Developers needing a lightweight, SQL compatible full text and vector search database.

Manticore Search is an open source database combining full text, vector, and hybrid search with SQL compatibility and real time indexing.

Self hosted via binary, Docker, or Kubernetes, with connectors to MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Kafka.

Forked from Sphinx Search around 2017 and actively maintained as of 2026.

Positions itself as a faster, simpler alternative to Elasticsearch for teams that want SQL familiar full text and vector search.

Requires the Manticore Search server, and integrates with existing MySQL or PostgreSQL data sources.

Open source software licensed GPLv3 or later with some component specific licenses; fully self hosted with no required external API key.