# LightRAG

Framework · https://godooo.ai/en/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.

## At a glance

- **Type:** [Framework](https://godooo.ai/en/browse#framework)
- **Launched:** 2024
- **Galaxy:** [Models & APIs](https://godooo.ai/en/galaxy/builders)
- **Open source:** Yes · MIT
- **Source code:** [github.com/HKUDS/LightRAG](https://github.com/HKUDS/LightRAG)
- **GitHub stars:** 39,842
- **How you run it:** Self-host · API · Runs offline
- **Made for:** Developers
- **Website:** [github.com](https://github.com/HKUDS/LightRAG)

## What it can do

- **[Knowledge base (RAG)](https://godooo.ai/en/capability/knowledge-base)** — main job, _proposed by a machine, awaiting calibration_. “LightRAG is a lightweight knowledge-graph RAG framework and an efficient alternative to Microsoft GraphRAG.” (read on [github.com](https://github.com/HKUDS/LightRAG), 2026-09-24)
- **[Ask your documents](https://godooo.ai/en/capability/document-qa)** — supported, _proposed by a machine, awaiting calibration_. “an interface that allows you to insert, query, and visualize LightRAG knowledge through an intuitive web-based dashboard” (read on [github.com](https://github.com/HKUDS/LightRAG), 2026-09-24)
- **[Vector search](https://godooo.ai/en/capability/vector-search)** — supported, _proposed by a machine, awaiting calibration_. “It adopts a dual-layer architecture to manage both knowledge graphs (KGs) and vector embeddings” (read on [github.com](https://github.com/HKUDS/LightRAG), 2026-09-24)

## Alternatives

- **[GraphRAG](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/graphrag)** (Open source, free): Also does: Knowledge base (RAG), Ask your documents
- **[RAGFlow](https://godooo.ai/en/product/ragflow)** (Open source, free): Also does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG), Vector search
- **[QAnything](https://godooo.ai/en/product/qanything)** (Open source, free): Also does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG), Vector search
- **[LlamaIndex](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/llamaindex)** (Open source, free): Also does: Knowledge base (RAG), Ask your documents, Vector search
- **[AnythingLLM](https://godooo.ai/en/product/anythingllm)** (Open source, free): Also does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG); no code needed
- **[Khoj](https://godooo.ai/en/product/khoj)** (Open source, free): Also does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG); no code needed
- **[kotaemon](https://godooo.ai/en/product/kotaemon)** (Open source, free): Also does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG); no code needed
- **[Langchain-Chatchat](https://godooo.ai/en/product/langchain-chatchat)** (Open source, free): Also does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG)
- **[PrivateGPT](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/privategpt)** (Open source, free): Also does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG)
- **[Haystack](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/haystack)** (Open source, free): Also does: Knowledge base (RAG), Vector search
- **[MaxKB](https://godooo.ai/en/product/maxkb)** (Open source, free): Also does: Knowledge base (RAG), Ask your documents; no code needed
- **[NotebookLM](https://godooo.ai/en/product/notebooklm)** (Free plan + paid upgrades): Also does: Ask your documents, Knowledge base (RAG); no code needed

## Connections

- **Applies:** [Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)](https://godooo.ai/en/concept/rag), [Knowledge Graph](https://godooo.ai/en/concept/knowledge-graph)

## 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](https://github.com/HKUDS/LightRAG) — checked 2026-09-24

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