Scalar

What it is for

Scalar is an API docs + client + SDK desk: you drop in an OpenAPI file, publish a reference with a built-in REST client, then optionally generate language SDKs and host MCP servers. Use it when the job is docs, SDKs, and MCP metered by API size and editor seats, not when you need a $20 chat seat.

What makes it unique: the cover is Scalar’s own official product still — sidebar (Docs, SDKs, Registry, Client), Create a User reference, and a live POST request — not a pricing card.

Key features

• Hosted OpenAPI docs — a published reference (themes, landing pages; Pro adds Git Sync, Markdown/MDX, custom domain) (pricing). One site. Custom CSS and version deploys are Pro SKU of this.
• API Client — MIT REST client (collections, pre-request scripts, runner) on web and desktop (pricing API Client). A caller, not the docs page. gRPC / GraphQL are Coming Soon, not a product today.
• SDK generation — one language target per API from the same OpenAPI file (TypeScript, Python, Go, …) (pricing SDKs). A client library, not a page. Size is endpoints; extra SDKs are $150 or $600/mo.
• Hosted MCP servers — Pro+ deploys an MCP server from the spec (pricing Agent Scalar). A tool door, not a docs chat. Free does not include hosted MCP.
• Agent Scalar — credits that buy Docs chat messages, MCP tool calls, or reference-model tokens (pricing). A generate. Free 50 credits; Pro 500; Business 2,000. Credits do not roll.

The Registry and CLI are install / catalog. Access groups are Pro SKU of docs. Editor seats and extra SDKs are the meter. The in-page “Send request” is ops of the Client.

Who it's for

Best fit: API teams who will stay on Free $0 (3 APIs, 1 SDK ≤25 endpoints, 1 editor) during the 7-day Pro trial, then buy Pro at $150/month ($125 billed yearly) when they need Git Sync, hosted MCP, and 5 editor seats.

Pricing

Verified 2026-10-22 (Asia/Shanghai) from scalar.com/pricing. New teams get a 7-day Pro trial; after that, publishing Docs needs a paid plan.

• Free — $0. No card. 3 APIs. 1 SDK up to 25 endpoints. 1 editor seat. Hosted docs + Client + landing pages. 50 Agent credits. No hosted MCP. No Git Sync.
• Pro — $150/month or $125/month billed yearly ($1,500/year). 15 APIs. 1 SDK up to 100 endpoints. 5 editors. Custom domain, Git Sync, Markdown/MDX, access groups, hosted MCP, 500 credits.
• Business — $600/month or $500/month billed yearly ($6,000/year). 25 APIs. 1 SDK up to 250 endpoints. 10 editors. SSO, subpath hosting, 2,000 credits.
• Enterprise — custom. Unlimited APIs, RBAC, SLAs, migration, dedicated Slack.
• Extra SDKs — $150/month each (≤100 endpoints) or $600/month each (101–250). One SDK = one language × one API. Yearly extra SDKs get two months free.
• Agent credits — 1 credit = 200 MCP tool calls, 2 Docs chat messages, or 50,000 reference tokens. Included credits reset each month.

Confirm checkout; taxes follow your location. Volume discounts on Business/Enterprise.

Limitations / costs

• After the 7-day trial, publishing Docs is paid. Free still covers the Client and a small SDK.
• Credits do not roll. Extra SDKs are per language, not per API.
• A docs/SDK desk, not a Git-synced knowledge wiki. For a docs site with Git sync and an Ask bot see GitBook. For a writing-first docs generator see Mintlify.

Alternatives

• GitBook — a docs site with Git sync and an AI assistant when you do not need generated SDKs.
• Mintlify — Markdown docs when you will not host an MCP server from OpenAPI.
• n8n — a workflow canvas when the job is calling APIs, not documenting them.

Official tutorial

Official Scalar channel exists. No first-party getting-started video was listed on the channel page we fetched — link the channel, do not embed a third-party walkthrough.

Written path: scalar.com/pricing plus the public product still used as the cover.

Website

https://scalar.com

Repository

https://github.com/scalar/scalar

Source

Catalog row curated for AI Tools Nav. Cover is Scalar’s official docs/client product still (Create a User + POST). Dollars checked on scalar.com/pricing (Free $0; Pro $150/$125 yr; Business $600/$500 yr; extra SDK $150/$600).

Last verified

2026-10-22 (Asia/Shanghai) editorial check.