Framework
LightRAG
LightRAG is an open-source AI framework, launched in 2024, made for developers.
A lightweight RAG framework that retrieves through a knowledge graph as well as vectors.
Main jobs: Knowledge base (RAG). 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.
Markdown version of https://godooo.ai/en/framework/lightrag. Every page on this site has one: add .md to its address.
At a glance
- Type
- Framework
- Launched
- 2024
- Galaxy
- Models & APIs
- Open source
- Yes · MIT
- Source code
- github.com/HKUDS/LightRAG
- GitHub stars
- 39,842
- How you run it
- Self-host · API · Runs offline
- Made for
- Developers
- Website
- github.com
What it can do
Knowledge base (RAG)main jobunconfirmed
“LightRAG is a lightweight knowledge-graph RAG framework and an efficient alternative to Microsoft GraphRAG.”— github.com, 2026-09-24
Ask your documentssupportedunconfirmed
“an interface that allows you to insert, query, and visualize LightRAG knowledge through an intuitive web-based dashboard”— github.com, 2026-09-24
Vector searchsupportedunconfirmed
“It adopts a dual-layer architecture to manage both knowledge graphs (KGs) and vector embeddings”— github.com, 2026-09-24
unconfirmedproposed by a machine, awaiting calibration
Alternatives
- GraphRAGOpen source, freeAlso does: Knowledge base (RAG), Ask your documents
- RAGFlowOpen source, freeAlso does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG), Vector search
- QAnythingOpen source, freeAlso does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG), Vector search
- LlamaIndexOpen source, freeAlso does: Knowledge base (RAG), Ask your documents, Vector search
- AnythingLLMOpen source, freeAlso does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG); no code needed
- KhojOpen source, freeAlso does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG); no code needed
- kotaemonOpen source, freeAlso does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG); no code needed
- Langchain-ChatchatOpen source, freeAlso does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG)
- PrivateGPTOpen source, freeAlso does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG)
- HaystackOpen source, freeAlso does: Knowledge base (RAG), Vector search
- MaxKBOpen source, freeAlso does: Knowledge base (RAG), Ask your documents; no code needed
- NotebookLMFree plan + paid upgradesAlso does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG); no code needed
Connections
Questions
What is LightRAG?
LightRAG is an open-source AI framework, launched in 2024, made for developers. A lightweight RAG framework that retrieves through a knowledge graph as well as vectors.
Is LightRAG free?
Yes. LightRAG is open source (MIT) and free to use.
Is LightRAG open source?
Yes, under the MIT license. The source code is at https://github.com/HKUDS/LightRAG.
Can LightRAG run locally?
Yes. LightRAG can run offline on your own machine. It can also be self-hosted on your own server.
What can LightRAG do?
Main jobs: Knowledge base (RAG). It can also do: Ask your documents, Vector search.
What are open-source alternatives to LightRAG?
Open-source ones: GraphRAG, RAGFlow, QAnything, LlamaIndex, AnythingLLM, Khoj, kotaemon and Langchain-Chatchat. Others: NotebookLM.
Sources
- github.com/HKUDS/LightRAGchecked 2026-09-24