Apache Solr vs Lunr.js
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted search engines options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Apache Solr
Enterprise-grade open-source search platform
VS
Lunr.js
Small full-text search library for the browser
| Feature | Apache Solr | Lunr.js |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Search Engines | Search Engines |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Java | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,650 | ★ 9,202 |
| First released | 2006 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Elasticsearch, Algolia | Algolia, Elasticsearch |
Why pick each one
Choose Lunr.js if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 9.2k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Apache Solr or Lunr.js better?
Lunr.js is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Apache Solr if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Apache Solr and Lunr.js free and open-source?
Yes. Apache Solr is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Lunr.js under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Apache Solr and Lunr.js with Docker?
Apache Solr: yes. Lunr.js: check the project docs for container support.