Stoplight Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Stoplight costs Free to $362 per month as of July 2026, with 5 plans available including a free tier. Plans: Free (free), Basic at $44/month, Startup at $113/month, and Pro Team at $362/month. Enterprise pricing is available on request. Pricing depends on your chosen tier, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: Yes
Stoplight offers 5 pricing tiers: Free, Basic, Startup, Pro Team, Enterprise. A free plan is available. Paid plans include Basic at $44/user/month, Startup at $113/user/month, Pro Team at $362/user/month. The Basic plan is individuals designing an api.
Yes, Stoplight offers a freemium plan as of July 2026. The free tier includes 1 features with limits on usage. Paid plans start at $44/user/month (Basic). Pricing verified from 2 sources by CostBench.
Stoplight offers a freemium model with limited features; upgrade to unlock more.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- Try Stoplight for free
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- First 3 users free
- OpenAPI/JSON schema visual designer
- Interactive docs
- Instant mock servers
- 14-day free trial included
- $11 per additional user when billed annually
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like First 3 users free or OpenAPI/JSON schema visual designer
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Stoplight branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Basic Plan Comparison
| Free $0 | Basic $44/user/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 1 included | 6+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | Stoplight branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Individuals starting API design for free | Individuals designing an API |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Stoplight free?
Yes, Stoplight offers a freemium plan with 1 core features included. However, there are limits on users and features that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Stoplight's free plan?
Stoplight's free plan includes: Try Stoplight for free. Key limits include basic usage caps.
03 What's NOT included in Stoplight's free plan?
The free plan excludes: First 3 users free, OpenAPI/JSON schema visual designer, Interactive docs, Instant mock servers, 14-day free trial included. You'll also have Stoplight branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Stoplight's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like First 3 users free or OpenAPI/JSON schema visual designer, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $44/user/month.
05 Is Stoplight's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Stoplight's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.