10 Best Technical Documentation Software for WordPress
Are you looking for the best technical documentation software for WordPress?
Technical documentation software helps you easily write, edit, and manage documentation inside WordPress. This enables users to get the information they need without asking for support and helps you reduce support queries.
In this article, we’ll show the best technical documentation software for WordPress that you can use for your business.
Why Use Technical Documentation Software for WordPress?
According to Harvard Business Review, over 81% of customers try to take care of issues themselves before contacting a support representative.
If customers cannot find quick answers to their basic questions, they are likelier to leave a negative review, ask for a refund, or find an alternative.
By using technical documentation software, you can provide your customers with the information they need without reaching out for technical support via contact form or phone support.
The following are some of the top reasons for using technical documentation software for your business:
1. Saves You Time + Money: With a handy documentation section, your support team spends less time answering the same questions repeatedly. Many customers find answers before even opening a support ticket. By being more efficient, you can keep your support team small and save money.
2. Improves Customer Satisfaction: Getting quick answers makes your customers happy. It also gives them the satisfaction that they can find reliable information when needed.
3. Builds Trust and Brand Loyalty: Satisfied customers are likelier to leave positive reviews about your business and recommend it to others. This trust leads them to buy more products from your business in the future.
4. Adds a 24/7 Support Rockstar to Your Team: Think of technical documentation as a support team member who works 24/7 at no additional cost to your business. It is always available, other team members can use it frequently, and you can always add new information to it.
How to Add Technical Documentation in WordPress
A WordPress website comes with two common content types: posts and pages.
Posts are published in reverse chronological order, making them less than ideal candidates for technical documentation articles. Pages are standalone content types and can be used to create technical documentation.
However, ideally, they are best suited for your business pages (services, storefront, about page, landing pages, and more).
This is where technical documentation software for WordPress comes in handy.
These tools are separate plugins or themes that add a Knowledge Base or Documentation content type to your WordPress website.
Among these tools, you can choose from several excellent options.
That being said, let’s look at the best technical documentation software you can use in WordPress.
1. Heroic Knowledge Base
Heroic Knowledge Base is the best WordPress technical documentation software on the market.
It allows you to easily add technical documentation in WordPress and sort it into categories and tags. There is no complicated setup involved.
The front end displays your documentation in an easy-to-browse layout with a prominent search bar at the top. You don’t need to write any code to get it working on your website.
The live search feature uses Ajax to show answers when users start typing. This helps your customers get to the answers much faster.
Most importantly, it works with any WordPress theme and will use its own custom templates to display the knowledge base area. This is perfect if you want to use it on your business website.
Heroic Knowledge Base also comes with a support assistant bot, which appears across your website and provides instant answers when users click it.
Want to know what your customers are struggling with? Heroic Knowledge base comes with analytics to help you gain insights into user behavior.
Pros of Using Heroic Knowledge Base
- Easy to use without any complicated setup.
- It works with any WordPress theme and can be used on an existing WordPress website.
- The live search feature helps users find articles more quickly.
- Built-in analytics allow you to track which parts of the documentation are accessed by more users, providing insights into improving your products.
- Includes a support assistant bot to help users quickly find answers
Cons of Using Heroic Knowledge Base
- It is a paid plugin with no free version. However, they do offer a 14-day risk-free money-back guarantee.
- License renews at regular pricing, which is a bit high. However, you can choose to cancel your subscription and keep the plugin.
Why We Chose Heroic Knowledge Base: Heroic Knowledgebase is the most comprehensive and easy-to-use technical documentation software for WordPress. It works with any WordPress theme, which means it can be easily used on your existing WordPress website.
We already use it for the documentation hub on the WPForms website, and our documentation team loves it.
Pricing: Starting from $149.50.
2. Groove
Groove is a powerful customer support platform that combines a knowledge base, a help desk, and live chat into one solution.
It is easy to use, and you can use it under your own domain name.
