Apache Solr vs ZincSearch

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?
FeatureApache SolrZincSearch
CategorySearch EnginesSearch Engines
LicenseApache-2.0Apache-2.0
LanguageJavaGo
Setup difficultyHardEasy
Min. RAM1,024 MB256 MB
Deploymentdocker, kubernetes, bare-metaldocker, kubernetes, binary
GitHub stars★ 1,650★ 17,884
First released20062021
ReplacesElasticsearch, AlgoliaElasticsearch, Algolia

Why pick each one

Choose Apache Solr if…

  • Mature and battle-tested
  • Powerful faceting
Apache Solr details

Choose ZincSearch if…

  • Simple to run
  • Much lighter than Elasticsearch
ZincSearch details

Frequently asked questions

Is Apache Solr or ZincSearch better?

ZincSearch 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 ZincSearch free and open-source?

Yes. Apache Solr is licensed under Apache-2.0 and ZincSearch under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Apache Solr and ZincSearch with Docker?

Apache Solr: yes. ZincSearch: yes.

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