The article provides an in-depth comparison of open-source and hosted documentation tools, highlighting the trade-offs between customization and control versus speed and ease of use. Open-source tools offer significant flexibility and control over customization, allowing teams to tailor the codebase to their needs, but require substantial developer resources for setup, maintenance, and security. In contrast, hosted platforms provide quick deployment, built-in features, and less technical overhead, at the expense of customization and control. The article suggests that the choice between these options should be based on factors such as the team's technical capabilities, the need for customization, compliance requirements, and the resources available for maintenance. While open-source solutions are perceived as "free," they often entail hidden costs related to infrastructure management, whereas hosted platforms come with predictable subscription fees that might be more cost-effective in the long run. Ultimately, the decision depends on the team's specific goals and capacity, with open-source tools being ideal for those with the bandwidth to manage them and hosted solutions better suited for those prioritizing speed and reliability.