pdoc vs Scalar

pdoc generates API documentation from Python projects and organizes it around each project's module hierarchy. Its setup documentation says no configuration is needed to begin. The tool produces standalone HTML that can be exported to files, and a built-in web server refreshes the documentation when source files change. It supports Python type annotations and recognizes Markdown, numpydoc, and Google-style docstrings, with limited reStructuredText support. Developers can customize the generated HTML templates; search runs in the browser without third-party services. Deployment guidance covers GitHub Pages, and custom HTML fragments can be embedded in content management systems or static site generators. pdoc also offers a high-level interface and can be used as a Python library. It is free and open source, compatible with Python 3.10 and newer, and available for Linux, macOS, Windows, web, and self-hosted use. HTML is its only output format, and API documentation is its principal use case. Since pdoc imports or executes the Python modules while extracting docstrings, those modules are executed during documentation generation; Sphinx is recommended for substantially more complex documentation needs.

Scalar is a set of API products for documentation, SDK generation, API registries, API requests, and MCP server use. Scalar Docs combines product guides and interactive API references generated from OpenAPI documents in a developer portal. Teams can write in Markdown or MDX, use GitHub content, preview pull requests, and publish through a CLI or after a merge. The SDK Generator builds idiomatic, type-safe client libraries from OpenAPI documents and can publish them through repository pull requests. Registry stores and versions OpenAPI and AsyncAPI documents, JSON Schema, and Spectral rules with Git integration. The open-source API Client works offline for sending requests, organizing collections, and testing APIs from OpenAPI documents. Scalar supports hosted and self-hosted deployment. Its Free plan is free and includes up to three APIs, one SDK with up to 25 endpoints, one editor seat, and 50 Agent Scalar credits. Pro is $150 a month; Business is $600 a month. Scalar states that it has received a SOC 2 Type 1 report and maintains GDPR-compliant privacy practices.