# Best Enterprise Help Authoring Tools (HAT) *By [Adam Crivello](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/adam-crivello)* Products classified in the overall Help Authoring Tool (HAT) category are similar in many regards and help companies of all sizes solve their business problems. However, enterprise business features, pricing, setup, and installation differ from businesses of other sizes, which is why we match buyers to the right Enterprise Business Help Authoring Tool (HAT) to fit their needs. Compare product ratings based on reviews from enterprise users or connect with one of G2's buying advisors to find the right solutions within the Enterprise Business Help Authoring Tool (HAT) category. In addition to qualifying for inclusion in the Help Authoring Tools (HAT) category, to qualify for inclusion in the Enterprise Business Help Authoring Tools (HAT) category, a product must have at least 10 reviews left by a reviewer from an enterprise business. ## How Many Help Authoring Tools (HAT) Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 56 ### Category Stats (Jun 2026) - **Average Rating**: 4.02/5 The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings - **Top Trending Product**: ClickHelp (+0.004) - Among all products in this category, ClickHelp recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month *Last updated: June 01, 2026* ## How Does G2 Rank Help Authoring Tools (HAT) Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 1,700+ Authentic Reviews - 56+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. --- **Sponsored** ### Document360 Document360 is an AI-powered knowledge base platform for enterprises needing secure, scalable documentation. It centralizes organizational knowledge into one workspace, including public help centers, internal wikis, SOPs, user manuals, API docs, or product playbooks. Who It's For By Role: Support teams (deflect tickets), technical writers (publish faster), product managers (align teams), engineers (document APIs and workflows). By Industry: SaaS, IT & consulting, finance, healthcare, education, manufacturing. Key Capabilities: 1. Editors: Markdown and WYSIWYG with real-time previews and drag-and-drop media. 2. Step-by-Step Guides: Capture on-screen actions to create editable interactive guides. 3. Category Manager: Drag-and-drop content organization. 4. Interactive Demos: Clickable walkthroughs embedded in articles. 5. Custom Workflows: Automate reviews, roles, and approvals. 6. Pro Analytics: Track performance, engagement, search trends, and ticket deflection. 7. Brand Customization: Tailor design, layout, and themes. 8. Security: SOC 2 and GDPR-aligned; SSO, JWT, SAML, IP restriction. 9. Localization: 50+ languages. Powered by Eddy AI: 1. AI Search: ChatGPT-style answers from your docs for instant self-service. 2. AI Writing Agent: Generate structured docs from video, audio, text, or prompts. 3. AI Chatbot: 24/7 documentation-driven support that cuts costs. 4. AI Glossary Generator: Auto-creates glossaries for complex terms. 5. Article Summarizer: Condenses long docs into bite-sized summaries. 6. MCP Server: Connects your knowledge base to LLMs. 7. Duplicate Content Detection: Flags redundancy with precision. 8. SEO Automation: Auto-generates titles, tags, and glossaries for discoverability. Whether scaling support, streamlining internal knowledge, or building world-class product docs, Document360 brings it all together in one platform. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=317&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=317&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=page_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=317&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=60129&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=317&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fhelp-authoring-tool-hat%2Fenterprise&secure%5Btoken%5D=153cedec7ac8900fc36904f0d4932787ec2e849a599818ec362242da428dbc69&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fdocument360.com%2F%3Futm_source%3Dg2%26utm_medium%3Dppc%26utm_campaign%3DG2clicks&secure%5Burl_type%5D=custom_url) --- ## What Are the Top-Rated Help Authoring Tools (HAT) Products in 2026? ### 1. [MadCap Flare](https://www.g2.com/products/madcap-flare/reviews) Empowering teams to create, manage, and deliver exceptional content at scale MadCap Flare is the go-to solution for technical content teams that need to streamline workflows and deliver consistent, high-quality content across every channel. Trusted by documentation, training, and knowledge management professionals worldwide, Flare combines the precision of XML-based authoring with the flexibility of multi-channel publishing—all from a single, centralized platform. Why leading teams rely on Flare: Scalable, topic-based authoring: XML-based structure ensures precision and scalability for complex documentation projects. Single-source publishing: Manage all outputs from one project to eliminate redundancy and simplify updates. Multi-channel delivery: Publish effortlessly to self-service portals, online Help, documentation hubs, and training guides. Advanced content reuse: Reuse variables, snippets, and conditions to save time and maintain accuracy. Real-time collaboration with Flare Online: Co-author, review, and manage content simultaneously in the cloud—no check-in delays or version conflicts. Integrated translation management: Accelerate localization and expand your global reach. Flexible publishing formats: Deliver content in HTML5, PDF, Word, SCORM, and more to meet diverse audience needs. Proven ROI: Cut production costs, speed release cycles, and boost customer satisfaction. What sets Flare apart: Unlike traditional content management tools, Flare is purpose-built for technical content teams—offering unmatched flexibility, control, and scalability. With Flare Online, teams gain cloud-based collaboration and instant publishing capabilities for faster, more connected workflows. Together, they form a unified platform for creating, managing, and delivering knowledge at scale—ensuring efficiency, brand consistency, and an exceptional user experience. That’s why thousands of organizations trust Flare to power their global content strategy.gy." **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 483 **How Do G2 Users Rate MadCap Flare?