Apache Solr vs Meilisearch
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted search engines options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Meilisearch
Fast, typo-tolerant search engine for applications
| Feature | Apache Solr | Meilisearch |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 81 · Excellent | 100 · Excellent |
| Category | Search Engines | Search Engines |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Java | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal | docker, kubernetes, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,674 | ★ 59,391 |
| First released | 2006 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Elasticsearch, Algolia | Algolia, Elasticsearch |
What are Apache Solr and Meilisearch?
Apache Solr
Apache Solr is a highly reliable, scalable and fault-tolerant open-source search platform built on Apache Lucene. It powers full-text search, faceting and analytics for many large websites and applications.
- Lucene-powered full-text search
- Faceting and rich querying
- Distributed SolrCloud mode
- Extensive plugin ecosystem
Meilisearch
Meilisearch is an open-source, lightning-fast search engine designed for instant, typo-tolerant search-as-you-type experiences. It is easy to integrate via its REST API and ships as a single binary.
- Typo-tolerant instant search
- Single binary deployment
- Faceted search and filtering
- Simple REST API
Apache Solr vs Meilisearch: key differences
Apache Solr is written in Java, while Meilisearch is built with Rust. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Apache Solr versus MIT for Meilisearch. Meilisearch is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Apache Solr. Apache Solr is the more established project (first released 2006), while Meilisearch arrived in 2018. Meilisearch has the considerably larger community, at 59,391 GitHub stars versus 1,674.
Why pick each one
Choose Apache Solr if…
- Mature and battle-tested
- Powerful faceting
Watch out for
- Configuration is complex
Choose Meilisearch if…
- Extremely easy to set up
- Fast and lightweight
Watch out for
- Fewer features than Elasticsearch
Frequently asked questions
Is Apache Solr or Meilisearch better?
Meilisearch 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 Meilisearch free and open-source?
Yes. Apache Solr is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Meilisearch under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Apache Solr and Meilisearch with Docker?
Apache Solr: yes. Meilisearch: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Apache Solr or Meilisearch?
Meilisearch has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Apache Solr. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.