Silent Scribe vs Document360: Writing Assistant vs Knowledge Platform

Silent Scribe enhances your writing wherever you work. Document360 provides a complete platform to host and manage documentation. Choose based on your workflow needs—or use both together.

100% Local Processing vs Cloud Platform
$0 Writing Assistant vs $1,788+/year Knowledge Base
Works Where You Write vs Complete Hosted Solution
Silent Scribe logo

Silent Scribe

Privacy-First Writing Assistant for Technical Documentation

Writing Assistant & Browser Extension

Built specifically for developers and technical writers who need privacy-first writing assistance integrated into their docs-as-code workflow.

P

Document360

AI-Powered Knowledge Management Platform

Complete Knowledge Base Platform

Integrated AI writing assistant for Proton Mail users who need email composition help with multi-language support and privacy-conscious processing.

Last updated: October 8, 2025

The Honest Truth

These aren't competing tools—they solve fundamentally different problems. Silent Scribe is a writing assistant that works where you already write (GitHub, GitLab, web editors). Document360 is a complete platform where your documentation lives, with hosting, search, analytics, and customer portals. Many teams use both: Silent Scribe improves writing quality during drafting, Document360 provides the publishing platform. Choose based on whether you need writing assistance or a complete knowledge management system—or use both together.

Architectural Philosophy: Edge Computing vs. Cloud Platform

Understanding the fundamental architectural differences is crucial for making the right choice

100% Local Browser Processing

Silent Scribe uses WebAssembly (WASM) running entirely in your browser. When you type in GitHub's editor, the WASM engine analyzes text locally in milliseconds without any network calls. Your API documentation, internal architecture notes, and proprietary code examples never leave your browser. Works completely offline once installed.

Trust Requirements:

  • Chrome Web Store (extension distribution)
  • Your local browser security
  • Nothing else - no external servers, no third-party AI services

Technical Stack:

  • Frontend: Chrome extension with content scripts
  • Processing: Rust-based WASM module compiled for browser
  • Storage: Local browser storage for configurations
  • Network: Zero network calls for linting
  • Performance: <50ms incremental, <500ms full document
  • Resource Usage: <50MB memory, no GPU required

Cloud-Based Platform Architecture

Document360 is fundamentally cloud-based on Microsoft Azure infrastructure. All content must be uploaded to their servers. While they have SOC 2 Type II compliance and strong security, the architecture requires trusting a third-party platform with your documentation. AI features (Eddy) process content on Document360's servers using OpenAI integration.

Trust Requirements:

  • Document360/Kovai.co as company
  • Microsoft Azure infrastructure
  • OpenAI integration for AI features
  • Their security practices and compliance certifications
  • Network transmission of all documentation content

Technical Stack:

  • Infrastructure: Microsoft Azure with global distribution
  • Database: MongoDB Atlas with clustering
  • AI: OpenAI integration for GPT-based features
  • Search: Algolia for advanced search and indexing
  • CDN: Azure CDN for performance
  • Security: AES 256 encryption, SOC 2 Type II compliance

Real-World Scenarios

See exactly how each tool fits into different documentation workflows

Real-World Scenario Walkthroughs

See exactly how each tool handles common workflows in practice

A

Silent Scribe

  1. 1
    Open README.md in GitHub web editor
  2. 2
    Silent Scribe activates automatically
  3. 3
    Type installation instructions - get real-time suggestions
  4. 4
    Silent Scribe catches passive voice: "The config file should be edited" → "Edit the configuration file"
  5. 5
    Flags inconsistent terminology: mixing "config file" and "configuration file"
  6. 6
    Suggests defining acronym on first use
  7. 7
    Accept suggestions via quick-fix inline
  8. 8
    Commit changes in same PR with code updates
  9. 9
    Zero workflow disruption, zero data leaves machine
B

Document360

  1. 1
    Create Document360 account
  2. 2
    Set up knowledge base project
  3. 3
    Manually copy README content into Document360 editor
  4. 4
    Use AI writing assistant for suggestions
  5. 5
    Export/download finished content
  6. 6
    Paste back into GitHub README
  7. 7
    Commit to repository
  8. 8
    Documentation and code version histories now diverged
💡 Key Insight

Silent Scribe is purpose-built for docs-as-code workflows. Document360's architecture fundamentally conflicts with keeping documentation and code together in version control.

