ExDoc

Free#10 of 38 in Documentation Generators

Documentation generator for Erlang and Elixir projects

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At a glance

Editor score
Not yet scored
Pricing
Free plan
Best for
Elixir and Erlang documentation projects
Free plan
Yes
Paid from
None
Source inputs
Elixir, Erlang, Markdown, Livebooks, cheatsheets, plain text
Facts checked
20 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Generates HTML, Markdown, and EPUB documentation
- Includes API references, guides, search, and source links
- Integrates with Mix, Rebar3, and HexDocs workflows
Where it doesn't
- Focused on Elixir and Erlang language ecosystems
- Not a hosted commercial documentation service
- Does not include AI features

Our verdict on ExDoc

ExDoc is an open-source documentation generator built for Elixir and Erlang projects. It creates documentation from source code and configured supplementary files, including Markdown, Livebooks, cheatsheets, and plain text. Its output covers HTML, Markdown, and EPUB, with API reference pages, custom pages, guides, syntax highlighting, and configurable grouping. That makes it a strong fit for developers maintaining libraries, applications, and published language documentation within the BEAM ecosystem.

Its integration model is closely aligned with existing Elixir and Erlang workflows. Projects can use Mix, Rebar3, or ExDoc's command-line interface, while HexDocs provides a natural destination for published documentation. Version dropdowns support navigation across documentation releases, and configurable redirects help preserve paths when documentation changes. Full-text search, autocomplete, and direct links from documented entities to source code make larger API references easier to navigate.

ExDoc's scope is focused rather than broad. It provides a free, open-source generator with substantial control over output and documentation structure, but it is not a hosted commercial service and does not include AI features. Teams working primarily in Elixir or Erlang should consider it when they want API references alongside guides and other project materials, particularly when versioned documentation and source navigation matter. Teams seeking a general-purpose tool for other programming languages or a managed hosted documentation platform should choose an alternative designed for those requirements.

ExDoc pricing

Plans Free planFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.

See plans on ex-doc.hexdocs.pm

ExDoc fact sheet

Free plan	Yes
Paid from	None
Source inputs	Elixir, Erlang, Markdown, Livebooks, cheatsheets, plain text
API reference generation	Yes
Versioned documentation	Yes
CI/CD integration	Not verified
Output formats	HTML, Markdown, EPUB
Programming languages	Elixir, Erlang
Deployment	Self-hosted
Support	Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate)
Integrations	3 integrations: Mix, Rebar3, HexDocs
Pricing	Free plan
Website	ex-doc.hexdocs.pm
Facts checked	20 Sep 2026

ExDoc integrations

ExDoc lists 3 integrations on its own site.

Mix
Rebar3
HexDocs

Alternatives to ExDoc

See all ExDoc alternatives →

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