Perpetual v.7 costs $9,000, paid once for one user and excludes commercial use.

Spec sheet

Product
Dr.Explain is a help authoring tool for creating user guides, operating instructions, help files, and manuals.Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Intended users
The maker identifies technical writers, programmers and developers, business analysts and integrators, and technical support specialists as intended users.Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Publishing audience
bothRead 20 Sep 2026 · drexplain.com
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · drexplain.com
Support
The maker offers multilingual technical and sales support by email and toll-free voicemail.Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Headquarters
New York, New York, USARead 28 Sep 2026 · drexplain.com
Founded
2004Read 28 Sep 2026 · drexplain.com
AI assistant
The product’s AI Assistant offers generation, translation, and proofreading within the program.Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Article limit
20Read 20 Sep 2026 · drexplain.com
Collaboration
Multiple authors can work on a project using the free Tiwri.com service or a corporate server on the company’s internal network.Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Content import
The importer supports CHM, HLP, HTML, XML, DOC/DOCX, and TXT while preserving project structure and formatting.Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Context-sensitive help
It supports Help Context IDs and generates map files in .h, .vb, and .inc formats for software integration.Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Free license limitation
The free license can be used indefinitely, but limits project size and adds watermarks to exported images.Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Maker history
Indigo Byte Systems LLC says it has developed Dr.Explain since 2004.Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Payment security
The maker says financial transactions are handled by PayPro Global and transaction and credit card information is not passed to third parties.Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Platform requirement
The downloadable desktop application runs on Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7 with 64-bit architecture.Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Publishing formats
Documentation can be exported as HTML, CHM, PDF, and DOCX.Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Screenshot capture
It captures application windows or web pages and automatically annotates interface elements with numbered callouts.Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Version history
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · drexplain.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Free restricted license 20 topics Read 20 Sep 2026 · drexplain.com
Business Temporary $290 a year Subscription for 5 users 5 users · Unlimited topics Read 20 Sep 2026 · drexplain.com
Business Perpetual v.7 $690 a month One-time payment for 5 users 5 users · Unlimited topics Read 20 Sep 2026 · drexplain.com
Home Perpetual v.7 $9,000 a month One-time payment for 1 user 1 user · Unlimited topics Read 20 Sep 2026 · drexplain.com
Free Restricted License Free Free; no time limit Limited project size · Watermarks on images Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Business License — Temporary $290 a year 290 USD / Year; 25 USD / user / month No watermarks · Unlimited topics · Collaboration · Free updates Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Business License — Perpetual for v.7 $690, paid once 690 USD / forever; 31 USD / user / forever No watermarks · Unlimited topics · Collaboration · Free 7.x updates Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com
Home License — Perpetual for v.7 $9,000, paid once 9000 USD / forever 1 user · Unlimited topics · No commercial use · Image labels and footer credits · Business projects read-only · Free 7.x updates Read 7 Oct 2026 · drexplain.com

Every Dr.Explain plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Exports documentation as HTML, CHM, PDF, and DOCX
  • Imports several document and help-file formats
  • Creates map files for Help Context IDs
  • Supports multi-author projects
  • Includes generation, translation, and proofreading assistance

Limits

  • Desktop application requires 64-bit Windows
  • Free license restricts project size and watermarks images
  • Home license excludes commercial use

Who it suits

Dr.Explain suits technical writers, developers, business analysts and integrators, and technical support specialists who create help documentation. Its collaboration options support multiple authors, while the free license has project-size and image-watermark restrictions.

Verdict

Dr.Explain specifies its publishing formats, imports, context-sensitive help, and collaboration options. Check the Windows requirement and license restrictions, and note that the listed paid plans use different billing descriptions.

Where Specifiction places it

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