Comparison
release-notes.dev vs Headway
An honest, side-by-side look at how release-notes.dev and Headway compare on features, pricing, and the kind of team each one fits best.
Short answer
Headway is simple changelog + widget, and a solid choice for Small teams who want a clean, no-frills changelog and widget and are happy writing entries by hand.. release-notes.dev solves a different problem: it turns your GitHub commits, pull requests, and tags into clean, grouped release notes with AI, then publishes them as a beautiful hosted changelog on your own domain. If you want changelogs that write themselves from your Git history — plus an open-source, free-to-start option with an API and webhooks — release-notes.dev is the stronger fit.
release-notes.dev vs Headway at a glance
| Feature | release-notes.dev | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| AI release notes from Git history | Yes | — |
| GitHub commits & PRs as the source | Yes | — |
| Standalone hosted changelog page (SEO-friendly) | Yes | Yes |
| Custom domain + full branding | Yes | Yes |
| Themes & custom CSS | Yes | — |
| REST API & webhooks | Yes | — |
| Markdown export | Yes | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Paid plans start at | $0 — free tier | ≈ $29/mo, limited free plan |
Pricing and features are approximate, compiled from public sources and last reviewed in June 2026. Vendors change plans often — always confirm current details on the provider's own site.
Key differences
- →Entirely manual entry — no AI summaries and no Git/GitHub source
- →Minimal theming and no custom CSS
- →Not open source
When Headway is the better choice
Small teams who want a clean, no-frills changelog and widget and are happy writing entries by hand.
- •Very simple, fast to set up
- •Clean hosted changelog and a tidy widget badge
- •Affordable for small teams
When release-notes.dev wins
You ship from GitHub and want the changelog to write itself.
- ✓AI release notes from commits, PRs, and tags
- ✓Hosted changelog on your own domain, fully themeable
- ✓Open source (MIT) and free to start
- ✓REST API, webhooks, and Markdown export
Frequently asked questions
Is release-notes.dev a good Headway alternative?+
Yes — especially if you want release notes generated automatically from your GitHub commits, pull requests, and tags with AI, published as a hosted changelog on your own domain. release-notes.dev is open source and free to start, whereas Headway is simple changelog + widget.
Does Headway generate release notes from GitHub commits?+
No. Headway entries are written manually. release-notes.dev's core feature is generating grouped release notes directly from your GitHub commits, PRs, and tags with AI.
How much does Headway cost?+
≈ $29/mo, limited free plan. release-notes.dev has a genuinely free tier and paid plans that add more repositories, generations, custom domains, and public pages. Pricing and features are approximate, compiled from public sources and last reviewed in June 2026. Vendors change plans often — always confirm current details on the provider's own site.
Is release-notes.dev open source?+
Yes — release-notes.dev is open source under the MIT license, so you can read the source, self-host, or contribute. Headway is not open source.
Can I publish a changelog on my own domain?+
Yes. On paid plans, release-notes.dev lets you point a custom domain at your changelog and fully brand it with your logo, colors, themes, and custom CSS.
Keep reading
Switching from Headway?
Connect your GitHub repo and generate your first changelog in about two minutes. Free to start — no credit card.