Qdrant vs Weaviate: Vector Databases Comparison (2026)
Qdrant and Weaviate both offer vector database solutions with free tiers. Qdrant provides more robust features for enterprise use, including dedicated resources and uptime SLAs, while Weaviate focuses on ease of entry and a pay-as-you-go model.
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
- ✓Single Node Cluster
- ✓0.5 vCPU / 1GB RAM / 4 GB Disk
- ✓Dedicated Resources
- ✓99.5% Uptime SLA
- ✓Private VPC Links
- ✓Backup & Disaster Recovery
- ✓SSO
- ✓Flexible Vertical and Horizontal Scaling
- ✓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 Qdrant
You require dedicated resources, a guaranteed uptime SLA, and enterprise-grade security features like SSO. You also need flexible scaling options and prefer the choice between managed and on-premise deployments. You are amenable to a minimum spend for premium features.
When to choose Weaviate
You prioritize ease of entry with a free tier that does not require a credit card. Your use case is within the limits of 100,000 objects and 1 GB memory, and you need built-in embeddings and a query agent. You are comfortable with a single cluster per user for free and a pay-as-you-go model for scaling.