@docusaurus/core offers extensive customization options, including theming, plugin support, and the ability to create custom layouts and components. This makes it highly flexible for projects with specific design and functionality requirements.

nextra provides limited customization out of the box, focusing on simplicity and speed. However, it allows for easy customization of styles and components, making it suitable for projects that need a quick and straightforward setup without complex configurations.

@docusaurus/core is optimized for performance, but the build time and runtime performance can be affected by the number of plugins and customizations used. It is designed to handle large documentation sites efficiently, but careful management of resources is needed for very large projects.

nextra is designed for fast performance, with quick build times and lightweight output. Its minimalistic approach ensures that documentation sites load quickly, making it an excellent choice for projects where performance is a top priority.

@docusaurus/core requires a more involved setup process, especially for projects that utilize its full feature set. However, it provides a detailed guide and templates to help users get started. The learning curve can be steeper for those unfamiliar with React and its ecosystem.

nextra offers a very simple and quick setup, especially for projects that primarily use Markdown. Its straightforward approach makes it easy for developers to get started without extensive configuration or knowledge of complex frameworks.

@docusaurus/core supports Markdown out of the box, with additional support for MDX (Markdown with embedded JSX). This allows for more dynamic content within Markdown files, providing greater flexibility for documentation.

nextra is built around Markdown and MDX, providing excellent support for both. It encourages the use of MDX for more interactive and component-rich documentation, making it a great choice for projects that want to leverage React components within their Markdown.

@docusaurus/core has a large and active community, with a rich ecosystem of plugins, themes, and integrations. This makes it a well-supported choice for long-term projects, with plenty of resources and third-party tools available.

nextra is newer and has a smaller community, but it is growing rapidly. Its simplicity and focus on performance have attracted attention, and it is likely to see more plugins and integrations developed as its user base expands.

Docusaurus Example

npx create-docusaurus@latest my-website classic
cd my-website
npm run start

Nextra Example

npx create-next-app@latest my-docs -e with-nextra
cd my-docs
npm run dev