ParadeDB vs pgvector
ParadeDB: Elasticsearch-quality BM25 search and fast aggregations inside Postgres via the pg_search extension. pgvector: The standard Postgres extension for vector similarity search with HNSW and IVFFlat indexes.
key differences
- ParadeDB is primarily a search engine database; pgvector is vector.
- Licensing: ParadeDB is open source (copyleft) (GNU AGPL v3 (Community); commercial license for Enterprise); pgvector is open source (permissive) (PostgreSQL License).
- Horizontal scaling is none in ParadeDB and addon in pgvector.
- Only ParadeDB has columnar storage.
choose paradedb for
- +Search inside a Postgres-backed SaaS app
- +Hybrid search for RAG next to relational data
- +Faceted catalog and marketplace search
- +Replacing Elasticsearch + ETL with one database
best at · Search, Vector search, RAG
choose pgvector for
- +Adding semantic search to an existing Postgres app
- +RAG with permission filtering via SQL joins
- +Recommendations next to product data
- +Deduplication and similarity lookups
best at · Vector search, RAG, OLTP
ParadeDB vs pgvector: FAQ
What is the difference between ParadeDB and pgvector?
ParadeDB: Elasticsearch-quality BM25 search and fast aggregations inside Postgres via the pg_search extension. pgvector: The standard Postgres extension for vector similarity search with HNSW and IVFFlat indexes. ParadeDB is primarily a search engine database; pgvector is vector. Licensing: ParadeDB is open source (copyleft) (GNU AGPL v3 (Community); commercial license for Enterprise); pgvector is open source (permissive) (PostgreSQL License). Horizontal scaling is none in ParadeDB and addon in pgvector.
When should I choose ParadeDB over pgvector?
Choose ParadeDB for search inside a Postgres-backed SaaS app; hybrid search for RAG next to relational data; and faceted catalog and marketplace search. Choose pgvector for adding semantic search to an existing Postgres app, RAG with permission filtering via SQL joins and recommendations next to product data.
Is ParadeDB or pgvector more popular?
pgvector ranks #44 on the WhichDB Score (40.0/100) and ParadeDB ranks #122 (25.1/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.
Are ParadeDB and pgvector open source?
Yes. ParadeDB is open source. License: GNU AGPL v3 (Community); commercial license for Enterprise. Yes. pgvector is open source. License: PostgreSQL License.