It comes with an easy design tool that allows you to choose your brand colors and upload a logo. Plus, the knowledge base pages look great on all devices and screen sizes.
Groove Knowledge Base also provides valuable insights such as article performance metrics, most searched terms, and most viewed articles. It can even make article suggestions.
Pros of Using Groove
- Easy to use and manage.
- Requires no special skills.
- It can be used alongside Goove’s customer support platform with shared inboxes, live chat, and help desk software.
- Help icon on every page, allowing users to quickly search the knowledge base and seamlessly transition to customer support.
- Customizable mobile-friendly themes.
Cons of Using Groove
- It can be a little more expensive than some software on the list.
- Data is stored on Groove servers instead of your WordPress website.
Why We Chose Groove: Technical documentation is where a customer’s support interaction begins, and they may need further help. This is where Groove can help you seamlessly transfer customers to support inboxes or live chat.
In our experience with Groove, we like its ease of use, simple interface, and self-serve widget, and how it easily integrates into every page of your website.
Pricing: Starting from $4.80 per user per month.
3. KnowAll
KnowAll is the best WordPress knowledge base theme on the market. It comes with the best WordPress technical documentation plugin called Heroic Knowledgebase.
It is the perfect solution if you are building a separate website to handle support for your business. In that case, you can use KnowAll to set up a fully functional documentation center instantly.
Pros of Using KnowAll
- Suitable if you want to make a separate website for support and documentation.
- You can customize it like any other WordPress theme.
- As a classic theme, it supports the Theme Customizer, widgets, and navigation menus.
- Comes with Heroic Knowledgebase blocks, which you can use anywhere on your site.
Cons of Using KnowAll
- It is a WordPress theme, so it wouldn’t be a good solution on a site where you are already using a different theme.
Why We Chose KnowAll: Some businesses may want to set up a separate WordPress site for support documentation. In that case, KnowAll is a ready-to-go solution that provides everything they need. Plus, it comes free with the Heroic Knowledge Base plugin, which, as mentioned, is the best technical documentation software for WordPress.
Pricing: Free with Heroic Knowledge Base plugin, starting from $149.50.
4. BetterDocs
BetterDocs stands out as a reliable WordPress knowledge base plugin, offering a blend of user-friendliness and extensive features.
It comes with pre-designed knowledge base templates tailored to work with any WordPress theme. It also integrates with popular WordPress page builders through additional widgets.
Pros of using BetterDocs
- A simple and easy-to-use technical documentation plugin for WordPress, suitable for beginners and experts alike.
- Includes pre-designed templates to work with any WordPress theme.
- It comes with additional widgets that can be used with page builder plugins.
Cons of using BetterDocs
- Using it with your existing WordPress theme may require some additional tweaks.
Why We Chose BetterDocs: We found BetterDocs to be a great tool for creating technical documentation in WordPress. It is easy to use and makes it easy for your users to find the answers using an excellent live search feature.
Pricing: Starting from $55 for a single site license.
5. weDocs
weDocs is another powerful solution for creating technical documentation in WordPress. It is easy to use and allows you to add a docs section to your existing website or a separate support website.
It includes a search feature and allows you to organize documentation in a hierarchical format. You can also use tags to sort articles into topics and subtopics. You can also sort articles with a drag-and-drop interface.
Pros of Using weDocs
- It works with existing WordPress websites and can also be used on a standalone support website.
- It lets you organize documentation in a hierarchical format. Plus, you can use tags to sort articles into topics.
- It has a drag-and-drop interface to organize documentation pages.
- Comes with an AI assistant built with ChatGPT to show relevant information automatically.
Cons of Using weDocs
- It does not come with a separate theme but has built-in templates to work with any WordPress theme. This may require a little bit of tweaking, but nothing too tricky.
Why We Chose weDocs: It is a good option if you want to organize documentation in hierarchical pages. The drag-and-drop organizer allows you to easily set up documentation architecture.
Pricing: The base plugin is available for free. Pro plans start at $47 / year.
