HelpSmith vs MadCap Flare
HelpSmith
helpsmith.com
MadCap Flare
madcapsoftware.comSide by side
| Figure | HelpSmith | MadCap Flare |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $262.50/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 8 |
| Spec score · Help Authoring Tools | 7.6 (#16) | 8.0 (#9) |
| Spec score · Technical Writing Platforms | 7.7 (#21) | 8.1 (#15) |
| Import | HelpSmith can import content from HTML, Word, CHM, and other formats. | Flare supports importing Word, Excel, Confluence, FrameMaker, RoboHelp, and DITA content, and Easy Sync can keep imported files linked to their sources. |
| Integrations | Help files and Web Help can integrate with applications or websites, and exported topic lists can be used in header files compatible with C#, VB.NET, Delphi, C++, and MS Office VBA. | The product page says Flare can publish directly to Salesforce, Zendesk, and ServiceNow, and the pricing page lists ChatGPT integration for Flare Online authoring. |
| Purpose | HelpSmith is an XML-based help authoring tool for creating CHM Help, Web Help, printed manuals, PDF, Word, ePub, and Markdown documentation from a single source. | MadCap Flare is an authoring and publishing platform for technical documentation, online help, knowledge bases, policies, training materials, and API documentation. |
Plans
HelpSmith
- Standard$199, paid once
- Professional$299, paid once
- Ultimate$399, paid once
MadCap Flare
- Starter — Flare Desktop Only$3,150 a year
- Flare Online — IndividualPrice not published
- Flare Online — TeamPrice not published
- Flare Online — BusinessPrice not published
- Starter — Flare Desktop Only$3,150 a year
- Flare Online - BusinessPriced on request
- Flare Online - IndividualPriced on request
- Flare Online - TeamPriced on request
In their own words
MadCap Flare
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.