** - **Ease of Use:** 7.4/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Ease of Admin:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) **Who Is the Company Behind MadCap Flare?** - **Seller:** [MadCap Software](https://www.g2.com/sellers/madcap-software) - **Company Website:** https://www.madcapsoftware.com - **Year Founded:** 2005 - **HQ Location:** Denver, CO - **Twitter:** @MadCapSoftware (1,678 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/69797/ (120 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** Technical Writer, Senior Technical Writer - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 52% Mid-Market, 29% Enterprise #### What Are MadCap Flare's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Customer Support (4 reviews) - Ease of Use (4 reviews) - Content Management (2 reviews) - Customization (2 reviews) - Efficiency (2 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (3 reviews) - Difficulty (1 reviews) - Expensive (1 reviews) - Learning Difficulty (1 reviews) - Performance Issues (1 reviews) ### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About MadCap Flare? *AI-generated summary from verified user reviews* **Pros:** - Users appreciate the **exceptional customer support** of MadCap Flare, enabling efficient resolutions and enhancing their documentation experience. - Users commend the **exceptional ease of use** of MadCap Flare, enhancing efficiency in documentation and support tasks. - Users appreciate the **user-friendly content management** of MadCap Flare, enhancing efficiency in authoring and documentation tasks. - Users value the **extensive customization options** of MadCap Flare, allowing tailored documentation to meet specific needs. - Users value the **efficiency** of MadCap Flare, celebrating its user-friendly design and streamlined content management tools. **Cons:** - Users face a **steep learning curve** with MadCap Flare, making it challenging to remember processes between uses. - Users find MadCap Flare's **complexity** challenging, especially when not used regularly, but can adapt with practice. - Users find the **cost prohibitive** for attending MadCap's conferences, wishing for more affordable online options. - Users find **learning difficulty** in MadCap Flare can be challenging, especially without regular practice between projects. - Users report **performance issues** with MadCap Flare, experiencing slowdowns and lag during builds on large projects. #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of MadCap Flare? **"[Powerful Tool Once Mastered, Excellent Collaboration Features](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/madcap-flare-review-12862315)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Warren K.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/madcap-flare-review-12862315) --- **"[Single-Sourcing with MadCap Flare for Content Creation & Maintenance = Flexibility & Time Savings](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/madcap-flare-review-7029866)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Mary M.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/madcap-flare-review-7029866) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About MadCap Flare? - [What is MadCap Flare used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/madcap-flare-what-is-madcap-flare-used-for) - [How do I publish on MadCap Flare?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-i-publish-on-madcap-flare) - [Is MadCap Flare cloud-based?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-madcap-flare-cloud-based) - 2 comments - [How much does MadCap Flare cost?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-much-does-madcap-flare-cost) - 1 comment - [How much is MadCap Central?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-much-is-madcap-central) - 2 comments ### 2. [Adobe RoboHelp](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-robohelp/reviews) Adobe RoboHelp 11 software empowers you to deliver differentiated content for different screens using multiscreen HTML5. Generate stunning responsive HTML5 output with a single click, even for legacy projects, or publish content in EPUB 3, KF8, and MOBI formats. **Average Rating:** 4.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 36 **How Do G2 Users Rate Adobe RoboHelp?** - **Ease of Use:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Ease of Admin:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 7.1/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Adobe RoboHelp?** - **Seller:** [Adobe](https://www.g2.com/sellers/adobe) - **Year Founded:** 1982 - **HQ Location:** San Jose, CA - **Twitter:** @Adobe (956,842 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1480/ (42,087 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ:ADBE **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** Technical Writer, Senior Technical Writer - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 50% Mid-Market, 29% Enterprise #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Adobe RoboHelp? **"[Adobe RoboHelp - Good HAT](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/adobe-robohelp-review-4341687)"** **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars *— Ankush A.