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Web Development · head to head

Docusaurus vs Preact

Docusaurus logo

Docusaurus

Web Development

Static site generator from Meta for documentation sites

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Preact logo

Preact

Web Development

3kB alternative to React with the same modern API

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Docusaurus customisation past the config file assumes React knowledge, which not every docs team has; Preact compatibility through preact/compat is good but not total, and some React libraries break in ways that are hard to diagnose
  • They diverge on capability: Docusaurus covers MDX authoring, Preact covers 3kB runtime.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Docusaurus and Preact actually diverge.

Attributes where Docusaurus and Preact differ
AttributeDocusaurusPreact
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence fee; hosting billed separatelyOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWeb, Self-hosted, Node.jsWeb

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Web Development).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Docusaurus

  • MDX authoring
  • Docs versioning
  • Internationalisation
  • Algolia search
  • React theming
  • Plugin architecture

Only in Preact

  • 3kB runtime
  • preact/compat
  • Same modern API
  • Fast rendering

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Docusaurus

  • Open-source project documentation that must track several released versionsnot Preact
  • Docs sites needing translation workflows rather than a single languagenot Preact
  • Teams already writing React who want to extend the docs theme directlynot Preact
  • Replacing a hand-rolled docs site with something that handles search and versioningnot Preact

Preact

  • Embedded widgets that load inside someone else’s page and must stay smallnot Docusaurus
  • Marketing and content sites where JavaScript payload affects Core Web Vitalsnot Docusaurus
  • Applications targeting low-bandwidth or low-powered devicesnot Docusaurus

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Docusaurus

  • Customisation past the config file assumes React knowledge, which not every docs team has
  • Build times grow noticeably on very large sites, particularly with many versions and locales
  • Major version upgrades have required real migration work rather than a dependency bump
  • It generates a static site, so anything dynamic — gated content, per-user docs — needs a separate solution

Preact

  • Compatibility through preact/compat is good but not total, and some React libraries break in ways that are hard to diagnose
  • Behavioural differences from React exist in edge cases, particularly around event handling
  • A much smaller community, so unusual problems have fewer existing answers than React

Pricing, plan by plan

Docusaurus

Free
  • DocusaurusFree
    • Full generator
    • Versioning
    • Internationalisation

Preact

Free
  • PreactFree
    • Full library
    • Commercial use permitted
    • No usage limits

Which should you pick?

Choose Docusaurus if

  • You need mdx authoring.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted, Node.js.
  • You also want docs versioning.
Docusaurus review

Choose Preact if

  • You need 3kb runtime.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want preact/compat.
Preact review

Questions people ask

Is Docusaurus or Preact better?
Neither clearly leads. Docusaurus starts at Free and Preact at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Docusaurus or Preact?
Docusaurus starts at Free and Preact at Free.
Does Docusaurus or Preact run on more platforms?
Docusaurus runs on Web, Self-hosted, Node.js. Preact runs on Web.
Can I use Docusaurus for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Docusaurus best used for?
Docusaurus is most often used for open-source project documentation that must track several released versions, docs sites needing translation workflows rather than a single language, teams already writing react who want to extend the docs theme directly, replacing a hand-rolled docs site with something that handles search and versioning. Of those, open-source project documentation that must track several released versions and docs sites needing translation workflows rather than a single language are not what Preact is typically brought in for.
What can Docusaurus do that Preact cannot?
Docusaurus covers MDX authoring, Docs versioning, Internationalisation, Algolia search. Preact covers 3kB runtime, preact/compat, Same modern API, Fast rendering.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Docusaurus: Is Docusaurus free?

Yes. Docusaurus is open source from Meta with no licence fee. You pay only for hosting, and static output can be served from free tiers on Netlify, Vercel or GitHub Pages.

Preact: Is Preact free?

Yes, open source under the MIT licence.

Docusaurus: What is Docusaurus built with?

React and MDX. Pages are authored in MDX — Markdown that can embed React components — and the theme layer is React, so layouts are extended with components.

Preact: Can I use React libraries with Preact?

Most, through the preact/compat layer. Compatibility is good but not complete, so libraries relying on React internals can break.

Docusaurus: Does Docusaurus support multiple documentation versions?

Yes. Versioning is built in, so documentation for several released product versions can be maintained side by side, which is a main reason projects choose it.

Preact: Why choose Preact over React?

Bundle size, almost always. If payload is not a binding constraint, React’s ecosystem is usually the better trade.

Docusaurus: Does Docusaurus include search?

It integrates with Algolia DocSearch rather than shipping its own search index. Open-source projects can typically use Algolia’s free DocSearch programme.

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