# Chroma

Framework · https://godooo.ai/en/framework/chroma

> Chroma is an open-source AI framework from Chroma, launched in 2022, made for developers and businesses.

A database for storing and searching embeddings, with vector and full-text search.

Main jobs: Vector search. It is open source and free to use. You can use it on your own server, through an API and offline on your own machine.

## At a glance

- **Type:** [Framework](https://godooo.ai/en/browse#framework)
- **Made by:** [Chroma](https://godooo.ai/en/org/chroma)
- **Launched:** 2022
- **Galaxy:** [Models & APIs](https://godooo.ai/en/galaxy/builders)
- **Open source:** Yes · Apache-2.0
- **Source code:** [github.com/chroma-core/chroma](https://github.com/chroma-core/chroma)
- **GitHub stars:** 29,365
- **How you run it:** Self-host · API · Runs offline
- **Made for:** Developers · Businesses
- **Website:** [trychroma.com](https://www.trychroma.com)
- **Also known as:** ChromaDB

## What it can do

- **[Vector search](https://godooo.ai/en/capability/vector-search)** — main job, _proposed by a machine, awaiting calibration_. “Vector search Semantic similarity search” (read on [trychroma.com](https://www.trychroma.com/), 2026-09-24)

## Alternatives

- **[LanceDB](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/lancedb)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search
- **[Qdrant](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/qdrant)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search
- **[Faiss](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/faiss)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search
- **[Milvus](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/milvus)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search
- **[pgvector](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/pgvector)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search
- **[Weaviate](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/weaviate)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search
- **[Chroma MCP Server](https://godooo.ai/en/mcp/chroma)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search
- **[Qdrant MCP Server](https://godooo.ai/en/mcp/qdrant)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search
- **[LlamaIndex](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/llamaindex)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search
- **[RAGFlow](https://godooo.ai/en/product/ragflow)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search
- **[BGE](https://godooo.ai/en/model/bge)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search
- **[Graphiti](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/graphiti)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search

## Connections

- **Applies:** [Vector Database](https://godooo.ai/en/concept/vector-database)

## Questions

### What is Chroma?

Chroma is an open-source AI framework from Chroma, launched in 2022, made for developers and businesses. A database for storing and searching embeddings, with vector and full-text search.

### Is Chroma free?

Yes. Chroma is open source (Apache-2.0) and free to use.

### Is Chroma open source?

Yes, under the Apache-2.0 license. The source code is at https://github.com/chroma-core/chroma.

### Can Chroma run locally?

Yes. Chroma can run offline on your own machine. It can also be self-hosted on your own server.

### What can Chroma do?

Main jobs: Vector search.

### Who makes Chroma?

Chroma is made by Chroma.

### What are open-source alternatives to Chroma?

Open-source ones: LanceDB, Qdrant, Faiss, Milvus, pgvector, Weaviate, Chroma MCP Server and Qdrant MCP Server.

## Sources

- [trychroma.com](https://www.trychroma.com/) — checked 2026-09-24
- [github.com](https://github.com/chroma-core/chroma)

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Last updated 2026-09-24 · sources checked 2026-09-24 · Markdown version of https://godooo.ai/en/framework/chroma. Every page on this site has one: add .md to its address.