Milvus vs Weaviate (2026)

A detailed comparison of Milvus and Weaviate covering features, pricing, platform support, and more.

Verdict

Both Milvus and Weaviate are strong options. Milvus stands out for open-source and free, while Weaviate excels at open source with self-hosting option. Your choice depends on your team's workflow and priorities.

Feature Comparison

FeatureMilvusWeaviate
Vector search engineYesNo
CRUD operationsYesNo
Similarity searchYesNo
Scalable distributedYesNo
Multi-language supportYesNo
YAML configurationYesNo
Kubernetes readyYesNo
Open-source vector databaseNoYes
Hybrid search (vector + keyword)NoYes
Multi-tenancyNoYes
Built-in vectorization modulesNoYes
GraphQL APINoYes
Self-hosted or cloud optionsNoYes

Pricing Comparison

DetailMilvusWeaviate
Free TierYesYes
Free Tier DetailsOpen-source self-hostedSandbox cluster for development
Starting PriceFreeFree
Plan 1Zilliz Cloud Starter: $0/monthServerless: $25/month
Plan 2Zilliz Cloud Pro: $null/customEnterprise: $0/month

Pros & Cons

Milvus

Strengths

  • +Open-source and free
  • +Highly scalable
  • +Cloud option available
  • +Enterprise features

Limitations

  • -Steeper learning curve
  • -Smaller community than competitors
  • -Complex deployment

Platforms

apilinux
Weaviate

Strengths

  • +Open source with self-hosting option
  • +Built-in vectorization modules
  • +Excellent hybrid search capabilities
  • +Active community and ecosystem

Limitations

  • -Self-hosting requires operational expertise
  • -Steeper learning curve than Pinecone
  • -Cloud pricing can add up

Platforms

macwindowslinux

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