Comprehensive Feature Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of capabilities across all categories

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

A comprehensive breakdown of capabilities, integrations, and requirements

Writing Assistance Capabilities

Grammar & Style Checking

Silent Scribe
  • Advanced technical writing rules
  • Passive voice detection
  • Inclusive language checking
  • Clarity improvements
  • Sentence complexity analysis
Document360
Basic through Eddy AI with general writing assistance

Code-Aware Analysis

Silent Scribe
Recognizes code blocks, inline code, function names - doesn't flag as errors
Document360
Limited - primarily prose-focused

Terminology Consistency

Silent Scribe
Project-level glossary enforcement with variation detection
Document360
Manual glossary creation for user reference only

Acronym Management

Silent Scribe
First-use detection, consistency checking, over-definition warnings
Document360
Automated glossary generation from content

Custom Style Guides

Silent Scribe
Fully customizable rules, team-level configurations, Vale-compatible packages
Document360
No customizable style rules

Real-Time Suggestions

Silent Scribe
Instant feedback as you type with zero latency
Document360
AI suggestions require processing time and cloud dependency

Platform & Integration

Works Where You Write

Silent Scribe
  • GitHub, GitLab web interfaces
  • Any web editor
  • Contenteditable elements
  • Browser-based IDEs
Document360
Document360 platform only

Offline Functionality

Silent Scribe
100% offline capable once installed
Document360
Requires internet connection

Version Control Integration

Silent Scribe
Native - works directly in Git-based platforms
Document360
Export/import workflows, not native Git integration

API/Developer Tools

Silent Scribe
Chrome extension API, works with existing tools
Document360
RESTful API for platform integration

CI/CD Integration

Silent Scribe
Planned for linting enforcement in pipelines
Document360
Webhook support but not designed for CI/CD linting

Knowledge Management Features

Content Hosting

Silent Scribe
None - works with your existing platforms
Document360
Complete hosted knowledge base with custom branding

Search Functionality

Silent Scribe
Not applicable (writing assistant)
Document360
Advanced AI-powered search with Eddy conversational AI

Content Organization

Silent Scribe
Not applicable
Document360
Hierarchical categories, tagging, content relationships, version control

Publishing

Silent Scribe
Not applicable
Document360
Custom-branded documentation sites with instant publishing

Analytics

Silent Scribe
Not applicable
Document360
Comprehensive usage analytics, search analytics, ticket deflection metrics

Multi-language Support

Silent Scribe
English-focused (Phase 1)
Document360
30+ languages with localization management

Privacy & Security

Data Processing Location

Silent Scribe
100% local browser, zero cloud transmission
Document360
Cloud-based on Microsoft Azure infrastructure

Third-Party Data Sharing

Silent Scribe
None - no data leaves your machine
Document360
OpenAI integration for AI features

Compliance Certifications

Silent Scribe
Not applicable (no data collection)
Document360
SOC 2 Type II, AES 256 encryption, GDPR compliant

Works in Air-Gapped Networks

Silent Scribe
Yes - fully offline capable
Document360
No - requires internet connectivity

Data Sovereignty

Silent Scribe
Complete - you control all data
Document360
Depends on Document360's Azure region selection

Collaboration

Team Style Guide Sharing

Silent Scribe
Configuration files in repository
Document360
Platform-based team management

Real-Time Collaboration

Silent Scribe
Not applicable (writing assistant)
Document360
Multi-user editing with conflict prevention

Approval Workflows

Silent Scribe
Not applicable
Document360
Built-in review and approval processes

Role-Based Access

Silent Scribe
Not applicable
Document360
Granular permissions system with multiple roles

AI Capabilities

AI Content Generation

Silent Scribe
Not in Phase 1 (roadmap: 100% local when implemented)
Document360
Full article generation from prompts, videos, transcripts

AI Search

Silent Scribe
Not applicable
Document360
Conversational search with contextual responses (Eddy AI)

AI Summarization

Silent Scribe
Not applicable
Document360
Article summaries, glossary generation

AI SEO Optimization

Silent Scribe
Not applicable
Document360
Automated meta descriptions, tags, titles

AI Processing Privacy

Silent Scribe
Will be 100% local when AI features implemented
Document360
Cloud-based through OpenAI integration

Which Tool for Which Use Case?

