Meilisearch
Meilisearch: A flexible search engine combining open-source deployment with managed cloud access. Ranked #5 of 30 in Search Databases by our editors (8.9/10); pricing: Free plan · 14-day trial; best for fast developer-friendly hosted or self-hosted search.
At a glance
- Editor score8.9 / 10
- PricingFree plan · 14-day trial
- Best forFast developer-friendly hosted or self-hosted search
- Free planYes
- Paid from$20/mo
- Vector searchYes
- Founded2019 · Paris, France
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Typo-tolerant full-text, faceted, vector, hybrid, and federated search
- Self-hosted open-source deployment plus a managed Cloud option
- Official SDKs and integrations across major languages and frameworks
Where it doesn't
- Cloud billing is usage-based or resource-based
- SSO SAML and SOC 2 compliance are limited to Enterprise
- The free trial lasts 14 days
Our verdict on Meilisearch
Meilisearch is a search engine for websites and applications, available as self-hosted open-source software or a managed cloud service. It is aimed at developers who need fast full-text search with typo tolerance, relevance ranking, search-as-you-type, filtering, sorting, and real-time indexing. Its broader retrieval toolkit also covers vector, semantic, hybrid, federated, and multimodal search, while scoped API keys and multi-tenancy support application-level access controls. REST access and official SDKs make it suitable for teams building search directly into digital products.
Pricing is split between Cloud and Enterprise, alongside free self-hosting and a 14-day free trial. The Cloud plan starts at $20 per month and uses usage-based or resource-based billing, with fully managed cloud infrastructure and email support included. Enterprise adds custom infrastructure, dedicated resources, up to 99.999% uptime SLA, a dedicated Slack support channel, SSO SAML, and SOC 2 compliance. This structure fits teams that want to begin with a lower-cost cloud deployment or retain control through open-source self-hosting. Organizations needing the Enterprise support and compliance features should plan around the higher-tier offering.
The platform has a broad integration footprint: JavaScript, Python, PHP, Ruby, Go, Rust, Java, .NET, Swift, and Dart are supported through official SDKs, while Laravel Scout, Ruby on Rails, Symfony, Strapi, and Firebase Sync extend ecosystem fit. Search can span multiple indexes through federated search, and AI-powered retrieval includes vector, hybrid, and multimodal capabilities using AI embeddings. Meilisearch is a strong choice for developer-led teams that value deployment flexibility and varied search modes. Teams seeking a narrowly focused full-text service may not need its wider feature set.
Your product? Our editors can test Meilisearch in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Meilisearch pricing
All 2 Meilisearch plans and prices →
Meilisearch fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $20/mo |
| Primary search mode | Full-text |
| Vector search | Yes |
| Faceted search | Yes |
| Deployment | Both |
| Index limit | Not verified |
| Query interface | REST |
| Free trial | 14 days · no card needed |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Compliance & security | SOC 2, GDPR, SSO/SAML |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 20 integrations: JavaScript, Python, PHP, Ruby, Go, Rust … See all → |
| Pricing | Free plan · 14-day trial (source) |
| Website | meilisearch.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Meilisearch integrations
Meilisearch lists 20 integrations on its own site.
- JavaScript
- Python
- PHP
- Ruby
- Go
- Rust
- Java
- .NET
- Swift
- Dart
- Laravel Scout
- Ruby on Rails
- Symfony
- Strapi
- Firebase Sync
- React
- Vue
- Angular
- InstantSearch Vanilla JS
- Docker
See all Meilisearch integrations →
Alternatives to Meilisearch
- Manticore SearchA broad, free search database for teams that want SQL and self-hosted control.9.4
- Apache SolrA self-hosted search server with broad query, indexing, and distributed deployment capabilities.9.3
- ElasticsearchA broad hybrid search engine for teams that need scale, analytics, and vector retrieval.9.2
See all Meilisearch alternatives →
Meilisearch vs the competition
- Meilisearch vs Manticore Search
- Meilisearch vs Apache Solr
- Meilisearch vs Elasticsearch
- Meilisearch vs Algolia
- Meilisearch vs Typesense
- Meilisearch vs Datafari
Compare Meilisearch with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Meilisearch is ranked in 4 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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