Docusaurus vs mdBook (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Docusaurus if

• Fits if your team is comfortable in a repo and wants docs next to the code
• Works for open-source projects that want a versioned, translated docs site

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you want a web editor, as there is none
• Skip it if nobody on the team uses a command line, since it needs Node.js 20 or newer
• Watch out: you host and deploy the static site yourself
• Watch out: search beyond Algolia DocSearch relies on community-maintained options

Pick mdBook if

• Fits if you write manuals or project guides in Markdown
• Works for Rust projects, as it's installed with Cargo

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you avoid a command line, as that's the only way to use it
• Skip it if you want a hosted editor, as there are no accounts or comments
• Watch out: building from source needs a recent Rust version
• Watch out: you host the output yourself

Docusaurus

• It is a developer tool: writing and customizing docs means working in files and the command line, with Node.js 20 or newer installed.
• There is no hosted editor, user accounts or comments for staff; you host and deploy the static site yourself.
• Search beyond Algolia DocSearch relies on community-maintained options.

mdBook

• It is a command-line tool with no hosted editor, accounts or comments.
• The installation page lists binaries for Windows, macOS and Linux, or building from source with a recent Rust version.
• You host the output yourself.

Docusaurus

MDX content

Docs and blog posts are written in MDX, which lets React components sit inside Markdown, and are built into static HTML.

React customization

The layout can be extended with React components, and a plugin architecture shares data between plugins.

Document versioning

Keeps documentation for each released version of a project, so users on older versions still have matching docs.

Translations

Localization is built in; translations can be managed with Git, Crowdin or another translation manager.

Search

Algolia DocSearch is the officially supported search, and community-maintained local search options exist.

mdBook

Markdown books

Content is written in Markdown and rendered as a book with a navigable table of contents.

Integrated search

Search is built in; the keyboard shortcut S or / opens it in the output.

Code highlighting and testing

Code blocks get syntax highlighting, and Rust code samples can be tested automatically.

Themes

Light, Rust, Coal, Navy and Ayu themes are included, and theme files allow custom formatting.

Preprocessors and backends

Preprocessors extend the syntax or change content, and built-in backends render HTML or Markdown.

Docusaurus

• Open source$0

  Free and open source. You build the site with Node.js and host the output yourself.

mdBook

• Open source$0

  Free under the Mozilla Public License v2.0. You build books with the mdbook command and host the output yourself.