Top AI Tools for Documentation: A Complete Guide for B2B SaaS Teams

Overview

As the landscape of software development evolves, the need for efficient documentation tools has become paramount. This guide explores the top AI documentation tools available in 2026, focusing on how they enhance automation, streamline onboarding, and maintain alignment between code and documentation.

TL;DR

• Fern: Ideal for API-first teams needing synchronized SDKs and documentation.
• Apidog: Centralizes design, mocks, tests, and documentation in one platform.
• Swimm: Links documentation directly to codebases, reducing version drift.
• Guidde: Converts workflows into video guides for faster onboarding.
• Eraser: Generates architecture diagrams quickly, keeping them aligned with code.

How AI Is Changing Documentation in 2025

The shift towards AI-backed documentation is driven by the challenges faced by engineering teams as they scale. Companies like Recursion and Cohere experienced documentation lagging behind code, leading to confusion and increased support tickets. This has prompted a move towards automated documentation solutions that ensure alignment between code changes and documentation updates.

What Is Docs-as-Code?

Docs-as-Code is a methodology where documentation is treated like code, stored in repositories, and updated through pull requests. This approach prevents documentation drift and ensures that documentation reflects the latest system behavior. For example, Nominal uses Fern to regenerate documentation and SDKs automatically from a single OpenAPI spec.

Why SaaS Teams Now Auto-Generate SDKs Instead of Writing Them Manually

As APIs evolve, maintaining accurate SDKs becomes increasingly challenging. Companies like Cohere and Nominal faced issues with outdated SDKs leading to customer confusion. Automated SDK generation tools read API schemas and generate SDKs that stay in sync with documentation, improving the developer experience and reducing integration issues.

Why Video SOPs Now Replace Long Text Guides

Fast-moving teams have found that video documentation is more effective than lengthy text guides. Companies like SentinelOne and FloQast have adopted video-first documentation to streamline onboarding and training. AI tools can record workflows and convert them into narrated videos, making it easier for teams to access information quickly.

Why Engineering Teams Now Prefer Diagrams Over Long Text Blocks

Visual documentation has become essential for understanding complex systems. Companies like Mathspace and Mission+ have transitioned to using diagrams instead of text-heavy documentation. AI tools can generate diagrams from natural language descriptions or code snippets, ensuring that visual documentation is versioned alongside the code.

Deep Dive: How API and Documentation Tools Fit Into Engineering Workflows

Fern: Automating Documentation and SDKs

Fern is designed for API teams that need to automate documentation and SDK generation. It reads API specs and generates documentation and SDKs in multiple languages, ensuring consistency and reducing manual overhead. With Fern, teams can maintain a single source of truth for their API definitions, leading to a predictable developer experience.

Apidog: Centralizing API Design and Documentation

Apidog streamlines the API lifecycle by keeping design, testing, and documentation in one workspace. This approach allows teams to create interactive documentation and mock servers from the API design, reducing integration issues and improving collaboration between frontend and backend teams.

Swimm: Linking Documentation to Codebases

Swimm helps teams maintain up-to-date documentation by linking it directly to the codebase. This tool allows developers to write and update documentation within their IDE, ensuring that it evolves alongside the code and reducing onboarding time.

Guidde: Creating Video Guides from Workflows

Guidde enables teams to convert repetitive workflows into video guides, making internal training more efficient. This tool records workflows and generates step-by-step videos, allowing support teams to provide clear instructions without lengthy text documents.

Eraser: Generating Architecture Diagrams

Eraser allows teams to create architecture diagrams quickly from natural language prompts or code snippets. This tool ensures that diagrams are versioned alongside the code, providing clarity during feature releases and reducing misunderstandings.

Conclusion

The integration of AI tools in documentation processes is transforming how B2B SaaS teams manage their workflows. By adopting tools like Fern, Apidog, Swimm, Guidde, and Eraser, teams can enhance their documentation practices, reduce onboarding time, and maintain alignment between code and documentation. As the industry continues to evolve, leveraging these AI-driven solutions will be crucial for staying competitive and efficient.

Frequently Asked Questions

For more insights and specific queries about these tools, feel free to explore the original article here.