Adobe RoboHelp vs Dr.Explain
Adobe RoboHelp
adobe.comDr.Explain
drexplain.comSide by side
| Figure | Adobe RoboHelp | Dr.Explain |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $24.17/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 8 | 8 |
| Spec score · Technical Documentation Software | 8.4 (#6) | 8.4 (#8) |
| Spec score · Help Authoring Tools | 8.4 (#5) | 8.5 (#4) |
| Spec score · Knowledge base software | 7.9 (#84) | 8.0 (#81) |
| Collaboration | RoboHelp supports web-based review and collaboration with Git and SharePoint Online. | Multiple authors can work on a project using the free Tiwri.com service or a corporate server on the company’s internal network. |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Support | Adobe directs customers to its Customer Support page for technical questions and provides a technical communication support contact. | The maker offers multilingual technical and sales support by email and toll-free voicemail. |
Plans
Adobe RoboHelp
- Individual SubscriptionPriced on request
- Individual Subscription — prepaid annualPrice not published
- Individual Subscription — prepaid annualPriced on request
- Team SubscriptionPrice not published
- Team SubscriptionPriced on request
- Enterprise Term License AgreementPriced on request
- Enterprise Term License AgreementPrice not published
- Individual Subscription$29.99 a month
Dr.Explain
- FreeFree
- Business Temporary$290 a year
- Business Perpetual v.7$690 a month
- Home Perpetual v.7$9,000 a month
- Free Restricted LicenseFree
- Business License — Temporary$290 a year
- Business License — Perpetual for v.7$690, paid once
- Home License — Perpetual for v.7$9,000, paid once
In their own words
Adobe RoboHelp
Adobe RoboHelp is software for authoring and publishing online help, policies, procedures, knowledge bases, and self-service content. It supports HTML5 and CSS3 authoring, conditional content, and reusable material across documents and channels. Publishing targets include Responsive HTML5, PDF, Adobe Experience Manager, Microsoft Help, and other formats. Authors can also create microcontent for chatbots, search snippets, and voice-response systems. Web-based review and collaboration work with Git and SharePoint Online, while knowledge-base destinations include SharePoint Online, Zendesk, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Zoho, Adobe Experience Manager, and Atlassian Confluence. RoboHelp supports manual and machine translation, full-text search, reader analytics, and creation of Section 508-compliant content. It runs on macOS and Windows. Adobe offers a fully functional 30-day trial, but no free plan. The latest release requires subscription access rather than a perpetual license. Internet activation is required, including a connection within 30 days of first launch.
Dr.Explain
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.