Algolia vs. OpenSearch
Side by side, with sources. Checked Oct 3, 2026.
Algolia
Paid plans
OpenSearch
Open sourcePrice
Free plan: 10K searches a month and 50K records, no card. Grow is pay-as-you-go: US$0.50 per extra 1,000 searches and US$0.40 per extra 1,000 records.Source: algolia.com
Free and open source under Apache-2.0. Managed hosting is sold by third-party providers at their own prices.Source: opensearch.org
Pricing model
Paid plans · Free plan available
Open source · Free plan available
License
ProprietaryA proprietary hosted service under Algolia’s terms of service.
Open source · Apache-2.0All software in the OpenSearch project is released under Apache-2.0.
Works on
- – Windows
- – Mac
- – Linux
- ✓ Web browser
- – Your own server
- ✓ Windows
- ✓ Mac
- ✓ Linux
- – Web browser
- ✓ Your own server
Where your data lives
On Algolia’s servers, in the US, UK or EU West on the free and Grow plans.
On servers you run yourself, or with the managed provider you choose.
Getting started
—
Difficulty: Advanced You run and secure a Java-based server from the command line (Docker, Linux packages or the Windows zip), or pay a managed provider.
Hosted version
—
NoneThe project has no hosted version of its own; opensearch.org lists third-party managed providers such as Amazon OpenSearch Service.
Our take
More engine than most sites need, but a safe long-term bet for large data and logs. Plan for real operations work.
Best for
Large data and analytics
Organisations indexing logs, documents or catalogues at scale, with people to run it.
Check first
Operations cost
You need to size, secure and upgrade a Java cluster, or pay a managed provider.