# Faiss

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

> Faiss is an open-source AI framework from Meta, launched in 2017, made for developers.

A C++ and Python library for fast similarity search and clustering of dense vectors.

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

## At a glance

- **Type:** [Framework](https://godooo.ai/en/browse#framework)
- **Made by:** [Meta](https://godooo.ai/en/org/meta)
- **Launched:** 2017
- **Galaxy:** [Models & APIs](https://godooo.ai/en/galaxy/builders)
- **Open source:** Yes · MIT
- **Source code:** [github.com/facebookresearch/faiss](https://github.com/facebookresearch/faiss)
- **GitHub stars:** 40,969
- **How you run it:** Self-host · Runs offline · API
- **Made for:** Developers
- **Website:** [faiss.ai](https://faiss.ai)

## What it can do

- **[Vector search](https://godooo.ai/en/capability/vector-search)** — main job, _proposed by a machine, awaiting calibration_. “Faiss is a library for efficient similarity search and clustering of dense vectors.” (read on [faiss.ai](https://faiss.ai/), 2026-09-24)

## Alternatives

- **[Chroma](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/chroma)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search
- **[LanceDB](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/lancedb)** (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
- **[Qdrant](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/qdrant)** (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:** [Semantic Search](https://godooo.ai/en/concept/semantic-search)

## Questions

### What is Faiss?

Faiss is an open-source AI framework from Meta, launched in 2017, made for developers. A C++ and Python library for fast similarity search and clustering of dense vectors.

### Is Faiss free?

Yes. Faiss is open source (MIT) and free to use.

### Is Faiss open source?

Yes, under the MIT license. The source code is at https://github.com/facebookresearch/faiss.

### Can Faiss run locally?

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

### What can Faiss do?

Main jobs: Vector search.

### Who makes Faiss?

Faiss is made by Meta.

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

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

## Sources

- [faiss.ai](https://faiss.ai/) — checked 2026-09-24
- [github.com](https://github.com/facebookresearch/faiss)

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