Documentation, such as manuals and guides, provide users with instructions in order to make better use of a product or service. A product’s documentation has many forms, such as videos, lists, and other media.
Documentation plays an important role in the relationship between marketer and consumer since good documentation shows the marketer’s care for the consumer’s experience.
Documentation also eliminates the need for consumers to contact customer support. Statistics show most people prefer using a user manual to calling customer support for help.
How can you easily create documentation for your product? A WordPress documentation plugin helps with customer support services. Plugins help create documentation that will attract more customers and reduce support requests.
Here are 15 free and premium WordPress documentation plugins:
Free WordPress Documentation Plugins
Memphis Documents Library
Memphis Documents Library is a WordPress documentation plugin that is useful for organizing and distributing files. It includes many features that create documentation.
Some features include:
- Batch upload of files
- Preview and thumbnails available
- Ability to show files on other websites
- View and revise older versions
- Referential file methodology so that a file can be updated but the link stays the same
- Social media buttons
- File search
weDocs
weDocs is a WordPress documentation plugin from weDevs. weDevs has created other popular plugins like Dokan Multivendor and WP User Frontend Pro. This plugin is a simple tool for creating and organizing documentation. The design is practical and simple. Users can add custom CSS to tailor and enhance their appearance.
Features of this plugin include:
- Organize the documentation with categories and tags
- Change the order of documents by dragging-and-dropping
- Add a search option and a table of contents with widgets
- Receive documents from external sites
- Simple front-end appearance
Embed Any Document
Embed Any Document allows users to embed documentation without using a third-party browser plugin. It uses Google Docs Viewer or Microsoft Office Online to display documents. Simply clicking Add Document, uploads documents into the media library.
Some more features are:
- Responsive on mobile devices
- Cross-browser compatible
- Clean UI
Echo Knowledge Base
This plugin by Echo Plugins is a knowledge base for documentation and FAQ’s. It is useful for creating professional and customizable documentation. It is flexible, simple, multifaceted, and produces professional results. Add-ons are available to extend the free version’s features.
Several of its powerful features include:
- Organize articles by category, alphabetically, chronologically, or in any other order
- Wizard with twenty-six preset themes with different layouts, colors, and fonts
- Five hundred icons
- Instant search feature
- Table of contents
- Add tags and breadcrumbs, back buttons, and more
- Users choose the URL
- Coded for SEO
- Responsive design
- Sixteen color schemes
Simple Documentation
Simple Documentation is a plugin that provides a simple way to create documentation that allows users to share four different types of content. They are links, videos, notes, or files.
Features include:
- Add, edit and delete content
- Choose the number of items displayed on a page
- Customize the widget title and welcome text
WP Help
WP Help is a plugin powered by custom post types that helps users create, edit and arrange documentation with WordPress. It is especially practical for many clients using multiple sites since document changes are automatically updated.
More features include:
- Customization
- Organization
- Updates
Smarty Pants Plugins
SmartyPants Project and Document Manager is another free plugin with many useful and powerful features. This plugin allows users to create, manage, and organize several types of documentation. These include documents, records, files, videos, images, and more.
Its list of features include:
- Manage and upload an unlimited number of files
- Unlimited folders and subfolders for organization
- Security features requiring a login to download files
- Advanced email editor to customize emails
- Manage files remotely
Freemium WordPress Documentation Plugins
BetterDocs
BetterDocs is a plugin with a clean, comprehensive interface made by the creators of Essential Addons for Elementor and WP Scheduled Posts. Users can start by using the free version, and the premium version offers more features.
The top features of the free version are:
- Premade templates
- Shortcodes and widgets to customize documentation pages
- Live search so visitors can find the exact documents they need
- Automatic table of contents for easy navigation
- Drag-and-drop organization
Some premium features include:
- An answer bot helps visitors search documentation through a live chat widget
- Analytics track and evaluate page views
- Create multiple knowledge bases
Documentor
Documentor is also a popular plugin that helps create WordPress documents and manuals. It has a free and premium version. It is an excellent plugin for beginners because of its intuitive design. This plugin was made to save developers’ time. It allows users to create professional documentation in a short amount of time with full customization.
Additional features of the free version include:
- Add sections as posts or pages
- Customize color and font
- Embed documentation files to a website by default
- Reorder or delete sections
- Custom links
The premium version includes:
- Multiple skins
- Live preview for editing
- Unlimited documentations
Premium WordPress Documentation Plugins:
Document
This premium WordPress documentation plugin builds and maintains manuals and guides. It is used to create product and service manuals as well as for frequently asked questions (FAQs) and internal company documentation.
Features of this plugin are:
- Multiple documentation pages
- Voting feature
- Responsive design for all mobile devices
- Custom CSS field
- Automatic sidebar navigation updates based on scrolling
Help Scout
HelpScout Docs Portal is a plugin that uses the latest HelpScout API and connects to a user’s knowledge base. This plugin displays knowledge base articles on WordPress posts and pages with shortcodes. This plugin is useful for a help center, an FAQ page, and a knowledge base hub.
Features of this plugin include the following:
- Organized to show the whole content of collections and categories
- User can create multiple knowledge bases
- Documentation embedded into product pages
- Search feature
X Docs WordPress Product Documentation Creator
This WordPress documentation plugin allows users to create online and offline documents with ease, without having to download extra themes.
