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Web Development · head to head

Preact vs Docusaurus

Preact logo

Preact

Web Development

3kB alternative to React with the same modern API

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Docusaurus logo

Docusaurus

Web Development

Static site generator from Meta for documentation sites

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

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

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Preact and Docusaurus actually diverge.

Attributes where Preact and Docusaurus differ
AttributePreactDocusaurus
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeOpen source, no licence fee; hosting billed separately
PlatformsWebWeb, Self-hosted, Node.js

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 Preact

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

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.

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

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Preact

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

Docusaurus

Free
  • DocusaurusFree
    • Full generator
    • Versioning
    • Internationalisation

Which should you pick?

Choose Preact if

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

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

Questions people ask

Is Preact or Docusaurus better?
Neither clearly leads. Preact 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, Preact or Docusaurus?
Preact starts at Free and Docusaurus at Free.
Does Preact or Docusaurus run on more platforms?
Preact runs on Web. Docusaurus runs on Web, Self-hosted, Node.js.
Can I use Preact for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Preact best used for?
Preact is most often used for embedded widgets that load inside someone else’s page and must stay small, marketing and content sites where javascript payload affects core web vitals, applications targeting low-bandwidth or low-powered devices. Of those, embedded widgets that load inside someone else’s page and must stay small and marketing and content sites where javascript payload affects core web vitals are not what Docusaurus is typically brought in for.
What can Preact do that Docusaurus cannot?
Preact covers 3kB runtime, preact/compat, Same modern API, Fast rendering. Docusaurus covers MDX authoring, Docs versioning, Internationalisation, Algolia search.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Preact: Is Preact free?

Yes, open source under the MIT licence.

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: 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: 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: 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 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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