Clear guidance on when to choose each tool

Which Tool is Right for You?

Both tools excel at different use cases. Here's an honest comparison to help you choose.

Silent Scribe Ideal For

Technical Documentation & Developer Workflows

  • Open source maintainers needing writing assistance in GitHub without workflow disruption
  • Privacy-conscious organizations with regulatory requirements preventing cloud documentation
  • Docs-as-code teams where documentation lives in Git alongside code
  • Developer-writers documenting APIs/architecture in code editors and web-based tools
  • Budget-constrained teams needing writing assistance without platform costs
  • Teams working with sensitive/unreleased information requiring local-only processing

Document360 Ideal For

Alternative Workflow

  • Product documentation teams needing complete customer-facing portal solution
  • SaaS companies requiring advanced search, analytics, and support ticket deflection
  • Enterprise organizations needing collaboration, approval workflows, and role-based access
  • Multi-language documentation teams supporting international customers (30+ languages)
  • Teams without developer expertise who need WYSIWYG editor and hosted solution
  • Organizations investing in comprehensive knowledge management infrastructure

Open Source Project README Documentation

Developer working directly in GitHub web editor on README.md alongside code. Needs real-time writing assistance without leaving their workflow or uploading content to external platforms.

Best: Silent Scribe

Enterprise Product Documentation Portal

Technical writing team needs public-facing documentation site with advanced search, analytics, support ticket deflection, and collaboration workflows. Requires hosted solution with custom branding.

Best: Document360

Internal Technical Documentation for Engineering

Engineering team maintains docs in GitHub as markdown. Can use Silent Scribe for writing quality, then mirror customer-facing subset to Document360 for public portal. Both tools complement each other.

Best: Both

Highly Sensitive Documentation

Security research, unreleased features, or proprietary information requiring zero cloud transmission. Content cannot leave local machine due to compliance or responsible disclosure requirements.

Best: Silent Scribe

SaaS Product Knowledge Base

Customer-facing help center with AI-powered search, multi-language support, integration with support ticketing system (Zendesk, Intercom), and comprehensive analytics on customer documentation usage.

Best: Document360

Docs-as-Code Workflow

Documentation lives in Git repository alongside code, versioned together, reviewed in pull requests, deployed via CI/CD. Documentation is code and should follow same workflow principles.

Best: Silent Scribe

💡 Honest Assessment

These tools serve fundamentally different purposes and aren't direct competitors.Silent Scribe is built for developers and technical writers managing documentation, while Document360 is designed for Proton Mail users who need email writing assistance.

Many users may benefit from using both tools for their respective strengths rather than choosing between them.

Cost Comparison by Team Size

Real-world pricing scenarios to inform your decision

Solo Developer

Silent Scribe:

$0 (free tier provides full functionality)

Document360:

Not practical (minimum 5 users at $1,788/year with 4 wasted seats)

Verdict:

Silent Scribe is only viable option for individual users

5-Person Documentation Team

Silent Scribe:

$0 free tier, or ~$300/year when team features launch

Document360:

$1,788/year (Professional) or $3,600-6,000/year (Business estimated)

Verdict:

If team needs complete knowledge platform, Document360 investment is appropriate. If team writes in GitHub/GitLab and needs writing assistance only, Silent Scribe saves $1,500-6,000/year.

Enterprise Organization

Silent Scribe:

Focused on writing quality, not replacing knowledge platforms

Document360:

Complete enterprise solution with all features, support, security ($12,000+/year)

Verdict:

Different tools for different purposes. Enterprise may use both - Document360 for knowledge platform, Silent Scribe for writing assistance in development workflows.

