OpenSearch
Apache-licensed search and analytics engine run by a Linux Foundation project.
Latest release: 3.9.0 · released Sep 29, 2026
In short
A full search and analytics engine, forked from the last Apache-licensed Elasticsearch and Kibana. It is free with no paid edition from the project; you run it yourself or pay a third-party managed provider.
Made by: OpenSearch Software Foundation · Where your data lives: On servers you run yourself, or with the managed provider you choose.
Logo from: opensearch.org
The editor’s 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.
Download & install
Every link goes to the official site, an official app store, or the project’s own GitHub releases.
Latest release: 3.9.0 · released Sep 29, 2026 · fetched from GitHub on Oct 3, 2026 · Releases on GitHub
Getting started without coding
Plain-language steps based on the official install guide.
You need to run a server (Docker or command line), or ask someone who can.
You run and secure a Java-based server from the command line (Docker, Linux packages or the Windows zip), or pay a managed provider.
Is there an installer?
- Windows Zip/archive only
- Mac Not available
- Linux Package
- iPhone & iPad Not available
- Android Not available
No official hosted version. The project has no hosted version of its own; opensearch.org lists third-party managed providers such as Amazon OpenSearch Service.
Steps for Windows
- Download the Windows .zip from opensearch.org/downloads (Java is included).
- Extract it to a folder whose path has no spaces.
- In Command Prompt, set an admin password and run the install script, as the Windows guide shows.
Steps for Mac
- There is no native Mac package: install Docker Desktop and give it at least 4 GB of memory.
- Download the official docker-compose.yml, set an admin password and start it.
- Open http://localhost:5601 for OpenSearch Dashboards.
Steps for Linux
- Pick the .deb, .rpm or tarball for your CPU on opensearch.org/downloads, or use Docker.
- Raise vm.max_map_count to at least 262144, as the docs require.
- Set a custom admin password before the first start.
Steps for Your own server
- Plan a server or cluster with enough memory for the Java heap.
- Start from the official Docker Compose file (two nodes plus OpenSearch Dashboards).
- Before production, replace the demo certificates and default users.
What we could verify
We checked key factual claims and linked to primary sources so you can confirm the details. Last reviewed Oct 3, 2026
Try before you move
A simple way to see if it fits your needs.
- Index a copy of your real dataLoad a realistic sample, including messy records and other languages.
- Run your top queries side by sideCompare the top results for the 20 searches your users make most.
- Count the real costInclude hosting, backups, upgrades and who will look after it.