Our take
Pick Docusaurus if you're on a docs team who will stay on the MIT generator at $0 while they open a first docs page, then add their own host (GitHub Pages / Netlify / any static host) — not a paid docs SaaS unless they want hosted auth / seats. Pick Starlight if you're on a docs team already on Astro (or willing to start there) who will host the build. Skip Starlight if you're on a team who need a Next.js docs app
local docs-site generator
Best for
Docusaurus A docs page you start at a public $
Starlight A docs site on Astro at $0
Free plan
Docusaurus $0 · npm @docusaurus/core. Generate a static site from Markdown / MDX. Host it yourself
Starlight $0 · official Astro docs theme
Lowest paid
Docusaurus Not published by the vendor
Starlight Not published by the vendor
Runs where
Docusaurus Hosted
Starlight Hosted
Watch out
Docusaurus You host the build
Starlight You host the build
Last checked
Docusaurus 2026-10-23 · github.com/facebook/docusaurus
Starlight 2026-10-28 · Not published by the vendor
docs teams who will stay on the MIT generator at $0 while they open a first docs page, then add their own host (GitHub Pages / Netlify / any static host) — not a paid docs SaaS unless they want hosted auth / seats.
Read the Docusaurus pagedocs teams already on Astro (or willing to start there) who will host the build.
Read the Starlight page