Qdrant
High-performance vector database โ billion-scale similarity search
๐ Overview
Qdrant is a high-performance vector database designed for billion-scale similarity search โ supporting dense, sparse, and multimodal vectors in a single engine. Unlike Chroma (embedded, single-node), Qdrant provides a Rust-based implementation with advanced filtering, quantization, and distributed search. It supports HNSW and IVF indexing, product quantization for 4x memory reduction, and payload-based filtering.
โจ Key Features
- โข27K+ GitHub stars โ fastest Rust vector database
- โขBillion-scale similarity search
- โขProduct quantization for 4x memory reduction
- โขPayload-based filtering
- โขDistributed mode
- โขApache 2.0 licensed
- โขOpenAPI interface
- โขgRPC interface
๐ฏ The Problem It Solves
RAG and semantic search applications need vector databases that scale beyond millions of embeddings while maintaining low latency. Qdrant delivers billion-scale search with advanced filtering.
๐ง How It Works
Qdrant stores vectors with optional payload metadata and indexes them using HNSW or IVF algorithms. Search combines vector similarity with payload filtering. Product quantization compresses vectors 4x for memory efficiency.
๐ Installation & Quick Start
Installation
See websiteQuick Start
- See documentation
โ Pros
- โขFastest self-hosted vector database
- โขAdvanced payload filtering
- โขBillion-scale search
- โขApache 2.0 licensed
- โขOpenAPI interface
- โขgRPC interface
โ Cons
- โขSmaller community than Milvus
- โขNo built-in embedding model
- โขSelf-hosting requires ops
- โขLimited documentation
๐ฌ Practitioner Verdict
โQdrant is the best self-hosted vector database โ the Rust implementation is fast and the filtering is unmatched. The trade-off: smaller community than Milvus, no built-in embedding model, and self-hosting requires ops knowledge.โ
Self-Hosted (Free)
Open source, MIT/Apache licensed. Run it yourself.
โญ Star & Clone on GitHubFree forever. Your infrastructure, your data.
๐ Specifications
- Language
- Rust
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Platform
- Linux, macOS, Windows
- Supported Models
- REST API, CLI
๐ฐ Pricing Reality
Self-hosted is 100% free Apache 2.0. Qdrant Cloud: Free tier (1GB), Basic $25/mo (8GB), Enterprise custom.