Weaviate
Weaviate / weaviate.io
Open source vector database with built-in ML model integrations for semantic search, RAG applications, and AI-powered retrieval, with hybrid search and multi-tenancy support.
Pricing
$25/mo
Free plan
Yes
Category
Developer Tools
Platforms
3
Free plan
Yes
API access
Yes
Open source
Yes
Platforms
3
What is Weaviate?
Weaviate is an open source vector database distinguishing itself through built-in ML model integrations (OpenAI, Cohere, Hugging Face) that vectorise data during import rather than requiring an external embedding step. Hybrid search combines vector similarity with keyword filtering for better retrieval quality than pure semantic search. Multi-tenancy supports SaaS applications serving multiple customers from a single deployment. Available self-hosted or as managed cloud.
How Weaviate works
Weaviate runs as ml platform software built around text and data workflows. Users typically start with a prompt, upload, or connected data source, and the underlying model handles the heavy lifting before returning a result you can refine or export. It's available on web, python, and javascript, with API access for teams that want to embed it into their own products.
Watch Weaviate in action
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What makes it worth shortlisting
The capabilities that matter most for teams evaluating Weaviate.
Hybrid search
Combines vector similarity search with keyword filtering for retrieval quality improvements over pure semantic search.
Built-in model integrations
Calls model providers during data import to vectorise content, simplifying the ingestion pipeline.
Multi-tenancy
Built-in support for isolating data across multiple customers within a single Weaviate deployment for SaaS applications.
Best use cases
Who should use it
Pros
- Open source with self-hosting option provides complete data control
- Built-in ML model integrations simplify vectorisation pipeline
- Hybrid search produces better retrieval quality than pure semantic search
- Multi-tenancy supports SaaS applications with multiple customers
Cons
- More complex to configure than Pinecone managed service
- Self-hosted requires infrastructure management expertise
- Cloud pricing less predictable than Pinecone transparent per-index model
Is it worth the price?
Open source self-hosted free. Cloud sandbox free. Standard cloud from $25/month. Enterprise cloud custom pricing.
Model
Open Source
Starting price
$25/mo
Free trial
No
Tools like Weaviate
Pinecone is the most adopted managed vector database. Qdrant is a Rust-based open source alternative. Chroma is a lightweight development-focused alternative. PgVector extends PostgreSQL.
Weaviate vs Pinecone
A side-by-side look at the closest alternative in this category.
Weaviate
Weaviate
Pinecone
Pinecone Systems
Open source self-hosted free. Cloud sandbox free. Standard cloud from $25/month. Enterprise cloud custom pricing.
Free Starter plan (5 indexes, 2GB storage). Standard $70/month (10 indexes, more storage). Enterprise custom pricing with dedicated infrastructure.
SOC 2 Type II. GDPR compliant. Open source self-hosted provides complete data control. Enterprise cloud includes data handling agreements.
SOC 2 Type II certified. GDPR compliant. Enterprise includes dedicated infrastructure and data handling agreements.
Open source self-hosted provides full data control. Managed cloud processes data on Weaviate infrastructure. Review privacy policy for cloud deployments.
Review Pinecone's data handling policy. Stored vector data and metadata are processed on Pinecone's infrastructure. Enterprise includes data processing agreements.
- Open source with self-hosting option provides complete data control
- Built-in ML model integrations simplify vectorisation pipeline
- Hybrid search produces better retrieval quality than pure semantic search
- Multi-tenancy supports SaaS applications with multiple customers
- Most adopted managed vector database with large ecosystem support
- Serverless tier reduces cost for variable query volume workloads
- Excellent documentation and LangChain/LlamaIndex integration
- Managed service eliminates vector database infrastructure management
- More complex to configure than Pinecone managed service
- Self-hosted requires infrastructure management expertise
- Cloud pricing less predictable than Pinecone transparent per-index model
- Free plan's 5-index and 2GB limits require upgrade for larger applications
- Standard plan at $70/month is more expensive than self-hosted alternatives
- Vendor lock-in more pronounced than open source alternatives
Technical & deployment info
Key facts about model providers, platforms, and team support.
Model Provider
OpenAI, Cohere, Hugging Face, Agnostic
Platforms
Web, Python, JavaScript
Deployment
Open Source, SaaS, Self-hosted
Integrations
LangChain, LlamaIndex, OpenAI, Anthropic, Hugging Face, Cohere, AWS, GCP, Azure
Team Collaboration
No
Launch Year
2019
Security & privacy
Compliance signals and data-handling notes as reported by the vendor.
SOC 2 Type II. GDPR compliant. Open source self-hosted provides complete data control. Enterprise cloud includes data handling agreements.
Open source self-hosted provides full data control. Managed cloud processes data on Weaviate infrastructure. Review privacy policy for cloud deployments.
What users are saying
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Common questions about Weaviate
Editorial Verdict
Should you use Weaviate?
Weaviate is the best vector database for teams that need open source self-hosting, hybrid search, or built-in model integrations. Pinecone is simpler for managed cloud vector storage.
Last verified July 24, 2026.