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.
Not the right match-up?
Apache Solr
Enterprise-grade open-source search platform
VS
Meilisearch
Fast, typo-tolerant search engine for applications
| Feature | Apache Solr | Meilisearch |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ★ 1,650 | ★ 58,904 |
| First released | 2006 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Elasticsearch, Algolia | Algolia, Elasticsearch |
Why pick each one
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.