GraphRAG vs LightRAG
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted self-hosted ai options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
GraphRAG
Graph-based retrieval-augmented generation system
VS
LightRAG
Simple and fast retrieval-augmented generation with graphs
| Feature | GraphRAG | LightRAG |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Self-Hosted AI | Self-Hosted AI |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 35,323 | ★ 38,622 |
| First released | 2024 | 2024 |
| Replaces | OpenAI Assistants | OpenAI Assistants |
Why pick each one
Choose GraphRAG if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Mature project with 35.3k GitHub stars
- Written in Python
Choose LightRAG if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 38.6k GitHub stars
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is GraphRAG or LightRAG better?
LightRAG is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider GraphRAG if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are GraphRAG and LightRAG free and open-source?
Yes. GraphRAG is licensed under MIT and LightRAG under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run GraphRAG and LightRAG with Docker?
GraphRAG: check the project docs for container support. LightRAG: yes.