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/adobe-robohelp-review-4341687) --- **"[great for policies and procedures manual due to its search capabilities](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/adobe-robohelp-review-4960841)"** **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars *— Verified User in Banking* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/adobe-robohelp-review-4960841) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Adobe RoboHelp? - [What is Adobe RoboHelp used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/adobe-robohelp-what-is-adobe-robohelp-used-for) - [How do I install Adobe RoboHelp?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-i-install-adobe-robohelp) - [What is RoboHelp server?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-robohelp-server) - [How much does RoboHelp cost?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-much-does-robohelp-cost) - [What is Adobe RoboHelp used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-adobe-robohelp-used-for) - 1 comment ### 3. [Document360](https://www.g2.com/products/document360/reviews) Document360 is an AI-powered knowledge base platform for enterprises needing secure, scalable documentation. It centralizes organizational knowledge into one workspace, including public help centers, internal wikis, SOPs, user manuals, API docs, or product playbooks. Who It's For By Role: Support teams (deflect tickets), technical writers (publish faster), product managers (align teams), engineers (document APIs and workflows). By Industry: SaaS, IT & consulting, finance, healthcare, education, manufacturing. Key Capabilities: 1. Editors: Markdown and WYSIWYG with real-time previews and drag-and-drop media. 2. Step-by-Step Guides: Capture on-screen actions to create editable interactive guides. 3. Category Manager: Drag-and-drop content organization. 4. Interactive Demos: Clickable walkthroughs embedded in articles. 5. Custom Workflows: Automate reviews, roles, and approvals. 6. Pro Analytics: Track performance, engagement, search trends, and ticket deflection. 7. Brand Customization: Tailor design, layout, and themes. 8. Security: SOC 2 and GDPR-aligned; SSO, JWT, SAML, IP restriction. 9. Localization: 50+ languages. Powered by Eddy AI: 1. AI Search: ChatGPT-style answers from your docs for instant self-service. 2. AI Writing Agent: Generate structured docs from video, audio, text, or prompts. 3. AI Chatbot: 24/7 documentation-driven support that cuts costs. 4. AI Glossary Generator: Auto-creates glossaries for complex terms. 5. Article Summarizer: Condenses long docs into bite-sized summaries. 6. MCP Server: Connects your knowledge base to LLMs. 7. Duplicate Content Detection: Flags redundancy with precision. 8. SEO Automation: Auto-generates titles, tags, and glossaries for discoverability. Whether scaling support, streamlining internal knowledge, or building world-class product docs, Document360 brings it all together in one platform. **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 511 **How Do G2 Users Rate Document360?** - **Ease of Use:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Ease of Admin:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Document360?** - **Seller:** [Kovai Limited](https://www.g2.com/sellers/kovai-limited) - **Company Website:** https://www.kovai.co/ - **Year Founded:** 2009 - **HQ Location:** London - **Twitter:** @BizTalk360 (1,920 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/kovaico/ (333 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** Technical Writer, Senior Technical Writer - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 46% Mid-Market, 39% Small-Business #### What Are Document360's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Ease of Use (46 reviews) - Features (31 reviews) - Customer Support (29 reviews) - Helpful (27 reviews) - User Interface (27 reviews) **Cons:** - Missing Features (11 reviews) - Editing Difficulties (10 reviews) - Editing Limitations (9 reviews) - Expensive (9 reviews) - Limited Customization (9 reviews) ### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Document360? *AI-generated summary from verified user reviews* **Pros:** - Users find Document360's **ease of use** exceptional, enhancing customization and simplifying the content management process. - Users appreciate the **versatility and customization** of Document360, enhancing the documentation experience significantly. - Users commend the **fast and efficient customer support** of Document360, enhancing the overall experience and satisfaction. - Users value the **versatility and customization** of Document360, enhancing their documentation experience significantly. - Users appreciate the **versatile and customizable interface** of Document360, allowing seamless integration and user-friendly access. **Cons:** - Users feel the **missing features** like improved visual editing and better multi-section copying hinder their experience. - Users face **editing difficulties** , including lag with long documents and disorganized formatting, complicating their editing process. - Users find the **editing limitations** of Document360 frustrating, mentioning issues with image uploads and tool clunkiness. - Users find Document360's pricing to be **expensive** , limiting access to essential features and functionality for collaboration. - Users find the **limited customization** options in Document360 challenging, particularly for those without technical backgrounds. #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Document360? **"[Our users having great experience through the Document 360 knowledge base.](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/document360-review-11366095)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Atul B.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/document360-review-11366095) --- **"[Simplifying Documentation Management with Document360](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/document360-review-12229699)"** **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars *— Vignesh S.