Review · Developer tools
Stoplight review
An API design platform with a visual OpenAPI designer, interactive docs, mock servers and style guides.
By the TopToolAdvisor research desk · Updated November 12, 2026
- Features (35%)
- 8.8
- Ease of use (35%)
- 7.9
- Value (30%)
- 8.6
Stoplight approaches documentation from the design side. Its visual OpenAPI and JSON Schema designer lets teams define an API, check it against style guides, mock it and publish interactive docs with a try-it console from the same project. Basic costs $44 a month billed annually with the first 3 users included and $11 for each additional user. Startup at $113 a month adds private projects, multi-branch support, custom domains, theming and Google Analytics, with 8 users included. Pro Team at $362 a month adds shared style guides, self-hosted Git providers, LDAP and SAML SSO and removes Stoplight branding. The editor is aimed at API designers more than writers, so guide-heavy DevRel sites may find GitBook or Mintlify easier. Stoplight also maintains the open source Spectral, Prism and Elements projects.
Who it is for
Design-first API teams that want docs, mocks and style guides together
Price
Free plan for 1 user; Basic $44 per month billed annually with 3 users included.
$44 / month
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.
Key features
- OpenAPI and JSON Schema visual designer with code-based editing
- Interactive API docs with an API console and rich Markdown articles
- Instant mock servers with request validation and dynamic responses
- API style guides, with shared style guides on Pro Team
- Git sync and OpenAPI export
Strengths and weaknesses
- Strength: Basic at $44 a month billed annually includes 3 users
- Strength: Design, mocks and docs in one workspace
- Strength: Unlimited documentation views
- Weakness: Free plan is limited to 1 user and 1 project
- Weakness: Custom domains start on Startup at $113 a month billed annually
- Weakness: Removing Stoplight branding needs Pro Team at $362 a month billed annually
Key facts
- Free plan: Yes, 1 user and 1 project
- Paid plans: Basic, Startup, Pro Team and Enterprise
- Extra users: $11 per user per month billed annually on Basic and Startup
- Trial: 14 days
Where it ranks
Stoplight is No. 8 in our Best API Documentation Tools verdict.
Alternatives we scored
Visit stoplight.io · Questions or corrections: editorial@toptooladvisor.com