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VexDB-Lite VexDB parent mark
VexDB-Lite VexDB parent mark

VexDB-Lite

One vector-search extension across PostgreSQL, DuckDB and SQLite

open sourceupdated Aug 16, 2026

MIT-licensed vector-search extension for PostgreSQL, DuckDB and SQLite that shares one graph-index core with PQ/RaBitQ quantization, persistent indexes and metadata filtering; SQLite packages cover Linux, macOS, iOS, Android and WASM, so it runs inside existing databases instead of as a separate vector service.

VexDB-Lite is an MIT-licensed vector similarity-search extension that plugs into PostgreSQL, DuckDB and SQLite instead of requiring a separate vector service. The three backends share the project's graph-index algorithm, SIMD distance dispatch and PQ/RaBitQ quantization kernels while exposing database-native index and query surfaces. PostgreSQL uses vexdb_graph indexes; DuckDB provides GRAPH_INDEX with metadata columns and filtered ANN search; SQLite uses GRAPH_INDEX virtual tables with shadow-table persistence, transactional updates and reopen recovery. Current v0.0.17 packages cover PostgreSQL 16-19 and DuckDB 1.5.2 on Linux x86_64/AArch64, plus SQLite builds for Linux, macOS, iOS, Android and WASM; Windows prebuilt packages are not included in that release. Persistence and recovery semantics vary by backend, so operators should validate their selected database, architecture, compact-mode quantizer requirements and failure-recovery path before production use. This record covers only the open-source VexDB-Lite extension. The separate VexDB Developer Edition uses a free one-year temporary license with community support, while VexDB Commercial Edition is contact-led and adds fuller relational features, SLA coverage and professional enterprise support.

Pricing

VexDB-Lite is free and open source under the MIT License. VexDB also offers a separate Developer Edition as a free one-year trial with community support; contact VexDB for Commercial Edition pricing, SLA coverage and professional enterprise support.

Platforms

Extensions for PostgreSQL 16-19 and DuckDB 1.5.2 on Linux x86_64/AArch64, plus SQLite packages for Linux, macOS, iOS, Android and WASM. Shared graph-index, SIMD and PQ/RaBitQ code; current verified release: v0.0.17.

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pgvector PostgreSQL parent mark

pgvector

Vector similarity search for PostgreSQL

pgvector is an open-source PostgreSQL extension with 22K+ GitHub stars adding vector similarity search to your existing Postgres database. Store embeddings alongside relational data, perform exact and approximate nearest neighbor search using L2, inner product, cosine, and L1 metrics. Supports HNSW and IVFFlat indexes for fast similarity queries at scale. Eliminates the need for a separate vector database by bringing vector capabilities into existing PostgreSQL infrastructure.

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sqlite-vec is a lightweight vector search extension for SQLite written in pure C with zero dependencies. It brings nearest-neighbor search capabilities directly into SQLite databases, enabling AI applications to store and query embeddings without running a separate vector database. The extension works everywhere SQLite runs including Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly in browsers, and even Raspberry Pi devices. Sponsored by Mozilla Builders, Fly.io, and Turso.

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Embedded vector database for multimodal AI with petabyte scale

LanceDB is an open-source embedded vector database built on the Lance columnar format for multimodal AI. It delivers near in-memory performance from disk with zero-copy architecture, supporting vector search, full-text search, and SQL. Native SDKs for Python, TypeScript, and Rust integrate with LangChain, LlamaIndex, and DuckDB. Backed by a $30M Series A, used by Harvey AI and Runway, with 18,000+ GitHub stars.

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FAQ

What is VexDB-Lite?

MIT-licensed vector-search extension for PostgreSQL, DuckDB and SQLite that shares one graph-index core with PQ/RaBitQ quantization, persistent indexes and metadata filtering; SQLite packages cover Linux, macOS, iOS, Android and WASM, so it runs inside existing databases instead of as a separate vector service.

Is VexDB-Lite free?

Yes — VexDB-Lite is open source and free to use. VexDB-Lite is free and open source under the MIT License. VexDB also offers a separate Developer Edition as a free one-year trial with community support; contact VexDB for Commercial Edition pricing, SLA coverage and professional enterprise support.

Is VexDB-Lite open source?

Yes — VexDB-Lite is open source.

What are the best VexDB-Lite alternatives?

The top editor-verified VexDB-Lite alternatives are pgvector, sqlite-vec, LanceDB, and more.