hnswlib vs USearch
hnswlib: Header-only C++ HNSW library with Python bindings, from the authors of the HNSW algorithm. USearch: Single-header C++ HNSW library with SIMD distance kernels and bindings for a dozen languages.
key differences
- USearch is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than hnswlib (≤ 10 TB).
- Only USearch has compression, runs in webassembly.
choose hnswlib for
- +Embedding HNSW in applications
- +Baseline for ANN benchmarks
- +Small in-process semantic search
best at · Vector search, Embedded
choose usearch for
- +Embedding ANN search into a database or application
- +On-device semantic search on mobile
- +Fast similarity joins and clustering in data pipelines
best at · Vector search, Embedded, Edge
hnswlib vs USearch: FAQ
What is the difference between hnswlib and USearch?
hnswlib: Header-only C++ HNSW library with Python bindings, from the authors of the HNSW algorithm. USearch: Single-header C++ HNSW library with SIMD distance kernels and bindings for a dozen languages. USearch is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than hnswlib (≤ 10 TB). Only USearch has compression, runs in webassembly.
When should I choose hnswlib over USearch?
Choose hnswlib for embedding HNSW in applications, baseline for ANN benchmarks and small in-process semantic search. Choose USearch for embedding ANN search into a database or application; on-device semantic search on mobile; and fast similarity joins and clustering in data pipelines.
Is hnswlib or USearch more popular?
USearch ranks #132 on the WhichDB Score (23.1/100) and hnswlib ranks #211 (15.5/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.
Are hnswlib and USearch open source?
Yes. hnswlib is open source. License: Apache License 2.0. Yes. USearch is open source. License: Apache License 2.0.