The features of this plugin are:
- Create multiple documents
- Convert to PDF
- Export HTML and CSS
- Multiple themes available
Knowledge Base by PressApp
This is an advanced plugin for creating documentation to decrease customer service requests and lower customer support costs. It is useful for creating knowledge bases, FAQ documents, internal company documents, and more.
The top features include:
- Drag-and-drop organizer
- Gutenberg blocks ready
- Custom slugs
- Live search
- Responsive design
Helpie
Helpie is a WordPress documentation plugin that helps teams create product documentation, knowledge base, and Wiki websites. It provides tools to streamline collaboration, organization, and updating of documents for the team.
Some features included are:
- Analytics, insights, and actionable feedback
- Frontend editing
- Live search with instant results
- Interactive table of contents on every article page
- Control of who can view, edit, and publish content
- Branding and styling options
- Widgets and shortcodes for customization
- Translation ready
WP Clever FAQ Builder
This plugin allows users to create FAQ pages. It provides multiple ways to present the content, including classical formats or complex formats. The purpose of this tool is to provide customers with specific answers to their questions.
More features include:
- Unlimited number of FAQ’s
- Customizable
- Customers can ask new questions if they can’t find the answer
- Drag-and-drop organize feature
- Responsive to mobile devices
- Intuitive backend
- Shortcode and visual composer integration
Heroic Knowledge Base Plugin
Heroic Knowledge Base Plugin is well-known and used by popular websites and businesses, like USC, Pagely, and crazyegg. This plugin allows users to create a knowledge base that provides instant answers to consumers’ questions. It is a flexible, well-coded, developer-friendly plugin with a high rating from users.
Some of the other powerful features are:
- Article feedback allowing consumers to rate articles helpful or not
- Analytics to help improve the content
- Drag-and-drop feature to organize and reorder content
- Attach downloadable files to articles
- Widgets for customization
- Mobile friendly
- Categories and tags
- Custom slugs
- Regular updates
FAQ on WordPress documentation plugins
WordPress help guide – What’s That?
Ah, so you stumbled upon the vast world of WordPress. WordPress help guides are just your compass in this journey. They provide easy-to-follow instructions for using themes, plugins, and other features. Think of it as your handy user manual, but digital.
Documentation Builder for WordPress: Worth it?
Absolutely. If you’re looking to create structured, accessible, and user-friendly content, then a documentation builder can be your best buddy. Especially for businesses or folks with a technical product, it streamlines the whole “How do I do this?” saga. It’s like building your own Wikipedia for your site.
WP knowledge base plugins – Why Do I Need One?
Oh, my friend, these plugins are your mini university! Imagine having a space on your website where users can dive deep, learn, and find answers. With WP knowledge base plugins, you’re equipping users with knowledge. It’s all about empowerment and reducing those pesky support tickets.
Is the User Manual Plugin a Real Thing?
Yup! Think about every gadget you’ve bought. Remember the little booklet? Now, translate that to your website. A user manual plugin is that booklet but for your web visitors. A clear path showing them the ropes, from A to Z.
Why are WordPress tutorials plugins catching the trend?
With the rise of DIY-ers and folks wanting to take control of their digital space, WordPress tutorials plugins have become the thing. They help users, especially beginners, navigate through the complexities of the platform. It’s like having a friend guide you step-by-step.
How does the Support Documentation differ from Regular Content?
Good one! While regular content entertains or informs, support documentation specifically helps users troubleshoot or understand a feature. It’s the nitty-gritty, the technical, and the precise. Think of it as the “help” section of software or the back of a medicine bottle – crucial info!
Product Guide Plugins: Are they just for e-commerce?
Nope, not at all! While e-commerce sites can benefit hugely, any website with a product or service can use product guide plugins. Be it software, digital products, or even workshops – guiding your user is always a win-win.
FAQ Manager for WordPress: Overhyped?
Not in the slightest. An FAQ manager helps compile those burning questions and clears confusion. It’s like having a mini-support agent on your site, always ready. For businesses, it’s a game-changer, reducing the time spent answering repetitive questions.
Wiki-Style Plugins for WordPress: Just a Fad?
Well, it might sound fancy but wiki-style plugins have substance. They provide structure, make content interconnected, and offer depth – a lot like Wikipedia. For content-heavy sites or ones with lots of interconnected topics, it’s a blessing.
Onboarding Guide Plugins – Just for Newbies?
Primarily, yes. But, oh, the value they bring! Onboarding guide plugins are your website’s welcome mat. They make newcomers feel right at home, showing them around, introducing features, and making that first impression count. But even seasoned users might discover something new. It’s like revisiting a city and finding hidden alleys.
Ending thoughts on these WordPress documentation plugins
Documentation is effective for providing better customer service and morale. Good documentation answers consumer’s questions and properly explains the use of a product or service. Documentation saves money and time spent attending to many customer service calls. Since customer service is valued, documentation attracts more consumers.
Using a WordPress documentation plugin is the best way to create and organize documentation. The above plugins are the top free and premium documentation plugins available. Businesses of all sizes can benefit from these documentation plugins and their powerful features. All of the plugins above successfully produce professional documentation that will satisfy customers.
If you enjoyed reading this article on WordPress documentation plugins, you should check out this one about WordPress table of contents plugins.
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