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/document360-review-12229699) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Document360? - [What is Document360 used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-document360-used-for) - 1 comment ### 4. [Docsie](https://www.g2.com/products/docsie/reviews) Docsie is an innovative documentation management tool designed for ease of use and efficiency. It stands out with its AI-powered features, enabling automated content creation and updates. Ideal for technical writers, product managers, and developers, Docsie supports multi-language documentation and integrates seamlessly into various workflows. It is particularly popular in the manufacturing sector for its ability to handle extensive product manuals and technical documents. With Docsie, businesses can significantly streamline their documentation processes, improving overall productivity and user experience. You can access Docsie through a SaaS web application to create and edit documentation from any location. Then, you can publish content to a dynamic knowledge portal that end-users and employees can access whenever they need information! Docsie offers a range of powerful business-grade features to help you write and manage product documentation with ease. Onboarding Service: • Free onboarding with Docsie Pilot to import your content and help you get the most value from the platform. • Get help with custom portal design, and an optional training session so your employees can maximize their productivity in Docsie. Knowledge Base and Documentation Portal: • Internal knowledge portals to share self-service knowledge with employees. • External customer knowledge bases to share self-service help documentation and reduce customer support workloads. • Built-in knowledge base statistics and documentation feedback surveys with Docsie Vocally. • Use the default Docsie portal design or deploy a custom knowledge base design based on your brand style and image. • A free custom domain on the free plan for everyone, with additional domains available on paid plans. • Deploy knowledge portals using Docsie hosting, custom deployments, or on-premise instances (Organization plan) Documents and Content Editor: • Support for Markdown syntax and import or export Markdown content. • Docsie Editor allows you to create content in a WYSIWYG editor that supports rich text formatting, emoji symbols, section headers, tables and lists, image and video, iFrame embedded content, tooltip callouts, code snippets, URL hyperlinks • Grammar or spell checking with a configurable rule-based content linter. • Create API documentation, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and technical documents from scratch or with built-in templates. • Create your own snippet and fragment templates to reuse content across your documents with one click. Help Centers and In-App Help Interfaces: • Deploy help centers and in-app support interfaces to share contextual point-in-time help documentation with end-users using a HTML footer script. • Create product and software guided tours to walk end-users through step-by-step workflows. • Add in-app help interfaces to your web application so users can access documentation on the same page. Languages, Versions, and Translations: • Version management allows end-users to view historical documentation in your knowledge base via canonical URLs rather than duplicate pages. • Language management and extended localization helps you automate the deployment of multilingual content without the need for professional translators. • Ghost AI language translation converts source documents automatically to the target language. Docsie AI translation supports these languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese, Danish, Swedish, Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese. Collaboration and Project Management: • Create workspaces for each team, business department, or product and service in your portfolio and organize your content. • Add comments, notes, and tasks to documents and tag team members to assign tasks. • Project management tools based on Agile working methodologies, with Kanban style status indicators for Draft-Review-Approval, per task user assignment, due dates and timelines, and target document or topic selection. • Webhook support enables you to share updates when content is created, edited, deleted, and published in Slack, Mattermost and other business IM tools. Security, Compliance, User Roles, and Data Protection: • Role-based access controls (RBAC) and granular permissions for each workspace. • JWT token authentication with strict and lax options. • Temporary passwords to enable access for contractors and freelancers. • Single sign on via corporate SSO, Google, LinkedIn, or Microsoft logins. **Average Rating:** 4.8/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 115 **How Do G2 Users Rate Docsie?** - **Ease of Use:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Ease of Admin:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.7/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Docsie?