C
pgvector
Vector search inside PostgreSQL
by pgvector · PostgreSQL
Vector databasePostgres extensionPostgreSQLSelf-hostedCBeginner
From the README
Install
docker pull pgvector/pgvector:pg18-trixie
- exact and approximate nearest neighbor search
- single-precision, half-precision, binary, and sparse vectors
- L2 distance, inner product, cosine distance, L1 distance, Hamming distance, and Jaccard distance
Excerpts from the project README on GitHub. Copyright and licensing remain with the respective authors.
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🚀 Latest release ·
What is pgvector?
pgvector is a PostgreSQL extension that adds vector similarity search to your existing database, so you can do RAG without a separate vector store.
Why people choose pgvector
- No new infrastructure — it is just Postgres
- Keep vectors next to relational data
- Mature, well-supported ecosystem
pgvector at a glance
| Category | Vector database |
| Type | Postgres extension |
| License | PostgreSQL |
| Runs locally | Self-hosted |
| Built with | C |
| Skill level | Beginner |
| Best for | teams already running PostgreSQL |
Latest releases
Open-source alternatives to pgvector
Other open-source vector database tools worth comparing:
QdrantFast Rust-based vector search
WeaviateVector DB with built-in modules
MilvusBillion-scale vector database
ChromaThe simplest embedding DB for prototyping
LanceDBServerless vector DB for AI
FAISSThe reference library for similarity search
VespaBig-scale hybrid search and ranking platform
pgvectorscaleMake pgvector fast at scale
MarqoVector search with embedding built in
USearchTiny, extremely fast vector indexpgvector head-to-head
pgvector vs Qdrantpgvector vs Weaviatepgvector vs Milvuspgvector vs Chromapgvector vs LanceDBpgvector vs FAISSpgvector vs Vespapgvector vs pgvectorscalepgvector vs Marqopgvector vs USearch
FAQ
Is pgvector free?
pgvector is free and open-source (PostgreSQL license), so you can use, self-host and modify it at no cost.
Can I run pgvector locally?
Yes. pgvector is designed to run on your own machine or server, keeping your data private.
What is the best alternative to pgvector?
Popular open-source alternatives include Qdrant, Weaviate, Milvus. See the comparisons above to choose.
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