Lunr.js vs ParadeDB
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted search engines options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Lunr.js | ParadeDB |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 29 · At risk | 92 · Excellent |
| Category | Search Engines | Search Engines |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 9,203 | ★ 9,301 |
| First released | 2013 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Algolia, Elasticsearch | Elasticsearch |
What are Lunr.js and ParadeDB?
Lunr.js
Lunr.js is a small, full-text search library for use in the browser that provides a simple search index without needing a backend service. It is commonly used to add offline search to static sites and documentation.
- Browser-based search
- No backend needed
- Prebuilt index support
- Tiny library size
ParadeDB
ParadeDB is an open-source PostgreSQL-based platform that adds Elasticsearch-grade full-text search and analytics directly inside the database. It uses BM25 indexing so search can run alongside existing relational data.
- Search inside Postgres
- BM25 full-text indexing
- Analytical queries
- No separate search cluster
Lunr.js vs ParadeDB: key differences
Lunr.js is written in JavaScript, while ParadeDB is built with Rust. Licensing differs — MIT for Lunr.js versus AGPL-3.0 for ParadeDB. Lunr.js is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for ParadeDB. Lunr.js is the more established project (first released 2013), while ParadeDB arrived in 2023. ParadeDB lists first-class Docker deployment; Lunr.js does not.
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
Choose ParadeDB if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 9.3k GitHub stars
- Written in Rust
Frequently asked questions
Is Lunr.js or ParadeDB better?
Neither is universally better. ParadeDB has the larger community, while Lunr.js is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Lunr.js and ParadeDB free and open-source?
Yes. Lunr.js is licensed under MIT and ParadeDB under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Lunr.js and ParadeDB with Docker?
Lunr.js: check the project docs for container support. ParadeDB: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Lunr.js or ParadeDB?
Lunr.js has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for ParadeDB. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.