Vector Databases
Qdrant vs Weaviate.
Both sit in Vector Databases, scored on the same six pillars from the same published methodology. Here is where they actually differ.
The short answer
Too close to call on score alone — Qdrant sits at 81.0 and Weaviate at 81.9. A gap that size is inside the noise of any honest scoring model, so pick on fit rather than rank.
Qdrant leads on value for money; Weaviate leads on maturity & reliability.
Qdrant Solutions
81.0
Strong
Rust-powered open-source vector search engine tuned for performance.
- From
- Free (self-hosted) / Cloud free 1GB tier
- Pricing
- Open Source
- Maturity
- Established
- Founded
- 2021
Weaviate B.V.
81.9
Strong
Open-source AI-native database with hybrid search and modular vectorizers.
- From
- Free (self-hosted) / Cloud from $25 per month
- Pricing
- Open Source
- Maturity
- Established
- Founded
- 2019
Pillar by pillar
The same six pillars and fixed weights used for every tool on the site. A lead of fewer than 5 points is not called for either side — these are evidence-backed judgements, not measurements. Read the methodology.
Capability
Level
Value for Money
Qdrant by 5
Security & Compliance
Level
Integrations & Ecosystem
Level
Maturity & Reliability
Weaviate by 5
Momentum
Level
Which one, and when
Pick Qdrant if
- →cost per unit of output is the binding constraint — it leads Value for Money by 5 points.
- →Performance-critical vector search
- →Budget-conscious startups
- →Self-hosted deployments
The catch
- Smaller managed-cloud track record than Pinecone
- Fewer built-in embedding integrations than Weaviate modules
Pick Weaviate if
- →it has to hold up in production from day one — it leads Maturity & Reliability by 5 points.
- →Hybrid search applications
- →SaaS multi-tenant vector workloads
- →Teams wanting open source + cloud option
The catch
- Operating large self-hosted clusters requires expertise
- GraphQL API adds a learning curve
What each is good at
Qdrant
- ✓Excellent performance-per-dollar; Rust core with low memory footprint
- ✓Advanced quantization (binary, scalar, product) cuts costs dramatically
- ✓Simple, well-documented API loved by developers
Weaviate
- ✓True open source with a first-class managed cloud
- ✓Native hybrid (BM25 + vector) search and reranking
- ✓Multi-tenancy designed for SaaS builders
Other comparisons in Vector Databases
Comparing something else? Build your own side-by-side across any tools in the catalog.