Documentation · head to head
MkDocs vs Docusaurus
MkDocs
Documentation
Static site generator for project documentation in Markdown
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Docusaurus
Web Development
Static site generator from Meta for documentation sites
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: MkDocs no built-in versioning, which Docusaurus provides and documentation teams eventually need; Docusaurus customisation past the config file assumes React knowledge, which not every docs team has
- They diverge on capability: MkDocs covers Plain Markdown, Docusaurus covers MDX authoring.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which MkDocs and Docusaurus actually diverge.
| Attribute | MkDocs | Docusaurus |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Open source, no licence fee | Open source, no licence fee; hosting billed separately |
| Platforms | Web, Linux, macOS, Windows | Web, Self-hosted, Node.js |
| Category | Documentation | Web Development |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).
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 MkDocs
- Plain Markdown
- Single YAML config
- Material theme
- Live preview
Only in Docusaurus
- MDX authoring
- Docs versioning
- Internationalisation
- Algolia search
- React theming
- Plugin architecture
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
MkDocs
- Project documentation for teams that would rather not run a JavaScript toolchainnot Docusaurus
- Python projects keeping docs beside the codenot Docusaurus
- Documentation that must build fast in CI on every commitnot Docusaurus
Docusaurus
- Open-source project documentation that must track several released versionsnot MkDocs
- Docs sites needing translation workflows rather than a single languagenot MkDocs
- Teams already writing React who want to extend the docs theme directlynot MkDocs
- Replacing a hand-rolled docs site with something that handles search and versioningnot MkDocs
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
MkDocs
- No built-in versioning, which Docusaurus provides and documentation teams eventually need
- Extending past the theme means writing Python plugins
- Markdown only, so embedding interactive components is not the model
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
Pricing, plan by plan
MkDocs
Free- MkDocsFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
Docusaurus
Free- DocusaurusFree
- Full generator
- Versioning
- Internationalisation
Which should you pick?
Choose MkDocs if
- You need plain markdown.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Linux, macOS, Windows.
- You also want single yaml config.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is MkDocs or Docusaurus better?
- Neither clearly leads. MkDocs starts at Free and Docusaurus at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, MkDocs or Docusaurus?
- MkDocs starts at Free and Docusaurus at Free.
- Does MkDocs or Docusaurus run on more platforms?
- MkDocs runs on Web, Linux, macOS, Windows. Docusaurus runs on Web, Self-hosted, Node.js.
- Can I use MkDocs for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is MkDocs best used for?
- MkDocs is most often used for project documentation for teams that would rather not run a javascript toolchain, python projects keeping docs beside the code, documentation that must build fast in ci on every commit. Of those, project documentation for teams that would rather not run a javascript toolchain and python projects keeping docs beside the code are not what Docusaurus is typically brought in for.
- What can MkDocs do that Docusaurus cannot?
- MkDocs covers Plain Markdown, Single YAML config, Material theme, Live preview. Docusaurus covers MDX authoring, Docs versioning, Internationalisation, Algolia search.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
MkDocs: Is MkDocs free?
Yes, open source under the BSD licence. The Material theme has a free version and a paid Insiders edition.
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.
MkDocs: MkDocs or Docusaurus?
MkDocs is simpler and faster to adopt, especially for Python teams. Docusaurus offers versioning, internationalisation and React components, which matter once documentation grows.
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.
MkDocs: Does MkDocs support versioned docs?
Not natively. Plugins such as mike add it, where Docusaurus includes versioning in core.
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.
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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