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MadCap Flare
Denver, Colorado, USA
What it is
MadCap Flare is an authoring and publishing platform for technical documentation, online help, knowledge bases, policies, training materials, and API documentation. Topic-based authoring and single-sourcing let teams reuse material across versions and output formats. Flare publishes responsive HTML5, print, PowerPoint, PDF, Word, SCORM, WebHelp, portals, and third-party platforms. It imports Word, Excel, Confluence, FrameMaker, RoboHelp, and DITA content, while Easy Sync can keep imported files linked to their sources. Flare Online supports browser-based review for subject matter experts and non-Flare users, concurrent authoring, and real-time collaboration. It supports Unicode, double-byte, Cyrillic, and right-to-left languages. Online analytics track topic views, searches with no results, and user behavior. The Starter desktop plan costs $3,150 a year, and a free 30-day trial requires no credit card. Flare Desktop requires Windows.
For and against
For
- Reusable topic-based single-sourcing
- Publishes to many output formats
- Browser collaboration through Flare Online
- Imports common documentation formats
- Supports right-to-left languages
Against
- No free plan
- Starter desktop plan costs $3,150 a year
- Flare Desktop requires Microsoft Windows
The verdict
MadCap Flare provides broad authoring, reuse, publishing, import, and review capabilities for documentation teams. Buyers should weigh the paid entry price and Windows requirement against Flare Online’s browser workflow.
Who it suits
It suits technical communicators, knowledge managers, documentation teams, and content developers producing reusable, multi-format documentation. Flare Online is suited to teams needing browser review and collaboration.
Plans and prices
Flare Online — Individual
1-2 authors · 20 GB cloud storage · 1 review seat per author
Read 20 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Flare Online — Team
3-5 authors · 250 GB cloud storage · 2 reviewer seats per author
Read 20 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Flare Online — Business
6+ authors · 500 GB cloud storage · 5 reviewer seats per author
Read 20 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Starter — Flare Desktop Only
Desktop only · topic-based and micro content authoring · multi-channel publishing · introductory training
Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Flare Online - Individual
1–2 authors · 1 review seat per author · 20 GB cloud storage · includes Flare Desktop for each author
Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Flare Online - Business
6+ authors · 5 reviewer seats per author · 500 GB cloud storage · onboarding for an additional fee
Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
Flare Online - Team
3–5 authors · 2 reviewer seats per author · 250 GB cloud storage · onboarding
Read 29 Sep 2026 · madcapsoftware.com
On the record
- Analytics
- Flare Online analytics can track topic views, searches with no results, and user behavior.madcapsoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Collaboration
- Flare Online supports browser-based content review by subject matter experts and non-Flare users, including concurrent authoring and real-time collaboration.madcapsoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Custom domain
- Yesmadcapsoftware.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Import
- Flare supports importing Word, Excel, Confluence, FrameMaker, RoboHelp, and DITA content, and Easy Sync can keep imported files linked to their sources.madcapsoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- The product page says Flare can publish directly to Salesforce, Zendesk, and ServiceNow, and the pricing page lists ChatGPT integration for Flare Online authoring.madcapsoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Intended audience
- MadCap describes its audience as technical communicators, knowledge managers, documentation teams, and content developers.madcapsoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Localization
- Flare supports Unicode, double-byte, Cyrillic, and right-to-left languages, including Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian.madcapsoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Platform requirement
- MadCap documentation states that Flare Desktop requires Microsoft Windows; Flare Online provides browser-based authoring and review.kb.madcapsoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Publishing
- Flare publishes to multiple formats, including responsive HTML5, high-end print, Microsoft PowerPoint, PDF, Word, SCORM, and more.madcapsoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- MadCap Flare is an authoring and publishing platform for technical documentation, online help, knowledge bases, policies, training materials, and API documentation.madcapsoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Reusable content
- Topic-based authoring and single-sourcing let teams reuse topics across different versions and output formats.madcapsoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Security certification
- MadCap’s About page displays a SOC 2 Type II Certified designation.madcapsoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Support and training
- The Desktop Starter plan lists free introductory training and unlimited technical support; Flare Online subscriptions include unlimited support and upgrades.madcapsoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Trial
- MadCap offers a free 30-day Flare trial without requiring a credit card.madcapsoftware.com · read 29 Sep 2026
