Chroma
Chroma accepts embeddings, text and metadata as inputs to provide vector, full-text and metadata search. You can self-host under Apache 2.0 or use Chroma Cloud; actions include indexing, querying and filtering by metadata or regex. Outputs are searchable vectors, query results and filtered datasets with documented cloud unit rates for writes, storage and queries.
Chroma Cloud uses usage-based pricing with a Starter tier at $0/month plus usage, a Team tier at $250/month plus usage, and Enterprise with custom pricing. Unit rates on the pricing page include $2.50 per GiB written, $0.33 per GiB stored per month, $0.0075 per TiB queried, and $0.09 per GiB returned.Is Chroma right for you?
Good for
- Founders who need an open-source, embeddable search database that supports vector, full-text and metadata search and can be self-hosted or run on Chroma Cloud.
- Open-source licensing (Apache 2.0) lets you self-host or modify the codebase.
- Supports multiple search modalities: vector, sparse/lexical, full-text, regex, and metadata filtering in a single system.
Keep in mind
- Enterprise pricing and SLA details are not published as fixed rates; they are presented as custom and require engagement with sales.
- Cloud usage limits can pause services when exceeded; the pricing FAQ describes two kinds of usage limits that pause service.
- Teams that require fully detailed enterprise SLA terms and fixed enterprise pricing published on product pages should plan to contact Chroma for custom terms.
Pricing and plan limits
Starter: $0 /month + usage and includes free credits; Team: $250 /month + usage and includes $100 credits; Enterprise: custom pricing and requires contact. The linked official pages list specific unit rates and plan names; full enterprise terms and SLA details require contacting Chroma.
More about capabilities and limits
Documented strengths
Open-source licensing (Apache 2.0) lets you self-host or modify the codebase.
Supports multiple search modalities: vector, sparse/lexical, full-text, regex, and metadata filtering in a single system.
Documented cloud unit pricing for writes, storage, queries, and egress to estimate usage costs.
Limitations to consider
Enterprise pricing and SLA details are not published as fixed rates; they are presented as custom and require engagement with sales.
Cloud usage limits can pause services when exceeded; the pricing FAQ describes two kinds of usage limits that pause service.
Choosing a plan
If you choose Chroma Cloud, map expected write, storage and query volumes to the published per-unit rates; if self-hosting, validate operational requirements for running Apache‑2.0 code in your environment.
Based on the linked product documentation.
Available on
Api.
Official sources
Alternatives to Chroma
Choose around the work you need to do.
Qdrant
Qdrant is an open-source vector search engine with real-time indexing, native hybrid dense+sparse retrieval and advanced metadata filters for precise semantic retrieval pipelines and production deployments.
