Criterion LlamaIndex Qdrant
CategoryRAG & Vector DatabasesRAG & Vector Databases
In one sentenceOpen-source framework for connecting LLMs to your data, plus the commercial LlamaParse document platform.Open-source vector search engine written in Rust, available self-hosted or as a managed cloud.
Problem it solvesGetting messy documents into a form that LLMs can search and reason over accurately.Fast similarity search with filters for RAG and search apps, with the option to keep data on your own infrastructure.
Free planYesYes
Developer APIYes — docsYes — docs
Open sourceYesYes
PlatformsPython, Web (LlamaCloud)Docker, Kubernetes, Qdrant Cloud, Linux, macOS, Windows
Pricing (summary)The LlamaIndex framework is free under MIT. LlamaParse plans: Free with 10K credits, Starter $50/month (40K credits), Pro $500/month (400K credits) and custom Enterprise; 1,000 credits cost $1.25.
Checked 2026-10-19
The engine is free and open source. Qdrant Cloud has a free-forever single-node cluster; Standard is billed hourly by resources used; Premium, Hybrid and Private Cloud pricing is on request.
Checked 2026-10-19
Strengths
  • Strong focus on data and documents
  • MIT licence
  • Clear credit pricing ($1.25 per 1,000 credits)
  • Permissive open-source licence
  • Flexible deployment options
  • Free cloud tier
Limitations
  • LlamaParse is not open source
  • Framework is no longer the company's main focus per its README
  • Credit cost per page varies by parsing mode
  • Managed pricing is usage-based without published dollar amounts on the pricing page
  • Self-hosting requires operational effort
  • Free cluster is small