Manticore Search vs SearX

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?
FeatureManticore SearchSearX
CategorySearch EnginesSearch Engines
LicenseGPL-3.0AGPL-3.0
LanguageC++Python
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM256 MB256 MB
Deploymentdocker, kubernetes, bare-metaldocker, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 11,928★ 13,532
First released20172014
ReplacesElasticsearch, AlgoliaGoogle Search, Bing

Why pick each one

Choose Manticore Search if…

  • Lightweight and fast
  • SQL-friendly
Manticore Search details

Choose SearX if…

  • Lightweight
  • Foundational privacy search
SearX details

Frequently asked questions

Is Manticore Search or SearX better?

SearX is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Manticore Search if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Manticore Search and SearX free and open-source?

Yes. Manticore Search is licensed under GPL-3.0 and SearX under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Manticore Search and SearX with Docker?

Manticore Search: yes. SearX: yes.

Related comparisons