# Weaviate

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

> Weaviate is an open-source AI framework, launched in 2016, made for developers and businesses.

A vector database that combines vector search with keyword filtering in one query.

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)
- **Launched:** 2016
- **Galaxy:** [Models & APIs](https://godooo.ai/en/galaxy/builders)
- **Open source:** Yes
- **Source code:** [github.com/weaviate/weaviate](https://github.com/weaviate/weaviate)
- **GitHub stars:** 16,841
- **How you run it:** Self-host · API · Runs offline
- **Made for:** Developers · Businesses
- **Website:** [weaviate.io](https://weaviate.io/developers/weaviate)

## What it can do

- **[Vector search](https://godooo.ai/en/capability/vector-search)** — main job, _proposed by a machine, awaiting calibration_. “Weaviate is an open-source vector database designed to store and index both data objects and their vector embeddings.” (read on [docs.weaviate.io](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate), 2026-09-24)
- **[Embeddings](https://godooo.ai/en/capability/embeddings)** — supported, _proposed by a machine, awaiting calibration_. “Weaviate supports two approaches to store vectors: automatic vectorization at import using integrated models (OpenAI, Cohere, HuggingFace, and others) or direct import of pre-computed vector embeddings.” (read on [github.com](https://github.com/weaviate/weaviate), 2026-09-24)
- **[Knowledge base (RAG)](https://godooo.ai/en/capability/knowledge-base)** — supported, _proposed by a machine, awaiting calibration_. “Weaviate can serve as a robust backend for RAG workflows, where vector search is used to retrieve context that enhances the output of generative models” (read on [docs.weaviate.io](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate), 2026-09-24)

## Alternatives

- **[Milvus](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/milvus)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search, Knowledge base (RAG)
- **[Qdrant](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/qdrant)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search, Knowledge base (RAG)
- **[LanceDB](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/lancedb)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search, Knowledge base (RAG)
- **[Chroma MCP Server](https://godooo.ai/en/mcp/chroma)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search, Knowledge base (RAG)
- **[LlamaIndex](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/llamaindex)** (Open source, free): Also does: Knowledge base (RAG), Vector search
- **[RAGFlow](https://godooo.ai/en/product/ragflow)** (Open source, free): Also does: Knowledge base (RAG), Vector search
- **[BGE](https://godooo.ai/en/model/bge)** (Open source, free): Also does: Embeddings, Vector search
- **[Chroma](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/chroma)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search
- **[Faiss](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/faiss)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search
- **[Haystack](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/haystack)** (Open source, free): Also does: Knowledge base (RAG), Vector search
- **[LightRAG](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/lightrag)** (Open source, free): Also does: Knowledge base (RAG), Vector search
- **[pgvector](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/pgvector)** (Open source, free): Also does: Vector search

## Connections

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

## Questions

### What is Weaviate?

Weaviate is an open-source AI framework, launched in 2016, made for developers and businesses. A vector database that combines vector search with keyword filtering in one query.

### Is Weaviate free?

Yes. Weaviate is open source and free to use.

### Is Weaviate open source?

Yes. The source code is at https://github.com/weaviate/weaviate.

### Can Weaviate run locally?

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

### What can Weaviate do?

Main jobs: Vector search. It can also do: Embeddings, Knowledge base (RAG).

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

Open-source ones: Milvus, Qdrant, LanceDB, Chroma MCP Server, LlamaIndex, RAGFlow, BGE and Chroma.

## Sources

- [docs.weaviate.io](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate) — checked 2026-09-24
- [github.com](https://github.com/weaviate/weaviate) — checked 2026-09-24
- [weaviate.io](https://weaviate.io/developers/weaviate)

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