Short answer: A hosted platform starts with a free tier and a Pro plan that grows with the surface; a generated reference is exported as static files and hosted within plan limits. A larger reference does not push a static export across a per-page gate, which is the pricing difference that matters.
What the platform bill tracks
Pages, seats, and features. A free starter is a good way to begin, and a larger reference or team moves you into a paid platform plan.
What a static export tracks
| Property | Hosted platform | Static export |
|---|---|---|
| Reference size | Per-page pricing | Static files |
| Hosting | Included in plan | Hub within plan |
| Upfront work | Low | Generation |
| Exit cost | Migration | Plain files |
How to estimate
Count the operations and the pages, not just the seats. A large API reference is a large surface on a platform, and the bill reflects that. The static export is the same surface at no per-page cost.
The honest takeaway
The platform is worth it when you want the hosting and the broader docs product handled. If the reference is the main job, a portable export is the lower-cost path.
This is part of the Powerduck vs Mintlify comparison. Next, read the reference comparison.
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