How to Password Protect Mintlify Docs (Without the $150/mo Price Tag)

Mintlify has become the gold standard for developer documentation. It’s beautiful, MDX-powered, and designed for high-growth engineering teams.

But as your product grows, you eventually hit a wall: The "Public vs. Private" dilemma.

Maybe you want to share a "Beta API" guide with only a few trusted testers. Maybe you want to gate your "Enterprise Implementation Guide" so only qualified leads can see it.

When you look at Mintlify’s native options, you’ll find that Authentication (Password protection, SSO, or JWT) is a "Pro" feature starting at $150 per month. For many startups and independent developers, that is a steep price to pay just to put a password on a few pages.

The Problem: Gating is High-Cost and High-Code

Currently, if you want to protect your Mintlify docs, you have to:

Upgrade to Pro: Commit to a heavy monthly subscription.

Configure Handshakes: Set up complex JWT or OAuth logic to verify users.

Lose Lead Data: Native auth tells you if someone is logged in, but it doesn't always make it easy to capture that person as a marketing lead.

The Solution: The Linkbase "Marketing Layer"

You don't need to change your mint.json or upgrade your plan. You can keep your Mintlify docs on the free tier and use Linkbase to add a secure gateway in seconds.

Linkbase acts as a "security guard" for your hosted Mintlify URL (e.g., docs.yourbrand.com or yourbrand.mintlify.app).

Step-by-Step: Gating Your Mintlify Docs in 30 Seconds

Step 1: Copy Your Mintlify URL

Go to the specific page in your documentation that you want to protect and copy the URL from your browser.

Step 2: Paste into Linkbase

Open your Linkbase dashboard. Paste your Mintlify link into the "Destination URL" box.

Step 3: Choose Your Gate

The "Beta Tester" Gate (Password): Choose Password Protection. Set a simple code (e.g., BETA2026) and send the Linkbase link to your testers.

The "Lead Magnet" Gate (Email): If you’re sharing a high-value technical guide, choose Email Capture. This turns your documentation into a lead-generation machine.

Linkbase gives you a short, branded link. When a user clicks it, they hit your "Gate" first. Once they enter the password or email, they are instantly forwarded to your Mintlify content.

Why Use Linkbase for Your Documentation?

1. Massive Cost Savings

Why pay $1,800+ a year for a single feature? Linkbase gives you professional-grade gating and lead capture for a tiny fraction of the cost of Mintlify Pro.

2. Zero Technical Debt

You don't have to touch your code, manage GitHub secrets, or set up authentication servers. It is a "no-code" security layer that works with any version of Mintlify.

3. Better Marketing Insights

Mintlify analytics are great for "views," but Linkbase is built for Lead Gen. You can see exactly who is accessing your docs, push their emails to your CRM, and track which technical guides are driving the most interest from potential customers.

Use Cases for Gated Technical Docs

Early Access API: Share your docs with a specific group of developers before the public launch.

Internal SOPs: Keep your team’s internal guides private without paying for an "Internal Wiki" tool.

Lead Gen for SDKs: Gate your "Quickstart Guide" for your premium SDK to see which companies are looking to integrate.

Summary

Mintlify is for building great docs. Linkbase is for protecting them and growing your business. You don't need a Pro plan to have professional security.

Add a lead capture layer to your Mintlify docs for free today.