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MadCap Flare

madcapsoftware.com

From $262.50/mo Free trial WebWindows
Visit madcapsoftware.com
Spec score 8.0 #9 of 29 in Help Authoring Tools

What it is

MadCap Flare is an authoring and publishing platform for technical documentation, online help, knowledge bases, policies, training materials, and API documentation. Topic-based authoring and single-sourcing let teams reuse material across versions and output formats. Flare can publish responsive HTML5, print, PowerPoint, PDF, Word, SCORM, and other formats; it also imports content from Word, Excel, Confluence, FrameMaker, RoboHelp, and DITA. Flare Online adds browser-based review for subject matter experts and non-Flare users, concurrent authoring, and real-time collaboration. Publishing can connect directly to Salesforce, Zendesk, and ServiceNow. Flare supports Unicode, double-byte, Cyrillic, and right-to-left languages, while Flare Online analytics can track topic views, searches without results, and user behavior. The Starter desktop plan costs $3,150 a year, billed at $3,150 per author per year. A free 30-day trial is available without a credit card. Flare Desktop requires Microsoft Windows; Flare Online offers browser-based authoring and review.

Spec sheet

Purpose
MadCap Flare is an authoring and publishing platform for technical documentation, online help, knowledge bases, policies, training materials, and API documentation.Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Free plan
NoRead 20 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Trial
MadCap offers a free 30-day Flare trial without requiring a credit card.Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Integrations
The product page says Flare can publish directly to Salesforce, Zendesk, and ServiceNow, and the pricing page lists ChatGPT integration for Flare Online authoring.Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Headquarters
Denver, Colorado, USARead 28 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Founded
2005Read 28 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Analytics
Flare Online analytics can track topic views, searches with no results, and user behavior.Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Collaboration
Flare Online supports browser-based content review by subject matter experts and non-Flare users, including concurrent authoring and real-time collaboration.Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Custom domain
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Import
Flare supports importing Word, Excel, Confluence, FrameMaker, RoboHelp, and DITA content, and Easy Sync can keep imported files linked to their sources.Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Intended audience
MadCap describes its audience as technical communicators, knowledge managers, documentation teams, and content developers.Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Localization
Flare supports Unicode, double-byte, Cyrillic, and right-to-left languages, including Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian.Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Platform requirement
MadCap documentation states that Flare Desktop requires Microsoft Windows; Flare Online provides browser-based authoring and review.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kb.madcapsoftware.com
Publishing
Flare publishes to multiple formats, including responsive HTML5, high-end print, Microsoft PowerPoint, PDF, Word, SCORM, and more.Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Reusable content
Topic-based authoring and single-sourcing let teams reuse topics across different versions and output formats.Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Security certification
MadCap’s About page displays a SOC 2 Type II Certified designation.Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Support and training
The Desktop Starter plan lists free introductory training and unlimited technical support; Flare Online subscriptions include unlimited support and upgrades.Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com

Plans and prices

Starter — Flare Desktop Only $3,150 a year $3,150/Author/Year Topic-based and micro content authoring · Content import · Screen capture and image editing · Multi-channel publishing · Direct integration with Flare Online and MadCap Syndicate AI · Free introductory training Read 20 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Flare Online — Individual Price not published 1-2 authors · 20 GB cloud storage · 1 review seat per author Read 20 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Flare Online — Team Price not published 3-5 authors · 250 GB cloud storage · 2 reviewer seats per author Read 20 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Flare Online — Business Price not published 6+ authors · 500 GB cloud storage · 5 reviewer seats per author Read 20 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Starter — Flare Desktop Only $3,150 a year per author, per year Desktop only · topic-based and micro content authoring · multi-channel publishing · introductory training · unlimited tech support Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Flare Online - Business Priced on request Per user; billed annually; 12-month commitment 6+ authors · 5 reviewer seats per author · 500 GB cloud storage · onboarding for an additional fee Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Flare Online - Individual Priced on request Per user; billed annually; 12-month commitment 1–2 authors · 1 review seat per author · 20 GB cloud storage · includes Flare Desktop for each author Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Flare Online - Team Priced on request Per user; billed annually; 12-month commitment 3–5 authors · 2 reviewer seats per author · 250 GB cloud storage · onboarding Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com

Every MadCap Flare plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Reuse topics across versions and output formats
  • Publishes to HTML5, PDF, Word, SCORM, and more
  • Imports Word, Excel, Confluence, FrameMaker, RoboHelp, and DITA
  • Flare Online supports browser-based review and collaboration
  • Free 30-day trial without a credit card

Limits

  • Starter costs $3,150 a year
  • Flare Desktop requires Microsoft Windows
  • No free plan

Who it suits

Flare is intended for technical communicators, knowledge managers, documentation teams, and content developers. Its reuse, import, collaboration, and publishing tools suit teams producing documentation in multiple formats or languages.

Verdict

Flare combines content reuse, importing, collaboration, and multi-format publishing for documentation teams. Check the Windows requirement for desktop authoring and the Starter price; Flare Online plans have no listed prices.

Where Specifiction places it

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