RAGFlow is an open-source retrieval-augmented generation engine and agent platform for building a context layer for AI agents. Its ingestion pipeline processes data in multiple formats into semantic representations for retrieval. Search combines vector search and BM25 with custom scoring and re-ranking. Visual workflows connect retrieval, tools, and MCPs for agent orchestration, and users can connect online, local, or OpenAI-compatible models for knowledge bases, chats, search, and agents. Documented data sources include Notion, Google Drive, S3, Microsoft Teams, REST API, and Sitemap. HTTP and Python APIs are available, and a chat assistant can be embedded on another webpage using an iframe. RAGFlow supports cloud and self-hosted use; its Docker deployment documentation gives a minimum build requirement of 4 CPU cores, 16 GB RAM, and 50 GB disk. The free plan lists five apps, one team member, 0.1 GB dataset storage, and 500 monthly credits, but does not include an API key. Paid plans start at $29 per month, and Starter includes an API key.
Who it is for
RAGFlow is aimed at teams building AI agent context and retrieval workflows, including users in financial services, legal and compliance, manufacturing, and education. Self-hosters should check the stated Docker resource minimum and ARM image caveat.
What is good
- Combines vector search and BM25.
- Visual workflows integrate retrieval, tools, and MCPs.
- Supports online, local, and compatible model providers.
- Offers HTTP and Python APIs.
- Starter plan includes an API key.
What to know first
- Free plan does not include an API key.
- Free plan includes 0.1 GB dataset storage.
- ARM Docker images are not maintained by RAGFlow.
- Docker minimum build calls for 16 GB RAM.
Verdict
RAGFlow brings document ingestion, hybrid search, model connections, and agent workflows together, with both cloud and self-hosted options. The free tier has tight team and storage limits, and self-hosters should check deployment requirements before proceeding.
RAGFlow plans and pricing
All plansCompared on retrieval-augmented generation tools
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $29/mo
- Source citations
- Yes
- Hybrid search
- Yes
- Result reranking
- Yes
- Deployment
- both
- RAG workflow builder
- Yes
