The Best Readme Alternative
Not Just Document Your APIs.
Why Teams Switch from ReadMe to Apidog
Teams choose Apidog when they need to do more than present an API. They want to design, validate, test, document, and ship it without stitching together separate tools.
Move from Documentation to Delivery
Design and review APIs visually, debug endpoints, generate mock responses, automate tests, and publish interactive documentation without switching between separate platforms. Apidog connects the work that happens before, during, and after API development.
Test Before Release
Go beyond interactive “Try it” requests. Build repeatable test scenarios with visual assertions, variables, data extraction, test reports, and CI/CD execution—so your team can validate API behavior before every release.
Make API Context Available to AI
Let agents work from the specification. Use Apidog MCP Server to connect supported AI coding tools to endpoints, schemas, and documentation. Bring mocks, environments, tests, reports, and other API workflows into agentic development with Apidog CLI.
Keep Every API Workflow Connected
Manage specifications, schemas, mocks, tests, and documentation from the same API definition. When an API changes, teams can update connected workflows in one workspace instead of manually synchronizing information across separate tools.
Customizable Developer Documentation
Make your developer hub truly yours. Customize layouts, navigation, banners, login buttons, API reference views, custom domains, HTTPS, and SEO. Use custom CSS and JavaScript to match your brand and embed AI chatbots, support widgets, feedback tools, and other interactive experiences.
Work Visually. Stay Git-native.
Use Spec-first Mode to edit, preview, validate, pull, and commit API specification changes with GitHub, GitLab, Azure DevOps, or Bitbucket.
A Better API Design-first Platform
Apidog implements API Design-first, where API specifications and modifications can be automatically
synchronized across every stage of the API lifecycle.
Readme vs Apidog
| HTTP | ||
| WebSocket | ||
| SOAP | ||
| GraphQL | ||
| gRPC | ||
| SSE |
| Design APIs visually | ||
| Import/export OAS | ||
| Define and reuse schemas | ||
| Generate API specification from request | ||
| Generate example automatically | ||
| Branches |
| Pre/Post-request Scripts | ||
| Response validation | ||
| Connect to databases | ||
| Multiple services | ||
| Reference other programming languages |
| Visual Orchestration with No Code | ||
| Visual assertions | ||
| CI/CD | ||
| Run collections | Unlimited | |
| Scheduled task | ||
| Performance test | ||
| Online test reports | ||
| Self-hosted runner |
| Custom domain | ||
| Custom documentation layout | ||
| Markdown pages | ||
| Versioning |
| Fixed response mocking | ||
| Smart mock engine | ||
| Cloud mock server | ||
| Customized mocking scripts | ||
| Self-hosted mock server |
| IDE plugin | IDEA |
Implement REAL API Design-first
Apidog implements API Design-first, facilitating the effortless synchronization of API,specifications and modifications across the entire API lifecycle.
Built for the AI-Agent Era
Apidog CLI is built to work with AI agents like Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex—bringing API workflows into your automated development pipeline.
Built for AI Agents
Designed from the ground up to work seamlessly with AI agents. Automate API operations, test scenarios, and documentation updates.
CI/CD Ready
Integrate with Jenkins, GitLab, or GitHub Actions. Run test scenarios automatically and get detailed HTML reports after each build.
Command-Line Control
Docs, schemas, mocks, environments, tests, imports, exports—manage it all from the terminal. Same capabilities as the Apidog app, right in your CI pipeline.
# Install Apidog CLI
npm install -g apidog-cli
# Run a test scenario in CI
apidog run scenario --scenario-id 12345 --env production
# Sync your specifications with Git
apidog spec sync --project-id my-project
# Install Apidog Skill for AI Agents (e.g., Claude Code, Cursor)
npx apidog-cli install-skill
Built for Enterprise, Ready for Compliance.
Deployment options that meet your strict security and regulatory requirements.
Apidog Europe
GDPR-compliant deployment with data stored exclusively in AWS Ireland/Germany. Separate European accounts for data residency.
Learn MoreSelf-Hosted Runner
Run automation on your infrastructure. Scheduled tests, imports, and mock responses from your servers.
Learn MoreIdentity Integration
Single sign-on with Okta, Microsoft Entra ID. SCIM provisioning for automatic user management.
Learn MoreRole-Based Access
Team roles, organization roles, project-level permissions. Fine-grained control over who sees what.
Learn More#1 Easiest to Use API Development Software
Ranked by real users on G2, the world's #1 B2B software review platform.
Frequently asked questions about Apidog vs ReadMe
Get answers to common questions about the differences between Apidog and ReadMe, including API documentation, API testing, mocking, debugging, CI/CD, custom domains, and AI features.
Ready to Move Beyond Readme?
Migrate your API projects in 1 click and reunite your team's workflow.