hnswlib vs ScaNN
hnswlib: Header-only C++ HNSW library with Python bindings, from the authors of the HNSW algorithm. ScaNN: Google Research's ANN library using anisotropic quantization; the tech behind Vertex AI and AlloyDB vectors.
key differences
- ScaNN is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than hnswlib (≤ 10 TB).
- Only ScaNN has compression.
choose hnswlib for
- +Embedding HNSW in applications
- +Baseline for ANN benchmarks
- +Small in-process semantic search
best at · Vector search, Embedded
choose scann for
- +High-throughput batch similarity search
- +ANN research and benchmarking
- +Embedding retrieval inside Python ML pipelines
best at · Vector search, Embedded, Scientific
hnswlib vs ScaNN: FAQ
What is the difference between hnswlib and ScaNN?
hnswlib: Header-only C++ HNSW library with Python bindings, from the authors of the HNSW algorithm. ScaNN: Google Research's ANN library using anisotropic quantization; the tech behind Vertex AI and AlloyDB vectors. ScaNN is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than hnswlib (≤ 10 TB). Only ScaNN has compression.
When should I choose hnswlib over ScaNN?
Choose hnswlib for embedding HNSW in applications, baseline for ANN benchmarks and small in-process semantic search. Choose ScaNN for high-throughput batch similarity search; ANN research and benchmarking; and embedding retrieval inside Python ML pipelines.
Is hnswlib or ScaNN more popular?
hnswlib ranks #211 on the WhichDB Score (15.5/100) and ScaNN ranks #365 (6.3/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.
Are hnswlib and ScaNN open source?
Yes. hnswlib is open source. License: Apache License 2.0. Yes. ScaNN is open source. License: Apache License 2.0.