Pricing Comparison

Transparent pricing breakdown for both tools

Pricing & Value Comparison

Transparent breakdown of costs, tiers, and what you get with each tool

Silent Scribe Pricing

Product-led growth: Start free, upgrade when you see value

Free Tier

per forever
$0
  • Full writing assistance capabilities
  • Unlimited documents and usage
  • All core linting features
  • Project-level glossaries
  • Works for individual developers
  • No credit card required
  • No feature limitations

Team Tier

per per user/month (estimated)
$5-10
  • Shared style guide configurations
  • Team analytics on common errors
  • Priority support
  • Advanced customization
  • CI/CD integration (when available)
Not Available

Document360 Pricing

Included with select plans or available as add-on

Professional

per per month (billed annually = $1,788/year)
$149
  • 5 users included
  • Basic knowledge base management
  • SEO tools and custom CSS
  • AI Writer only (limited AI features)
  • Standard analytics
  • Custom domain
  • No third-party integrations
  • No AI Search (only Writer)
  • Limited customization
  • Basic analytics only

Business

per per month (estimated, custom pricing)
$300-500
  • 10+ users
  • Full integration suite (Zendesk, Slack, Salesforce)
  • Complete AI capabilities (Writer + Search)
  • Advanced analytics and ticket deflection
  • API access
  • Workflow automations

Enterprise

per per month (custom pricing)
$1,000+
  • Everything in Business
  • Advanced security (SSO, IP restrictions)
  • Dedicated hosting options
  • Premium AI features
  • Dedicated customer success manager
  • Custom integrations

Important Pricing Note

Document360 is notably not available for single-user Proton Unlimited subscribers, which has been a point of user frustration. To access Document360, Unlimited users must upgrade to multi-user plans (Duo, Family) designed for multiple people.

Silent Scribe has no such restrictions—individuals get full access to the free tier without forced plan upgrades.

💰 12-Month Cost Comparison

Silent Scribe (Individual)

$0

Free tier for individuals

Document360 (Via Proton Duo Upgrade)

$72/year

Additional cost to access from Unlimited plan

Decision Framework: Which Tool Do You Need?

What's your main documentation challenge?

1

Challenge: Writing quality and consistency

Do you write in GitHub/GitLab/web editors?

✓ Yes: Silent Scribe is purpose-built for this workflow

✗ No: Where do you write? Silent Scribe works in any web-based editor

Do you need a platform for publishing?

✓ Yes: Consider Document360 for publishing, Silent Scribe for writing quality

✗ No: Silent Scribe likely sufficient for writing assistance needs

Recommendation: Silent Scribe

2

Challenge: Need customer-facing documentation portal

Do you need hosting, search, and analytics?

✓ Yes: Document360 or similar platform required

✗ No: Static site generator + Silent Scribe for writing may be sufficient

Recommendation: Document360

Silent Scribe can complement by improving writing quality before publishing to Document360

3

Challenge: Privacy and data sovereignty

Can you use cloud-based platforms?

✓ Yes: Both tools viable - Document360 has SOC 2 compliance

✗ No: Silent Scribe is only option with 100% local processing

Working with sensitive/unreleased information?

✓ Yes: Silent Scribe's local processing is critical requirement

✗ No: Either tool viable based on other factors

Recommendation: Silent Scribe

4

Challenge: Budget constraints

Available budget for documentation tools?

$0: Silent Scribe free tier

$2,000-6,000/year: Document360 viable if platform features needed

Limited: Evaluate whether you need platform or just writing assistance

Recommendation: Varies based on answers

Migration & Integration Guide

When to Choose Silent Scribe Over Document360

When to Choose:

  • You write documentation in GitHub/GitLab and follow docs-as-code principles
  • Privacy and local processing are non-negotiable due to regulatory requirements
  • Working with sensitive/unreleased information that cannot be uploaded to cloud
  • Need writing assistance, not a hosting/publishing platform
  • Budget doesn't support $2,000-6,000/year knowledge platform costs
  • Team is comfortable with markdown and version control workflows

Getting Started:

  1. 1.Install Silent Scribe extension from Chrome Web Store (30 seconds)
  2. 2.Extension activates automatically in web editors
  3. 3.Optional: Configure team style guide in repository
  4. 4.Optional: Import existing Vale configurations if migrating from CLI tools
  5. 5.Start writing - get instant feedback with zero configuration

When to Choose Document360 Over Silent Scribe

When to Choose:

  • Need customer-facing documentation portal with custom branding
  • Require advanced search with AI-powered conversational assistance
  • Team needs collaboration features, approval workflows, role-based access
  • Multi-language documentation for international customers (30+ languages)
  • Want comprehensive analytics and support ticket deflection metrics
  • Prefer WYSIWYG editor over markdown/code workflows

