Retype
Markdown-first documentation website builder
About Retype
Retype is a command-line static site generator that turns a folder of Markdown files into a searchable, production-ready documentation website with one command. It installs through npm, yarn, or dotnet, outputs static files you can host on GitHub Pages, Netlify, Cloudflare, or any web server, and keeps your content in plain Markdown with no proprietary format. The core generator is free for personal, open-source, and commercial use, while one-time Pro and Enterprise licenses unlock branding removal, protected pages, custom themes, and navigation controls.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Builds a complete docs site from plain Markdown with a single command and almost no configuration
- Free tier has no page or project limits and allows commercial use
- One-time license pricing instead of a recurring subscription
- No vendor lock-in: content stays in Markdown and output is static files you can host anywhere
- Large set of built-in components (tabs, callouts, Mermaid, math, steps) without writing JSX or plugins
- Ships an Obsidian plugin and llms.txt generation for newer publishing workflows
Cons
- It is a CLI tool, not a hosted platform, so you handle hosting, deployment, and collaboration yourself
- Not open source, so you cannot fork or extend the generator the way you can with Docusaurus or MkDocs
- Key features such as protected pages, custom themes, and branding removal require a paid license
- Small vendor team and a small review footprint compared with larger documentation platforms
- No built-in WYSIWYG editor or in-browser editing for non-technical contributors
Key Features
One-command site builds
Run retype start in any folder with at least one .md file to generate and preview a complete documentation website locally.
Rich Markdown components
Built-in components such as tabs, callouts, cards, steps, panels, code blocks, Mermaid diagrams, KaTeX math formulas, and YouTube embeds extend plain Markdown.
Built-in full-text search
Every generated site ships with a client-side search index, with search filtering available on Pro.
Project, folder, and page configuration
A retype.yml project file plus Front Matter metadata on individual pages control navigation, icons, ordering, and layout.
Templating and partials
Scriban-based templating supports variables, includes, functions and filters, and reusable project partials.
Blogging
Retype can publish a blog alongside documentation from the same Markdown project.
Flexible static hosting
Documented deployment paths for GitHub Pages, GitHub Actions, GitLab Pages, Netlify, Cloudflare, Docker, and FTP.
Obsidian plugin and llms.txt
A Retype for Obsidian plugin publishes vault notes as a site, and Retype can generate an llms.txt file for AI crawlers.
Private and protected pages (Pro)
Pro licenses add password-protected and private pages, breadcrumbs, a configurable table of contents, backlinks, and custom themes.
Pricing
- Unlimited projects
- Unlimited pages per project
- Unlimited users
- Commercial and open-source use
- Powered by Retype branding shown
- 3 Pro projects
- 3 years of free upgrades, or +$149 for upgrades forever
- Remove Powered by Retype branding
- Private and protected pages
- Custom themes and UI labels
- Breadcrumbs, backlinks, and table of contents
- Search filtering and stack navigation mode
- Unlimited Pro projects
- 3 years of free upgrades, or +$499 for upgrades forever
- All Pro features
- Future Pro-only features
Best For
Open-source project documentation
Maintainers keep docs as Markdown in the repo and publish them to GitHub Pages through GitHub Actions for free.
Product and API documentation
Software teams generate searchable product docs with callouts, code blocks, and tabs without building a custom docs frontend.
Internal knowledge bases
Teams publish internal guides with password-protected or private pages on a Pro license and host them on their own servers.
Publishing Obsidian notes
Writers turn an Obsidian vault into a public website using the Retype for Obsidian plugin.
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