** - **Seller:** [Docsie](https://www.g2.com/sellers/docsie) - **Company Website:** https://www.docsie.io/ - **Year Founded:** 2022 - **HQ Location:** Ontario, Canada - **Twitter:** @likalo_llc (18,887 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/likalo/ (17 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Who Uses This:** Technical Writer, Project Manager - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Management Consulting - **Company Size:** 78% Small-Business, 19% Enterprise #### What Are Docsie's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Centralization (1 reviews) - Collaboration (1 reviews) - Content Management (1 reviews) - Document Management (1 reviews) - Ease of Use (1 reviews) **Cons:** - Integration Issues (1 reviews) - Lack of Integrations (1 reviews) - Learning Curve (1 reviews) - Learning Difficulty (1 reviews) - Limitations (1 reviews) ### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Docsie? *AI-generated summary from verified user reviews* **Pros:** - Users value the **centralization of documentation** in Docsie, enhancing collaboration and streamlining the management process. - Users value the **seamless collaboration features** of Docsie, enhancing teamwork and efficiency in documentation processes. - Users value how Docsie offers **centralized content management** , enhancing collaboration and efficiency for all team members. - Users love how Docsie offers **centralized documentation management** , enhancing collaboration and usability for all team members. - Users love the **intuitive interface** of Docsie, making documentation creation and management efficient and collaborative. **Cons:** - Users find **integration issues** with Docsie, particularly lacking connections to popular tools like Jira and Slack. - Users feel the **lack of integrations** with popular tools like Jira and Slack limits Docsie's overall functionality. - Users note a **steep learning curve** when starting with Docsie, particularly with its advanced features and UI elements. - Users find a noticeable **learning difficulty** with Docsie, particularly regarding advanced features and intuitive UI elements. - Users face a **learning curve** with Docsie, especially regarding advanced features and intuitive UI elements. #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Docsie? **"[Docsie revolutionized our communication, documentation, and onboarding.](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/docsie-review-7745349)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Nora D.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/docsie-review-7745349) --- **"[Docsie - A Powerful but Young Tool](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/docsie-review-9170830)"** **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars *— Dillon C.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/docsie-review-9170830) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Docsie? - [What is Docsie used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-docsie-used-for) - 1 comment ## What Is Help Authoring Tools (HAT)? [Development Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/development) ## What Software Categories Are Similar to Help Authoring Tools (HAT)? - [Knowledge Base Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/knowledge-base-software) --- ## How Do You Choose the Right Help Authoring Tools (HAT)? ### What You Should Know About Help Authoring Tools (HAT)? ### What are Help Authoring Tools (HAT)? Help authoring tools (HAT) are programs designed to assist technical writers in designing, publishing, and maintaining software help documentation. The resulting text is used in explanation guides, FAQs, manuals, and help files. They are aimed at reducing the time and effort needed when creating assistance materials for both employees and end users. Many help authoring tools (HAT) also provide the functionalities of [knowledge base software](https://www.g2.com/categories/knowledge-base), which allows technical writers to maintain and update a central knowledge base containing all software help text that they created about their product. This knowledge base, which is often a user-accessible web page or document, can be updated as soon as technical writers add new text or images. Despite being used by specialized technical writers, HATs are often considered development tools since they allow development teams to create and maintain help documentation for their existing software products and any new features that might be added. Technical writers use help authoring tools to create software help documents and online help resources from start to finish. With these programs, they can write, edit, and export documents to be shared with editors, administrators, and other coworkers. Depending on the documentation tool used, creators can even design images or simply use a screen capture feature to supplement their software help text and enrich the user experience. When the documentation is in a user-ready state, the help authoring tool allows writers to publish the documentation digitally. In some cases, HATs also allow teams to manage other aspects of their customers’ self-help experiences. For example, some tools allow product teams to create and embed widgets at various points in the user journey, guiding the user towards a software help knowledge base if needed. Most HATs allow technical writers to centralize their software help documentation in a single database, which can then be exported in various formats such as HTML, CHM help files, XML, PDFs, and more. Help authoring software also allows technical writers to use and update their pre-existing software program documentation by supporting various file types for import. This also provides flexibility for writers who prefer to use a separate writing tool outside of the HAT, as they can simply import the source text when it’s complete and use the HAT to design, publish, and maintain the finished product. Ultimately, HATs help companies produce, add to, and manage a single source of truth for their users’ software help needs. By streamlining the writing process and providing useful features like content collaboration and file importing, HATs help teams produce technical documentation, content for faqs, help manuals, and more. **What Does HAT Stand For?