👻
📦

Migrate from DatoCMS to Docusaurus

Complete guide to migrating your DatoCMS website to Docusaurus. Leave DatoCMS's graphql-only can be a barrier for teams unfamiliar with it behind and get purpose-built for documentation with versioning, search, and i18n. Free migration tool included.

20-40 minutes
Medium
100% Free
Start Free Migration

TL;DR

You can migrate from DatoCMS to Docusaurus for free using LeaveWP. Enter your site URL, choose Docusaurus as the destination, and download your content — posts, pages, and media — in minutes. No API keys, passwords, or CLI tools required. Difficulty: Medium. Estimated time: 20-40 minutes.

Why Teams Leave DatoCMS

GraphQL headless CMS with image optimization built in. JAMstack teams wanting a GraphQL CMS with best-in-class image handling, but these limitations push teams toward modern alternatives.

GraphQL-only can be a barrier for teams unfamiliar with it

This is the most common reason teams migrate away from DatoCMS. Docusaurus eliminates this issue entirely.

Free tier is limited; mid-tier pricing is expensive

With Docusaurus, purpose-built for documentation with versioning, search, and i18n.

Smaller community compared to Contentful or Strapi

Modern architectures like Docusaurus are designed to avoid this from the ground up.

Content migration to/from DatoCMS requires custom tooling

After migrating, you'll no longer need to worry about this — Docusaurus takes a fundamentally different approach.

What Docusaurus Brings to the Table

Meta's documentation framework built on React. Built with JavaScript/TypeScript (React), it's open-source projects and companies needing versioned technical documentation.

Purpose-built for documentation with versioning, search, and i18n

Used by major open-source projects (React, Babel, Jest, Redux)

React-based — extend with any React component

Algolia DocSearch integration for free search

Docusaurus is open-source and free to use. You own your code and data with no vendor lock-in. Deploy to any host that supports JavaScript/TypeScript, or use managed platforms like Vercel and Netlify for zero-config deployments.

DatoCMS vs Docusaurus at a Glance

Side-by-side comparison based on real platform characteristics

MetricDatoCMSDocusaurus
Ease of Use⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Performance⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Flexibility⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
Cost⭐⭐ 2/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Scalability⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
Ecosystem⭐⭐⭐ 3/5⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
LanguageAPI-based (GraphQL-first)JavaScript/TypeScript (React)
PricingFree / $99+/monthFree (open-source)
Open SourceNoYes

Ratings are based on publicly available data, documentation, and community consensus as of 2026. Individual experience may vary.

What Gets Migrated

A detailed breakdown of how your DatoCMS content maps to Docusaurus

Content Types from DatoCMS

  • records
  • models
  • uploads
  • sites

Technical Details

Export Method
Content Management API (GraphQL)
Source Language
API-based (GraphQL-first)
Destination Format
Markdown/MDX files with frontmatter, organized by content type
URL Handling
301 redirect map generated automatically to preserve SEO equity

What may need manual attention

Custom server-side logic, third-party integrations, and platform-specific plugins will need equivalent solutions in Docusaurus. The core content (text, images, metadata) transfers cleanly.

How It Works

Migrate your content in three simple steps

1

Connect

Enter your DatoCMS site URL — LeaveWP connects automatically.

2

Configure

Select Docusaurus as destination and choose content options.

3

Export

Download your migrated content or preview it in your browser.

Is DatoCMS to Docusaurus the Right Move for You?

Migrating from DatoCMS to Docusaurus makes the most sense if you're experiencing graphql-only can be a barrier for teams unfamiliar with it or outgrowing DatoCMS's architecture. Docusaurus is best for open-source projects and companies needing versioned technical documentation.

You should migrate if: your DatoCMS site is slow, your hosting costs are climbing, you need developer flexibility, or you want to adopt a modern JAMstack architecture.

You might want to stay if: your DatoCMS site benefits from built-in image optimization and responsive image api and you don't have JavaScript/TypeScript developers on your team. DatoCMS is genuinely easy to use, and that simplicity has value.

The migration itself is straightforward with LeaveWP — enter your DatoCMS URL, select Docusaurus, and download your content. The more important question is whether Docusaurus's architecture fits your team's skills and your project's long-term needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to migrate from DatoCMS to Docusaurus?
Most migrations from DatoCMS complete in 20-40 minutes. We pull content via DatoCMS's Content Management API (GraphQL), then structured for Docusaurus. Complex sites with extensive custom fields may take longer.
Will I lose my SEO rankings when migrating from DatoCMS?
No. We help you set up proper 301 redirects from your old DatoCMS URLs to preserve search rankings. Docusaurus actually tends to improve Core Web Vitals scores, which can boost rankings over time.
What DatoCMS content can be migrated to Docusaurus?
DatoCMS content types like records, models, uploads, sites are all migrated to Docusaurus. Content is converted to Markdown/MDX files or structured for your chosen headless CMS.
Do I need JavaScript/TypeScript experience to migrate?
No coding experience is required for the migration itself — LeaveWP handles the export and conversion automatically. However, customizing your Docusaurus site afterward will benefit from JavaScript/TypeScript (React) knowledge. For teams without that expertise, the generated code is well-structured and documented, making it approachable for developers of any level.
How much does it cost to host a Docusaurus site after migrating from DatoCMS?
Docusaurus sites can be deployed to Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare Pages, or any Node.js host — often on generous free tiers. Compared to DatoCMS's Free / $99+/month pricing, static Docusaurus sites can be hosted for free on Vercel or Netlify (up to generous bandwidth limits), which is significantly cheaper than running a DatoCMS instance.
Can I migrate DatoCMS custom fields and metadata to Docusaurus?
Yes. Custom fields, metadata, and taxonomies from DatoCMS are preserved during migration. In Docusaurus, these become frontmatter fields in your Markdown/MDX files, which you can extend or restructure to fit your content model.

Related Migration Guides

Explore more migration paths from DatoCMS or to Docusaurus

DatoCMS to Docusaurus Guides

In-depth guides and tutorials to help with your migration

Ready to Migrate?

Start your free migration from DatoCMS to Docusaurus today.

Start Free Migration