# Best open source search engines > The best open source search engine is MeiliSearch, with 59,497 GitHub stars, the MIT license and a Docker image; ElasticSearch and SearXNG are strong alternatives. This page also breaks the picks down by team size and use: MeiliSearch leads for startups; ElasticSearch for enterprise. The overall ranking weighs GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits across the 15 apps in the search engines category of the appsgit catalog. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | |---|---| | Question | What is the best open source search engine? | | Picks | 20 | | Top pick | MeiliSearch (59,497 stars) | | Data as of | Oct 7, 2026 | | Canonical URL | https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-search-engines | ## Top picks 10 of the 15 apps in the search engines category, ranked on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [MeiliSearch](https://appsgit.com/apps/meilisearch) (59,497 stars, MIT, Rust, Docker): MeiliSearch has 59,497 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 1,966 commits in the last year; it replaces Algolia. - [ElasticSearch](https://appsgit.com/apps/elasticsearch) (78,194 stars, AGPL-3.0 / SSPL-1.0 / Elastic-2.0, Java): ElasticSearch has 78,194 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0, SSPL 1.0 or Elastic License 2.0 (your choice) license and had 13,336 commits in the last year; it replaces Algolia. - [SearXNG](https://appsgit.com/apps/searxng) (38,014 stars, AGPL-3.0, Python, Docker): SearXNG has 38,014 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 767 commits in the last year. - [Typesense](https://appsgit.com/apps/typesense) (26,631 stars, GPL-3.0, C++, Docker): Typesense has 26,631 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 176 commits in the last year; it replaces Algolia. - [OpenSearch](https://appsgit.com/apps/opensearch) (13,815 stars, Apache-2.0, Java, Docker): OpenSearch has 13,815 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,370 commits in the last year; it replaces Algolia. - [Manticore Search](https://appsgit.com/apps/manticore-search) (12,043 stars, GPL-3.0, C++, Docker): Manticore Search has 12,043 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,208 commits in the last year; it replaces Algolia. - [Hister](https://appsgit.com/apps/hister) (5,909 stars, AGPL-3.0, Go, Docker): Hister has 5,909 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,823 commits in the last year. - [Yacy](https://appsgit.com/apps/yacy) (4,055 stars, GPL-2.0, Java, Docker): Yacy has 4,055 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 208 commits in the last year. - [Apache Solr](https://appsgit.com/apps/apache-solr) (1,681 stars, Apache-2.0, Java, Docker): Apache Solr has 1,681 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 844 commits in the last year. - [Fess](https://appsgit.com/apps/fess) (1,139 stars, Apache-2.0, Java, Docker, AI features): Fess has 1,139 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 572 commits in the last year. ## Best for startups Ranked for startups on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses, project websites and recent commits. - [MeiliSearch](https://appsgit.com/apps/meilisearch) (59,497 stars, MIT, Rust, Docker): MeiliSearch has 59,497 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 1,966 commits in the last year; it replaces Algolia. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, a permissive license (MIT), a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [SearXNG](https://appsgit.com/apps/searxng) (38,014 stars, AGPL-3.0, Python, Docker): SearXNG has 38,014 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 767 commits in the last year. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [ElasticSearch](https://appsgit.com/apps/elasticsearch) (78,194 stars, AGPL-3.0 / SSPL-1.0 / Elastic-2.0, Java): ElasticSearch has 78,194 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0, SSPL 1.0 or Elastic License 2.0 (your choice) license and had 13,336 commits in the last year; it replaces Algolia. For startups it also scores on an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [OpenSearch](https://appsgit.com/apps/opensearch) (13,815 stars, Apache-2.0, Java, Docker): OpenSearch has 13,815 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,370 commits in the last year; it replaces Algolia. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, a permissive license (Apache-2.0), a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Typesense](https://appsgit.com/apps/typesense) (26,631 stars, GPL-3.0, C++, Docker): Typesense has 26,631 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 176 commits in the last year; it replaces Algolia. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. ## Best for enterprise Ranked for enterprise on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [ElasticSearch](https://appsgit.com/apps/elasticsearch) (78,194 stars, AGPL-3.0 / SSPL-1.0 / Elastic-2.0, Java): ElasticSearch has 78,194 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0, SSPL 1.0 or Elastic License 2.0 (your choice) license and had 13,336 commits in the last year; it replaces Algolia. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [MeiliSearch](https://appsgit.com/apps/meilisearch) (59,497 stars, MIT, Rust, Docker): MeiliSearch has 59,497 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 1,966 commits in the last year; it replaces Algolia. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [SearXNG](https://appsgit.com/apps/searxng) (38,014 stars, AGPL-3.0, Python, Docker): SearXNG has 38,014 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 767 commits in the last year. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Typesense](https://appsgit.com/apps/typesense) (26,631 stars, GPL-3.0, C++, Docker): Typesense has 26,631 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 176 commits in the last year; it replaces Algolia. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [OpenSearch](https://appsgit.com/apps/opensearch) (13,815 stars, Apache-2.0, Java, Docker): OpenSearch has 13,815 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,370 commits in the last year; it replaces Algolia. For enterprise it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. ## How this list was made - Candidates: the 15 apps in the search engines category. Archived projects and projects with no commit in the last two years are left out. - Base score: GitHub stars on a log scale plus commits in the last 12 months (log scale, capped at 1,000). - Bonus points for a published Docker image, an OSI-approved open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - Each "Best for" section re-ranks the same apps with that audience's profile (for example startups add points for permissive licenses, project websites and recent commits; small business for Docker images and deploy guides). - Source-available apps can rank, but they are labelled and never described as open source. ## FAQ ### Is MeiliSearch free? Yes. MeiliSearch is open-source software released under the MIT license, so you can self-host it at no cost. You only pay for the server it runs on, and some projects also offer an optional paid cloud plan. ### Which open source search engine is best for a startup? MeiliSearch ranks first for startups, with 59,497 GitHub stars, the MIT license and a Docker image; SearXNG and ElasticSearch follow. The startups ranking adds points for Docker images, permissive licenses, project websites and recent commits on top of stars and activity. ### Which open source search engine is best for an enterprise team? ElasticSearch ranks first for enterprise, with 78,194 GitHub stars and the AGPL-3.0, SSPL 1.0 or Elastic License 2.0 (your choice) license; MeiliSearch and SearXNG follow. The enterprise ranking adds points for open-source licenses and recent commits on top of stars and activity. ### Can I self-host these search engines with Docker? Yes, 9 of the 10 picks. MeiliSearch, SearXNG and Typesense publish Docker images, so you can run them on a VPS or home server with Docker Compose. The others install from their own packages or source; follow each project's install guide. ### Are all of these search engines open source? All 10 apps on this list are open source. You can self-host and modify each one under its license. ## Related questions - [What is the best open source file sharing app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-file-sharing) - [What is the best open source wiki?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-wikis) - [What is the best open source budgeting app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-budgeting-software) - [What is the best open source CMS?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-cms) - [What is the best open source team chat app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-team-chat) - [What is the best open source analytics tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-analytics) - [What is the best open source survey and event tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-survey-tools) - [What is the best open source NVR?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-nvr) ## See also - [All search engines apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/search-engines) - [All archiving apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/archiving) - [All file sharing apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/file-sharing) - [Open-source alternatives to Algolia](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/algolia) - [Meilisearch vs Typesense](https://appsgit.com/compare/meilisearch-vs-typesense) --- Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-search-engines Source: appsgit (https://appsgit.com), the app store for github. Data from the GitHub API, refreshed nightly. Machine access: JSON API https://appsgit.com/api/v1/apps (OpenAPI: https://appsgit.com/openapi.json), MCP server https://mcp.appsgit.com/mcp, full index https://appsgit.com/llms-full.txt.