** HAT stands for Help Authoring Tool. However, HATs can extend beyond documentation authoring to allow teams to manage various aspects of their customers’ software program self-help experiences. ** ** ### What are the Common Features of Help Authoring Tools (HAT)? The following are some core features within help authoring tools (HAT) that can help users create and maintain software help documentation: **Text editing:** At their most basic, HATs provide text-editing functionality to create software help documentation. These editors will often include several features to make the help authoring process more efficient, such as templates, automated style and grammar suggestions, and more. In many cases, a HAT’s user interface will act as a full-fledged word processor. **Code editing:** Many HATs include a code view that allows front-end web developers to manipulate help documentation webpages. This type of editing usually includes HTML, CSS, and JS code editing capabilities so that technical writers can create software documentation that lives in a web-based format as opposed to a text document. Some solutions also include features for HTML help and suggestions, allowing teams to build web pages more easily. **WYSIWYG editing:** Many HATs provide WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editors, so technical writers without experience in front-end development can author and manage software documentation web pages via an intuitive visual user interface. These types of editors can also be helpful for quickly adding useful images to a product’s help documentation. **File importing:** HATs allow technical writers to import source text or source code from various file formats, such as Microsoft Word documents, CHM files, HTML files, and more. The text and images from these source files can then be manipulated and managed within the HAT to produce the desired result for publication. **Content management:** While HATs are used explicitly to author and manage software help documentation, they typically share similar features with [content management systems (CMS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/content-management). Like CMS tools, HATs allow users to manage, store, and track content projects from creation to publication. The key difference is that each content project is specifically related to software explanation guides, faqs, manuals, and help files. **Templates and libraries:** Most HATs provide templates that provide base-level formatting and visual layouts for technical writers to work off of. These templates provide suggested layouts for various software help formats. Along with these templates, many HATs offer media libraries for authors to pull images, motion graphics, and more. **Content collaboration:** Help authoring software allows multiple technical writers to work on the same guides and documents concurrently. This streamlines communication about projects and enables efficient productivity in a remote environment. HATs’ content collaboration capabilities include version control systems; meaning teams can keep track of historical changes and revert to older versions of their documentation when necessary. ### What are the Benefits of Help Authoring Tools (HAT)? The common benefits of help authoring tools (HAT) include: **Scalability:** Software providers must supplement their products with a lot of documentation to guide their users. From simple user guides to complex technical documentation for APIs, user knowledge management must be constantly considered and supported as a company adds to its product lines and features. HATs make this process scalable and manageable by both importing existing documentation and providing standardized tools for adding to that documentation.  **Efficiency:** Most HATs centralize all of a company’s technical documentation, online help content, etc., to a single source. By storing all software help source files in a central database, HATs facilitate more efficient content reuse. Technical writers can manage, edit, and add to their existing documentation once, then use the HAT to choose where, when, and how that documentation is presented. In some cases, teams can even set conditional publishing standards so that different help documentation is shown to different users. This prevents teams from wasting time with repeated tasks, allowing them to focus on new documentation rather than manually managing existing content.  **Better customer support:** HATs primarily boost a company’s ability to provide helpful documentation to its customers. By curating user-friendly documentation with clear elements like a table of contents, visual aids, and more, companies empower their users to self help rather than rely on customer support channels. Having thorough self-help systems in place saves companies time and mitigates costs related to supporting their customers. ### Who Uses Help Authoring Tools (HAT)? **Technical writers:** Technical writers produce documentation to facilitate clear and thorough communication between two parties. They use HATs to create user manuals, tutorials, and other software help documentation for the benefit of their company’s employees and customers.  **Developers:** Developers can use HATs to add helpful documentation to their consumer-facing software. A common use case for developers using HATs is API documentation, which guides other developers on how to properly interface with their API. Front-end developers building software help web pages can also utilize HATs and take advantage of their HTML help suggestions to tackle issues and solve problems with their design. #### Software Related to Help Authoring Tools (HAT) Related solutions that can be used together with help authoring tools (HAT) include: [Knowledge base software:](https://www.g2.com/categories/knowledge-base) Knowledge base software stores and organizes information about businesses and their products, services, and processes in a central repository accessible by the rest of the organization. Businesses use knowledge bases to bring information from different sources, such as internal communications platforms or email software, into a self-serve digital library that acts as a single source of truth. HATs often interact with and add to a company’s help documentation stored in a central knowledge base. [Enterprise content management (ECM) systems:](https://www.g2.com/categories/enterprise-content-management-ecm) Enterprise content management (ECM) systems help companies organize, manage, and distribute unstructured content such as documents, images, health or accounting records, surveys, product information, emails, and web pages. Companies use this software to store, track, edit, and collaborate on content creation and other information-related projects. In many ways, HATs are a more narrow version of a content management system. ### Challenges with Help Authoring Tools (HAT) Software solutions can come with their own set of challenges.  **File support:** Companies onboarding a new HAT must be mindful of the tool’s supported file types. If the tool can’t seamlessly import a company’s existing help documentation, then the company is faced with the frustrating task of repeating work. Given that technical help documentation is often formatted with specific layouts in mind, especially when dealing with web pages, the process of recreating that formatting can be particularly tedious. Buyers should be mindful of which file types a prospective HAT supports, such as CHM help files, HTML files, Markdown files, and more. **Standardization:** One key element companies should strive to achieve when authoring help documentation is standardization. Employees and customers engaging with a company’s self-help systems should experience a consistent user journey to avoid confusion. A good HAT will help teams produce consistent technical writing via templates and customizable writing guidelines.  **Learning curve:** Using a new HAT can come with a learning curve, especially for newer employees in technical writing. Choosing a HAT with a smooth learning curve is important so that the efficiency gained by using the tool isn’t canceled out by the effort involved in learning it.  ### How to Buy Help Authoring Tools (HAT) #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Help Authoring Tools (HAT) G2.com can assist buyers in finding the best help authoring tool (HAT), whether a buyer is searching for HATs for the first time or looking to replace legacy software. Generally, the most important considerations are price, feature set, and file support. One of the primary purposes of HATs is to make software documentation management more convenient, so ensuring that the tool of choice can seamlessly import the company’s existing documentation is often essential. Using G2 reviews as a reference, buyers can determine the features that will best help them manage their software help documentation, ensuring a pain-free learning curve and comprehensive solution.  After narrowing down a potential pool of products, teams can then apply further considerations for budget, requirements, and more. Using this approach, buyers can move forward in the buying process with confidence, referencing their checklist in conjunction with G2 scores to find the right solution for their needs. #### Compare Help Authoring Tools (HAT) Products **Create a long list** Buyers should consider the many HAT solutions on the market. Some HATs include WYSIWYG functionality to provide technical writers with a non-developer solution to publishing web pages, while others shine in the hands of users proficient in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Buyers should consider options like these to produce a long list of potentially viable products. **Create a short list** Once a long list is created, buyers should employ a more granular approach to trim it down. Along with a matrix of must-have functionality and pricing, buyers can use G2 reviews to explore any potential advantages and disadvantages among the products they’re considering. With these factors in mind, buyers should narrow down their search to a list of three to five products. **Conduct demos** All software products on a company’s short list need to be investigated firsthand via demos to ensure that real-time functionality matches on-paper expectations. During demos, buyers should make inquiries based on the requirements gathering they’ve done prior; for example, one might ask to be walked through a HAT’s collaborative content management features to ensure the company’s needs will be met.  #### Selection of Help Authoring Tools (HAT) **Choose a selection team** Companies of any size should try to involve the most relevant personas when beginning the HAT selection process. Large companies might have the resources to include individual team members to fill roles such as project manager, decision maker, and technical writer. Smaller companies can overlap roles to compensate for their relatively fewer employees.  **Negotiation** Some vendors offer HATs that can do far more than what the buyer requires, such as full-featured web design. While some vendors may only offer an all-or-nothing package, buyers who want to optimize spending should try to negotiate a fairly priced package, including only the functionalities that matter to them. For example, a product’s pricing page could show that the buyer’s must-have features are only included with an expensive all-in-one package, whereas a sales conversation may prove otherwise.  **Final decision** To conclude the process, performing a trial run with a small pool of technical writers or developers is essential. This will aid buyers in ensuring that their chosen HAT is easy to use, integrates well with existing workflows, and meets team members’ needs. If the HAT is received well and utilized often, the buyer’s selection is probably the right one. If not, it may be time to try another product from the short list.