6. Echo Knowledge Base
Echo Knowledge Base makes creating and managing documentation, FAQs, and articles easy and organized.
It has a user-friendly interface, and you can easily add, edit, and organize your content without technical know-how.
Pros of Using Echo Knowledge Base
- Allows you to organize support articles with categories and tags.
- You can use AI assistance to help write and answer questions.
- It includes multiple layout styles and shortcodes to add FAQs and support content across your website.
Cons of Using Echo Knowledge Base
- A little less beginner-friendly than other solutions on the list.
- The base free plugin doesn’t have good search experience. You’ll need to buy a paid add-on separately to add advanced search.
Why We Chose Echo Knowledge Base: If you are looking for a free solution, then Echo Knowledge Base can be a good option. It provides a good base to add documentation and you can always purchase a bundle to add more features if needed.
Pricing: The base plugin is free. You can buy add-on packs starting from $46 / year.
7. BasePress
BasePress is another simpler and easy-to-use plugin that helps you create professional-looking documentation pages and a knowledge base for your website.
It has three customizable themes, allowing you to create a visually appealing support center with minimal effort.
The advanced instant search bar helps users find answers quickly, while the drag-and-drop interface makes organizing articles into sections, categories, and tags easy.
Pros of Using BasePress
- It allows you to create multiple knowledge bases.
- Comes with article voting and analytics.
- Content restriction lets you choose who has access to documentation.
- Instant search lets users find answers quickly, you can add the search bar anywhere on your site using a shortcode.
Cons of Using BasePress
- The built-in templates may require some tweaking to work alongside your existing WordPress theme.
- Features like article voting, an advanced search bar, table of contents, etc. are available under paid plans.
Why We Chose BasePress: If you are looking for a basic free technical documentation plugin, then BasePress could be a good solution. However, if you need the features available in its premium version, you should compare it with other paid solutions on this list.
Pricing: The lite plugin is free. Pro plans start at $79 / year.
8. HelpCrunch
HelpCrunch is a multi-purpose WordPress technical documentation plugin that allows you to easily create a support website for your customers.
It allows you to organize your help documents into categories and tags easily. It also has a more accessible customizer that lets you choose the theme and background colors for your docs section.
Pros of Using HelpCrunch
- Offers a multi-channel customer support software with chat, email, and technical docs.
- Supports popular messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram to chat with customers.
- AI-powered live chat assistant helps customers find answers more quickly.
Cons of Using HelpCrunch
- It is a multi-channel, full-fledged customer support platform with email marketing, live chat support, and a knowledge base. If you are just looking for technical documentation software, this might be overkill.
- A bit pricier than other solutions on the list.
Why We Chose HelpCrunch: If you are looking for a knowledge base with built-in live chat support, then HelpCrunch can be a good solution for your business. It offers multiple ways for customers to seek help, which ensures customers can get the information they need.
Pricing: Starting from $12 monthly for each team member without emails.
9. VS Knowledge Base
VS Knowledge Base is a very simple knowledge base plugin for WordPress. It is suitable for advanced users adding documentation on a separate WordPress installation in a subfolder or subdomain.
It does not come with its own knowledge base content type but can be used with any other content type, like posts or pages.
Pros of Using VS Knowledge Base
- Extremely simple and straightforward solution to create technical documentation in WordPress.
- Use shortcodes or VS Knowledge Base widget to display documentation.
- Works with any WordPress theme.
Cons of Using VS Knowledge Base
- Since it does not use a separate content type for knowledge base articles, it will not be easy to use on an existing WordPress website.
- It lacks advanced features that many other solutions on this list offer.
Why We Chose VS Knowledge Base: For businesses that want to set up a separate WordPress install on a dedicated support site, VS Knowledge Base can be a very basic and simple solution.
Pricing: Free.
10. BSF Docs
BSF Docs is a lightweight WordPress documentation plugin. It comes with a Docs content type for adding technical documentation articles.
