Side by side
Haystack vs OpenRAG
Both stand on llm application development frameworks. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APISelf-hosted
Haystack provides a free framework for assembling AI systems from modular pipelines, with integrations and self-hosted deployment options.
Visit Haystack Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb
OpenRAG combines document retrieval, source-linked answers and self-managed deployment in a free framework. Its listed deployment prerequisites and features marked as coming soon are important considerations before adoption.
Visit OpenRAGThe facts
| Haystack | OpenRAG | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Self-hosted | API, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | haystack.deepset.ai | open-rag.ai |
| On llm application development frameworks | #6 of 49 | #10 of 49 |
Haystack: what it does well
- Free, open-source Python framework.
- 189 listed integrations across several tool categories.
- Pipelines can be served as REST APIs or MCP servers.
- Supports hybrid search, reranking and RAG workflow building.
What to know first
- Enterprise trial requires a form request.
OpenRAG: what it does well
- Free self-hosted edition under AGPL-3.0.
- Answers link to cited document pages.
- Supports hybrid search and reranking.
- Can keep data within deployer-controlled infrastructure.
What to know first
- Requires Docker and Docker Compose.
- Minimum listed memory is 16 GB.
- CSV, ODT and HTML support are coming soon.
- Encryption in transit and at rest is coming soon.
Alternatives to Haystack Alternatives to OpenRAG The whole list