Chroma vs Weaviate: Vector Databases Comparison (2026)
Both Chroma and Weaviate offer free tiers and flexible pricing models for their vector database platforms. Chroma provides more databases and team members on its Starter plan, while Weaviate includes embeddings and a query agent in its free tier.
AI Citation Scorecard
How often each is cited by major AI engines when buyers ask vector databases questions. Last 90 days across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot.
Probes run hourly; each (engine × query) combo retests every ~3 days.
Pricing
Key Features
- ✓Usage-based pricing
- ✓10 databases for Starter plan
- ✓10 team members for Starter plan
- ✓Community Slack support
- ✓Always free — 1 cluster per user
- ✓100,000 objects, 1 GB memory
- ✓1 collection, up to 3 tenants
- ✓Embeddings & Query Agent included
When to choose Chroma
Chroma is suitable for users who need multiple databases and team members in a free or starter plan. Its usage-based pricing and community collaboration features make it scalable for larger teams.
When to choose Weaviate
Weaviate is a good choice for users who prioritize having embeddings and a query agent included in their free tier, and who need a single cluster with a defined object and memory limit. Its pay-as-you-go model offers flexibility.