It offers a very basic set of features which makes it quite easy to use. There is not much for you to customize, and you can just start adding your documentation.
Pros of Using BSF Docs
- A lightweight technical documentation plugin that is super simplistic by design.
- Comes with a basic template to display technical documentation sorted by categories.
- You can create documentation articles using the Docs content type or posts/pages.
Cons of Using BSF Docs
- Lacks many of the features that are available in some other solutions on this list.
- The default templating works with most WordPress themes, but you may still need some customization.
Why We Chose BSF Docs: If you need a free plugin to create and manage your technical documentation, BSF Docs is a good solution. It includes a very helpful live search feature and works quite well with any WordPress theme.
Pricing: Free.
Bonus Tools
Adding technical documentation alone would help reduce support requests. However, you may need additional tools to ensure your customers get the best support possible.
Combining your documentation with the following tools will help you create a robust customer support system.
11. Heroic Inbox
Heroic Inbox is a WordPress helpdesk and customer support plugin from the makers of KnowAll and Heroic Knowledge Base plugins.
It allows you to manage all customer support emails and tickets inside WordPress. You can create multiple mailboxes for support, sales, partnerships, and more from the same dashboard.
With built-in user management, you can assign different mailboxes to different team members and route customer emails to the right team.
Team members can add notes only visible to your team to share information and coordinate responses.
It also pulls all customer information in the sidebar next to a conversation. You can see past support requests and customer activity when answering a ticket.
Pricing: Starts at $199.50 for the standalone plugin. However, the real value comes with their bundle package, starting at $299.50, and includes Heroic Knowledge Base.
12. WPForms
WPForms is the best WordPress form builder on the market. It allows you to create forms in WordPress, including customer support forms, feedback forms, survey polls, and more.
WPForms lets you easily allow your customers various options to contact and provide feedback. This helps you make data-driven decisions, leading to more customer satisfaction.
WPForms is a no-code solution and comes with a drag-and-drop form builder. It includes over 1600 templates for all kinds of forms your small business might need.
Pricing: Starting from $49.50. There is also a free version that you can try.
13. Nextiva
Nextiva is the best business phone service provider for small businesses. Adding a business phone number to your website gives your business credibility and gives customers an extra channel to reach out if they need help.
Nextiva allows you to share a number on multiple devices. It includes intelligent routing features to send calls to the available team members automatically.
Plus, you can choose phone numbers in different states or regions or even get a toll-free number for business.
Pricing: Starting at $14.95 /user/month.
14. LiveChat
LiveChat is the best live chat support software on the market.
A recent study by Kayako showed that more than 41% of customers prefer live chat to reach out for support.
LiveChat allows you to add live chat support to your WordPress website easily. It offers easy integration with any knowledge base software you are using.
Plus, it helps you capture leads on your website, which you can then convert into paying customers.
Pricing: Starting from $20 per month per agent.
Which Is the Best Technical Documentation Software for WordPress?
Heroic Knowledge Base is the best technical documentation software for WordPress. It is easy to use, does not require writing any code, and can be used with your existing WordPress website or WooCommerce store.
Plus, it gives you access to the KnowAll theme, which makes it even easier to create a customer support website without any modifications to your existing WordPress theme.
Not to mention that the same company offers Heroic Inbox, which lets you manage customer support right there in WordPress instead of paying third-party companies to handle email support tickets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Technical Documentation Software
1. Which software should you use to write technical documentation?
You can write technical documentation using software like Heroic Knowledge Base. This allows you to create, edit, organize, and update technical documentation easily.
2. What are some good examples of technical documentation?
You can look at the technical documentation at WPForms as an excellent example. You may also find examples in your industry or business niche and see how your competitors or similar businesses have managed their documentation and resources.
We hope this article helped you find the best technical documentation software for WordPress. You may also want to see our guide on using automation in WooCommerce to increase sales or see our guide on tracking conversions in WordPress / WooCommerce.
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
The post 10 Best Technical Documentation Software for WordPress first appeared on WPBeginner.