Getting Started:

  1. 1.Sign up for Document360 account (14-day free trial)
  2. 2.Choose appropriate tier (Professional $149/mo, Business custom pricing)
  3. 3.Set up knowledge base structure with categories and sections
  4. 4.Migrate existing content (import from various formats supported)
  5. 5.Configure integrations (support systems, team tools, analytics)
  6. 6.Customize branding and domain settings
  7. 7.Train team on platform workflows
  8. 8.Launch public or private documentation portal

Using Both Tools Together (Recommended for Many Teams)

Silent Scribe and Document360 complement each other. Many organizations benefit from using both strategically.

Hybrid Approach for Product Companies

  1. 1.Internal engineering docs stay in GitHub (architecture decisions, API specs, deployment procedures)
  2. 2.Silent Scribe assists with writing quality as engineers write in GitHub
  3. 3.Customer-facing subset mirrored to Document360 for public portal with search and analytics
  4. 4.Best of both worlds: docs-as-code for internal, polished platform for customers

Quality-First Workflow

  1. 1.Draft documentation in preferred editor with Silent Scribe assistance
  2. 2.Silent Scribe ensures terminology consistency, clarity, style guide compliance
  3. 3.Copy polished content into Document360 for final publishing
  4. 4.Leverage Document360's platform features (search, analytics, collaboration)
  5. 5.Silent Scribe improves input quality before content enters knowledge platform

Honest Limitations

What each tool cannot do—transparency builds trust

What Silent Scribe Cannot Do

  • Host or publish your documentation
  • Provide searchable knowledge base for customers
  • Generate complete articles from prompts (Phase 1)
  • Offer collaboration workflows or approval processes
  • Provide analytics on documentation usage
  • Replace a knowledge management platform
  • Work in native desktop applications (Phase 1 - browser only)
  • Support multiple languages (Phase 1 - English focused)

What Document360 Cannot Do

  • Work offline or in air-gapped environments
  • Process content locally without cloud transmission
  • Integrate natively with Git-based docs-as-code workflows
  • Enforce custom technical writing style guides
  • Operate as lightweight browser extension in existing tools
  • Provide zero-cost option for individuals
  • Work without uploading content to third-party servers
  • Guarantee zero data transmission to third parties (OpenAI integration)

Platform Availability

Where and how you can use each tool

Platform Availability

Where each tool works today and what's coming in the future

Silent Scribe

Available across developer tools and documentation platforms

Available Now

  • Chrome, Edge, Opera, Brave
    Any Chromium browser
  • GitHub web interface
    Real-time linting as you type
  • GitLab web interface
    Real-time linting as you type
  • Web-based IDEs
    CodeSandbox, Repl.it, Gitpod
  • Notion
    Editing mode
  • Confluence
    Cloud editor
  • Any contenteditable element
    Works anywhere you can type

Coming Soon

  • Firefox support
    Phase 2
  • VS Code extension
    Phase 2 - local editor support
  • GitHub Action for CI/CD
    Phase 2 - automated enforcement
  • Mobile support
    Phase 2

Not Currently Supported

  • Native desktop applications
    Phase 1 browser-only
  • Batch processing
    Not designed for this use case

Document360

Exclusive to Proton Mail ecosystem

Available Now

  • Web application
    Works in all modern browsers
  • Document360 cloud platform
    Complete hosted solution
  • Mobile responsive
    Responsive web interface
  • Third-party integrations
    Zendesk, Slack, Salesforce, Intercom, 100+ integrations

On Roadmap

  • Enhanced AI features
    Continuous improvements to Eddy AI

Not Supported

  • Offline access
    Cloud platform requires internet
  • Local installation
    SaaS platform only
  • Git-based workflows
    Export/import only, not native integration
  • Browser extension
    Platform-based, not extension

📱 Platform Strategy Difference

Silent Scribe prioritizes developer platforms and documentation tools, focusing on where technical writing happens (GitHub, GitLab, web IDEs).

Document360 is exclusively integrated into the Proton Mail ecosystem, designed specifically for email composition rather than documentation workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know to make the right choice

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about Silent Scribe vs Document360

Ready to Improve Your Documentation Workflow?

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